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weekly primer

del mar SUMMER meet

july - september 2024

1/st bet // xpressbet

weekly primer

del mar SUMMER meet

july - september 2024

IT'S OFFICIAL RACING PODCAST

  • JEFF SIEGEL & JEREMY PLONK

del mar

RACING CALENDAR

july - 2024

SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
14
No
Racing
15
No
Racing
16
No
Racing
17
No
Racing
18
No
Racing
19
No
Racing
20
Opening
Day
21
22
No
Racing
23
No
Racing
24
25
26
27
Bing Crosby (G1)
28
29
No
Racing
30
No
Racing
31
No
Racing

AUGUST - 2024

SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
-
-
-
-
1
2
3
Clement Hirsch (G1)
4
5
No
Racing
6
No
Racing
7
No
Racing
8
9
10
Yellow Ribbon (G2)
11
12
No
Racing
13
No
Racing
14
No
Racing
15
16
17
Del Mar Oaks (G1)
18
CC American Oaks (G1)
19
No
Racing
20
No
Racing
21
No
Racing
22
23
24
Pat O'Brien (G2)
25
26
No
Racing
27
No
Racing
28
No
Racing
29
30
31
Pacific Classic (G1)

SEPTEMBER - 2024

SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1
Del Mar Derby (G2)
2
3
No
Racing
4
No
Racing
5
6
7
Del Mar Debutante
8
Closing Day

scott shapiro

BEST DAYS RANKED

DEL MAR

SUMMER MEET

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club opened in 1937 and has provided Southern California racing fans with decades of high-quality racing and picturesque weather ever since. I was fortunate enough to live in the San Diego area multiple times in my life and there is little doubt nothing compares to “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.” Let’s look ahead at the five days I am most looking forward to in San Diego County this summer.

1. August 31 – Much like Travers Day at Saratoga, Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar is an absolute no-brainer for the top spot. The $1 million dollar Grade I event at a mile and a quarter over the main track has seen some of racing’s best over the last few decades win the event, including Flightline in 2022, Shared Belief, Beholder, and California Chrome in consecutive years from 2014 to 2016 and of course Best Pal in the inaugural edition in 1991. Add to that three graded stakes races on the grass and the Torrey Pines (G3) for 3YO fillies and you have a day obviously worth blocking off the calendar immediately.

2. July 20 - Opening Day at any racetrack brings a certain energy but nothing I have experienced compares to the first day of the meet at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. I highly recommend attending this massive party less than a mile away from the Pacific Ocean at least once but the good news for horseplayers is the action is also strong from home. The Oceanside Stakes is the traditional feature on Opening Day at Del Mar and this year with a Saturday opening it will be joined by the San Clemente (G3) for 3YO fillies going two-turns over the lawn. With huge pools, full fields, and a plethora of horizontal wagering opportunities on the menu, the summer is certain to kick off in promising fashion on Saturday.

3. September 8 - Some closing days can feel anticlimactic to an extent but not the last day of racing at Del Mar where they save one of the meet’s biggest races until the end in the Del Mar Futurity. The Grade I event for 2YOs has essentially been the Bob Baffert Invitational dating back to the mid 1990’s when he won his first with Silver Charm. Since then, the 6-time Kentucky Derby winning conditioner has rattled off 13 more victories in the event including the last three with Pinehurst, Cave Rock, and Prince of Monaco. The 7-furlong race for juveniles often produces future stars and it headlines a card that also includes the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) and full fields throughout. Labor Day is and will always be a day to bet on the ponies for yours truly and I am sure many of you.

4. July 27 - The first weekend of racing is always fantastic at Del Mar with the rails in on that beautiful turf course and the anticipation of a big summer on all horse players minds but the first Grade I event comes the following week. The $400,000 Bing Crosby headlines the second Saturday along with the local prep for the Pacific Classic, the San Diego Handicap (G2). The 8.5-furlong event over the main track produced one of the more memorable live racing moments of my life when Arrogate was flat after his voyage to Dubai and finished fourth at 1-20. We will not see a historic upset like that this year but we should get a great day of racing nonetheless.

5. September 7 - Closing Day is not the only day worth getting extra excited for at the end of the meet. The final Saturday is almost equally as exciting. The Del Mar Debutante (G1) for 3YO fillies is the headliner and the John C. Mabee (G3) and the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf almost always provide racing fans with full fields and competitive wagering as well. Plain and simple, Del Mar offers up one of my favorite closing weekends on the racing calendar.

