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DEL MAR NOTEBOOK JULY 22, 2015 by John Mucciolo A pair of graded races on the lawn headlined the opening week at Del Mar. Eddie Read S. (G1): Britt and House's GABRIEL CHARLES (Street Hero) swung wide at the top of the lane and cruised home an emphatic, 3 3/4-length winner under the guidance of Mike Smith. The Jeff Mullins pupil endured nine panels on the firm lawn in 1:48 in posting his initial Grade 1 win. San Clemente H. (G2): DP Racing LLC's PRIZE EXHIBIT (Showcasing) moved wide approaching the turn for home and exploded late to win this one going away by 1 1/2 lengths. The James Cassidy trainee got her one mile on the good turf in 1:36 beneath Santiago Gonzalez. Track Stats From a total of 38 races held over the Southern California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 34 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 53 percent of the wins. From 30 frays contested on the dirt oval, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (17 percent), while none of the eight grassy tussles went all the way on the lead. We thought that speed did not hold much of an advantage on the main oval this past week as we assumed it would. Saturday saw a trio of winners lead at every call, including two in route runs, but horses pressing and stalking the pace had the best go of it during the opening stanza. A total of 25 of the 30 main track races were taken by horses breaking outside of the inner three post positions. In addition, only one runner breaking from the rail came home good on the dirt. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (7/16) 2ND -- ALWAYS A CHANCE (Redattore) made a fine last-to-first move to win going away in this dash and impressed in getting her final quarter mile in a solid :24 2/5 under Tyler Baze. The six-year-old might be a shrewd claim for Adam Kitchingman. 5TH -- PALMILLA (Tribal Rule) chased lone speed to the top of the lane and pulled away late in a most impressive debut score for conditioner Mark Glatt, who rarely wins first out like this. The juvenile filly could not have looked too much better and looms large in a likely stakes try in her comeback attempt. 8TH -- FOREST BLUE (Tale of Ekati) did everything right but win this race in leading nearly every step of the way before falling a nose short under the line. The gelded sophomore was more than three lengths clear of third and will be tough with even slight improvement in his next outing. Friday (7/17) 1ST -- D. SHIFFLETT (Valid Expectations) was behind a clear leader late, but ran that one down in a securing very professional debut score for trainer Michael Stidham. The gelded juvenile was going away late and could be super tough if properly placed in his subsequent outing. 6TH -- In just her second run on the dirt since coming to the U.S., the capable BARUTA (Crimson Tide) seems to have found a new home after running clear in the lane in a fine allowance tally under Flavien Prat. The consistent six-year-old came home fast and in a strong final time and posted a 103 BRIS Speed number for her efforts for Mandella. Saturday (7/18) 3RD -- UNCLE LINO (Uncle Mo) just missed between a potentially nice pair and finished more than five lengths clear of third in a very sharp debut offering for trainer Gary Sherlock. The juvenile colt ran a winning one in defeat and will not be a maiden for long with anything like this showing. 4TH -- TWENTYTWENTYVISION (Pollard's Vision) has fine form coming into his graded debut, and he ran a big one in leading in mid-stretch and finishing a nice second for Richard Mandella. The four-year-old gelding proved he belongs with this type and should have a nice second half of 2015 in front of him. 9TH -- We don't think DR. FAGER'S GIRL (Wild Desert) beat a great field in this heat, but the Hollendorfer trainee did corral a clear one and pull away late under Martin Pedroza. Expect the capable sort to be stakes bound right back. Sunday (7/19) 1ST -- NAZARETH (Bluegrass Cat) made a nice middle move and stayed on through the lane to be what we thought was a very good third in this race giving up ground every step of the way. The Hector Palma-trained filly will be very tough with a better pace set up next time. 6TH -- Bob Baffert's PRETTY N COOL (Scat Daddy) sped to the front and never looked back in proving much the best in her first offering. The juvenile miss came home in a swift final time and could be any kind going forward. DREAMY ART (Tiz the One) chased the winner every step of the way in second and stayed on well to be clear of third in a useful debut showing for trainer Adam Kitchingman. Tab this youngster to be very tough in her comeback outing. A Look Ahead The weekend feature at Del Mar is Sunday's $300,000 Bing Crosby (G1). Also slated in the graded ranks is the $200,000 San Diego H. (G2) on Saturday and Friday's $100,000 Cougar II H. (G3).
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