DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
Thursday’s 7TH race was an optional-claiming event for Cal-bred fillies and
mares going six furlongs on the main track. A field of 11 went to the post
headed by Del Mar Miss (In Excess [Ire]), who was sent off as the post time
favorite. Unfortunately for chalk players, though, the bay stalked the pace
early and looked to be a serious challenger when she hit the stretch drive but
quickly faded to finish fifth.
TIALINGA (Cee’s Tizzy) also moved up to stalk the pace early but, unlike her
rival, hit the stretch drive full of run and came through on the rail under a
nice ride by Kent Desormeaux to hit the finish line three parts of a length in
front. Etch (Pioneering) sat the early pace and fought gamely to the end to
cross the wire in second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of long shot Bubbles Again (Tychonic
[GB]) in third.
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela picked up two wins on the day and still remains
atop the standings with 25 winners for the meet. Garrett Gomez picked up two
today as well and is still in second with 22. Even Victor Espinoza visited the
winner’s circle twice today and remains in third with 19 winners to date.
As for the trainers, Jeff Mullins still holds down the top spot with 11
winners for the meet. Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill are tied for second with nine
winners each.
There were a total of six sprints contested on the main track today and
horses on or near the pace won five of them. The lone main track route was won
by a horse coming from off the lead but the one turf route contested on the day
was won by a runner on the pace.
Horses to Watch
1ST – TEMPTING DATE (Perfect Mandate) was impressive in her career debut. The
three-year-old filly vied for the lead through early fractions that went in :22
and :44 4/5 before digging in gamely through the stretch drive to hit the wire a
nose in front.
4TH – SMOKIN JOEYMODO (Rio Verde) took the lead out of the gate and never
looked back in this state-bred maiden claiming event. The dark bay had been
knocking on the door in each of his last three starts but got over the hump here
in a big way as he hit the wire 2 1/2 lengths clear of the field.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Friday, August 12
Friday’s feature is the Real Good Deal S. for three-year-old Cal-breds going
seven furlongs on the main track. A field of nine is set to go to the post
headed by THOR’S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler), who is coming off of a third-place finish
in the Iowa Derby on July 1. The chestnut has been extremely competitive against
open company but should appreciate the return to state-bred company as he
attempts to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the
$500,000 WinStar Derby at Sunland back in April.
WIND WATER (Bold Badgett) is another among the field that holds interesting
possibilities as he has been competitive against open company on more than one
occasion in the past.
Friday’s Best Plays
1ST – GOLD CREEK DANCER (Wild Gold) will be taking a drop into
maiden-claiming company after hooking up with a couple of nice ones in his first
career start. The two-year-old colt tangled with the Doug O’Neill-trained Bro Lo
(In Excess [Ire]) and the Bob Baffert trained Da Stoops (Distorted Humor),
coming up well on the short end of the stick. Gold Creek Dancer will find no
such monsters in this field, where his BRIS Prime Power Rating tops the field.
The bay will be adding Lasix for this start and his lone BRIS Speed rating
indicates that he could prove to be a tough customer with nothing more than a
repeat of his last.
6TH – KINSHIP (Jade Hunter) returned from a layoff of over 11 months ready to
roll as he absolutely demolished a maiden-claiming field at Hollywood by 7 1/2
lengths. Trainer Julio Canani has been red hot this meet as seven of his 16
starters have run their way into the winner’s circle. Jockey Martin Pedroza has
the call on the mount and he and Canani have connected for a 56 percent strike
rate over the last 60 days. Kinship tops the field in BRIS Prime Power and his
BRIS Pace ratings and BRIS Speed ratings are in line with the best of this
bunch. The bay has put in three solid works since his last start, including a
clocking of :46 4/5, the third fastest of 56 that morning, right here over the
Del Mar strip.