This year should be no exception. Good luck this summer “Where the Turf Meets the Surf”!

jeremy plonk

del mar

trusting turf sprints

summer meet

Approximately one in three turf races during the 2023 Del Mar summer season were turf sprints. That’s a heavy dose of dashes, 41 of them in all over the 31-day racing season. Not all American turf sprints are created equal, and I find Del Mar’s to be among the least intimidating. What can be considered chaotic races in many ports of call are far more straightforward where the Turf Meets the Surf.

One Trip Pony

Unlike SoCal sidekick Santa Anita, we’re only dealing with a single distance and course for turf sprints. The 5-furlong trip at Del Mar doesn’t alter like Santa Anita’s four different trips over the flat or downhill courses. That’s a load off handicappers’ minds.

Firm Footing Welcomes All

The short-cropped turf doesn’t deviate much from the footing at Santa Anita, which means horses can transfer their form between the two popular west coast venues … unlike the major differences in courses in the Midwest and East when dealing with shippers.The over-the-top footing at Del Mar in turf sprints also bodes well for dirt speed trying to translate. Firm ground is almost assured at Del Mar in summer, another variable other parts of the country can’t rely upon, and even Santa Anita remains more prone to rain during its winter-spring meeting.In Del Mar turf sprints, you know you’re going to get firm ground that newbies can handle as easily as anywhere, coast to coast.

Cleaner Trips, Less Chaos

Because of the gate’s rather close proximity to the far turn, field sizes are controlled at Del Mar. You don’t get the wild 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14-horse scrambles that are part of the Midwest and Eastern turf sprint scene. Last year, 34 of the 41 turf sprints had 8 or fewer starters. Only 13 boasted 10, 8 had 11 and 4 maxed out at 12. Smaller field sizes obviously cut into the chaos and reduce the pari-mutuel returns. So that can be a handicapping plus, but a gambling minus. The smaller field sizes allow for cleaner trips, and given the 5-furlong dash distance, you’re not looking at jockeys playing cat-and-mouse games like they may over a 2-turn route trip with similar field sizes. The post position stats show no obvious advantage or disadvantage with nearly every starting spot between 12-15% among posts 1-8. The extreme posts (9-12), rarely used, were a combined 2-39 last summer and pose an obstacle for ground loss.

Faithful Form

Favorites won a reliable, but not dissuading, 39% in turf sprints last summer while showing a 15% flat-bet profit. The chalk lit the exacta in turf sprints nearly 59%. Only 3 winners from 197 turf sprints at Del Mar over the past 5 summers topped 20-1 longshot status.

The Human Touch

Trainer Peter Eurton’s wild 11: 6-3-0 record in turf sprints last summer at Del Mar stands out, while Steve Miyadi offered precision strikes at 4: 3-0-0 and is 10-32 in turf sprints over the last 5 summers at Dmr with a $1.59 ROI for every $1 bet. Edwin Maldonado (6 wins, 21%, strong positive ROI) and Umberto Rispoli (5 wins, 21%, slight losing ROI) paced the turf sprint jockeys last summer.

meet the

del mar

jockeys

Antonio Fresu
STATS →
Antonio Fresu
Age:
32 (11/24/91)
Hometowm:
Ozieri, Sardinia, Italy
Rookie Year:
2011 (Italy), 2023 (US)
Career Wins:
150 + (US)
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Guiding Stronghold to ’24 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby victory and a Kentucky Derby berth.

Diego Herrera
STATS →
Diego Herrera
Age:
20 (5/4/04)
Hometowm:
Inglewood, CA
Rookie Year:
2021
Career Wins:
150 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Grade 1-winning Quarter Horse jockey seeks a breakthrough in the Thoroughbred colony.

Edwin Maldonado
STATS →
Edwin Maldonado
Age:
42 (12/1/82)
Hometowm:
Columbus, OH
Rookie Year:
2002
Career Wins:
1,500 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Wired Santa Anita’s ’22 Grade 1 Awesome Again aboard Defunded.

Geovanni Franco
STATS →
Geovanni Franco
Age:
33 (1/28/91)
Hometowm:
Mexico City, Mexico
Rookie Year:
2009
Career Wins:
1,000 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Former Turf Paradise leading rider won Del Mar’s ’23 Grade 2 San Diego Handicap aboard Senor Buscador.

Hector Berrios
STATS →
Hector Berrios
Age:
37 (3/16/87)
Hometowm:
Santiago, Chile
Rookie Year:
2004 (Chile), 2011 (US)
Career Wins:
2500 + (Chile) 400 + (US),
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
4-time Chilean Derby winner became regular rider of US Grade 1 winners The Chosen Vron and Blue Stripe.

Juan Hernandez
STATS →
Juan Hernandez
Age:
32 (3/7/92)
Hometowm:
Perote, Veracruz, Mexico
Rookie Year:
2009
Career Wins:
2,600+
Track/Season Titles:
2 (2022, 2023)
Best Know For:
5-time leading jockey at Santa Anita meetings.

Kyle Frey
STATS →
Kyle Frey
Age:
32 (1/3/92)
Hometowm:
Tracy, CA
Rookie Year:
2010
Career Wins:
1,100 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
2011 Eclipse Award as nation’s top apprentice jockey; 4-time leading jockey at Golden Gate Fields.

Mario Gutierrez
STATS →
Mario Gutierrez
Age:
37 (9/19/86)
Hometowm:
El Higo, Veracruz, Mexico
Rookie Year:
2006
Career Wins:
1,300 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Rode I’ll Have Another (’12) and Nyquist (’16) to Kentucky Derby victories, adding Preakness with the former.

Mike Smith
STATS →
Mike Smith
Age:
58 (8/10/65)
Hometowm:
Roswell, NM
Rookie Year:
1982
Career Wins:
5,700 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Regular pilot of Hall of Fame mare Zenyatta as well as ’18 Triple Crown winner Justify. Hall of Famer has record 27 lifetime Breeders’ Cup victories.

Tiago Pereira
STATS →
Tiago Pereira
Age:
47 (11/29/76)
Hometowm:
Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil
Rookie Year:
1993 (Brazil), 2014 (US)
Career Wins:
2,000 + (Brazil), 600 + (US)
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Won $10M Dubai World Cup aboard Gloria de Campeao (‘10) and Del Mar’s $1M Pacific Classic on Tripoli (’21).

Tyler Baze
STATS →
Tyler Baze
Age:
41 (10/19/82)
Hometowm:
Seattle, WA
Rookie Year:
1999
Career Wins:
2,900 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
2000 Eclipse Award as nation’s top apprentice; 2nd-cousin to winningest all-time jockey Russell Baze (12K wins).

Umberto Rispoli
STATS →
Umberto Rispoli
Age:
35 (8/31/88)
Hometowm:
Naples, Italy
Rookie Year:
2005 (Italy), 2020 (US)
Career Wins:
500 + (US)
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Piloted Rock Your World to ’21 Santa Anita Derby win and berth into Kentucky Derby.

meet the

del mar

trainers

Bob Baffert
STATS →
Bob Baffert
Age:
71 (1/15/53)
Hometowm:
Nogales, AZ
Rookie Year:
1988
Career Wins:
3,300 +
Track/Season Titles:
8 (1997-2003, ’22)
Best Know For:
2009 Hall of Fame inductee owns a record 17 Triple Crown race victories.

Doug O’Neill
STATS →
Doug O’Neill
Age:
56 (5/24/68)
Hometowm:
Dearborn, MI
Rookie Year:
1988
Career Wins:
2,900 +
Track/Season Titles:
5 (’04, ’06, ’07, ’10, ’19)
Best Know For:
Won the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another; added ’16 Derby with Nyquist.

John Sadler
STATS →
John Sadler
Age:
67 (7/30/56)
Hometowm:
Long Beach, CA
Rookie Year:
1978
Career Wins:
2,800 +
Track/Season Titles:
3 (’08, ’09, ’13)
Best Know For:
Trained unbeaten 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline.

Mark Glatt
STATS →
Mark Glatt
Age:
51 (1/8/73)
Hometowm:
Spokane, WA
Rookie Year:
1994
Career Wins:
1,200 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Trained millionaire Grade 1-winning sprinter Dr. Schivel.

Michael McCarthy
STATS →
Michael McCarthy
Age:
53 (2/1/71)
Hometowm:
Youngstown, OH
Rookie Year:
2006
Career Wins:
375 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Trained 2021 Preakness winner Rombauer as well as Breeders’ Cup champs Ce Ce and City of Light.

Peter Eurton
STATS →
Peter Eurton
Age:
66 (8/12/57)
Hometowm:
Alhambra, CA
Rookie Year:
1985
Career Wins:
750 +
Track/Season Titles:
0
Best Know For:
Won Breeders’ Cup titles with Storm the Court (’19 Juvenile) and Champagne Room (’16 Juvenile Fillies).

Peter Miller
STATS →
Peter Miller
Age:
57 (10/2/66)
Hometowm:
Los Angeles, CA
Rookie Year:
1987
Career Wins:
1,400 +
Track/Season Titles:
4 (’12, ’18, ’20, ’21)
Best Know For:
Winning 5 Breeders’ Cup sprint races on dirt and turf between 2017-‘19.

Phil D’Amato
STATS →
Phil D’Amato
Age:
48 (3/11/76)
Hometowm:
San Pedro, CA
Rookie Year:
2010
Career Wins:
950 +
Track/Season Titles:
4 (’16. ’17, ’22, ‘23)
Best Know For:
Won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Obviously.

Richard Mandella
STATS →
Richard Mandella
Age:
73 (11/5/50)
Hometowm:
Altadena, CA
Rookie Year:
1974
Career Wins:
2,300 +
Track/Season Titles:
1 (1990)
Best Know For:
2001 Hall of Fame inductee has 9 Breeders’ Cup wins, famously 4 coming in 2003’s 7-race event.

del mar & MORE

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FULL CARD saratoga 8/27

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE picks

powered by betmix

The 1/ST BET 'Machine' analyzes millions of data points over more than 50 important handicapping factors for each race to create an exclusive handicapping outcome driven by big data.

POST
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
FAIR ODDS
RACE 1
11:35AM ET // MAIDEN - $105,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
4
DIDINGER
28%
49%
69%
2
TRACK MATE
18%
40%
55%
7
STANDARD OF PROOF
14%
31%
48%
5
NARCISO DALI
12%
20%
27%
RACE 2
12:08PM ET // MAIDEN - $105,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
4
ALEXIS ZORBA
25%
46%
63%
1
FIRE BARON
20%
31%
48%
10
FUNTASTIC AGAIN
12%
21%
34%
7
AMERICA'S GUEST
9%
31%
42%
RACE 3
12:44PM ET // ALLOWANCE - $95,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
1
on the hill
30%
48%
59%
6
majority partner
16%
29%
47%
9
great workout
14%
36%
54%
2
bold journey
9%
20%
32%
RACE 4 // BALLSTON SPA STAKES
1:17PM ET // GRADE 2 - $400,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
4
FLUFFY SOCKS
30%
55%
76%
5
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
23%
47%
68%
3
OUR FLASH DRIVE
18%
40%
57%
2
LEMISTA
18%
31%
55%
RACE 5 // FOREGO STAKES
1:55PM ET // GRADE 1 - $600,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
3
JACKIE'S WARRIOR
26%
49%
69%
1
BABY YODA
18%
32%
54%
5
CODY'S WISH
15%
37%
53%
7
KNEEDEEPINSNOW
14%
26%
41%
RACE 6
2:32PM ET // STARTER ALLOWANCE - $70,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
5
BALTASAR
26%
45%
56%
2
LIFE CHANGER
20%
30%
41%
8
LUNI SIMA
18%
24%
34%
9
DOCTOR LOVE
8%
18%
26%
RACE 7
3:12PM ET // ALLOWANCE - $120,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
3
DISCREET TUNE
17%
34%
50%
9
HIGHER STANDARD
15%
44%
50%
7
CAZADERO
15%
23%
35%
1
comedy town
11%
19%
31%
RACE 8 // H. ALLEN JERKENS STAKES
13:52PM ET // GRADE 1 - $500,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
6
JACK CHRISTOPHER
25%
45%
63%
8
GUNITE
17%
29%
48%
1
CONAGHER
13%
34%
47%
9
ACCRETIVE
13%
23%
37%
RACE 9 // PERSONAL ENSIGN STAKES
4:32PM ET // GRADE 1 - $600,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
3
CLAIRIERE
33%
60%
76%
2
SEARCH RESULTS
21%
42%
64%
5
MALATHAAT
20%
51%
69%
1
LETRUSKA
15%
24%
38%
RACE 10 // SWORD DANCER STAKES
5:05PM ET // GRADE 1 - $750,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
6
GUFO
24%
40%
50%
9
CHANNEL MAKER
15%
28%
38%
1
ADHAMO
11%
23%
34%
8
SOLIDER RISING
9%
20%
30%
RACE 11 // TRAVERS STAKES
5:44PM ET // GRADE 1 - $1,250,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
7
EARLY VOTING
31%
50%
69%
8
ZANDON
21%
35%
50%
6
EPICENTER
14%
32%
51%
2
RICH STRIKE
9%
22%
38%
RACE 12
6:20PM ET // MAIDEN - $88,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
2
FEATHERS ROAD
24%
44%
51%
7
HEYMACKIT'SJACK
14%
32%
47%
8
SIR JOHN
14%
26%
37%
5
RIPE FOR MISCHIEF
10%
16%
26%
RACE 13
6:52PM ET // ALLOWANCE - $15,000
PP
HORSE
WIN%
PLACE%
SHOW%
2
INVINCIBLE GAL
21%
35%
52%
1
PARNAC
18%
26%
38%
12
JANE GREY
14%
24%
31%
4
WICKED GROOVE
13%
24%
34%