DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
MONDAY, AUGUST 1
by Brian P. Turner
A field of 10 went to the post for Monday’s featured 7TH race, a 1 1/16 miles
optional claiming event for three-year-old fillies contested over the Jimmy
Durante Turf Course. SINGHALESE (GB) (Sinspiel [Ire]) was sent to the post as
the favorite off of her recent third-place effort in the American Oaks (G1) at
Hollywood and rewarded her backers by rallying from well off the pace, under an
extremely confident ride by Mike Smith, to hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front.
Isla Cozzene (Cozzene) was also exiting the American Oaks where she had a bit
of a rough trip and weakened late to finish 9TH. The bay rebounded well here
though as she closed from off the pace as well to finish second, three parts of
a length in front of Dramatic (Dynaformer) in third.
There were five sprints contested on the main track Monday with horses coming
from off the pace winning three of them but the lone main track route was won in
gate-to-wire fashion. As for the two turf races, both were won by horses closing
from well off the pace setters.
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela picked up two winners on the day to Victor
Espinoza’s one and regained the lead in the jockey standings by a score of 14 to
13. Garrett Gomez visited the winner’s circle once today as well to remain a
close third with 12.
As for the trainer standings, Jeff Mullins is still in the lead with eight
winners thus far but Bob Baffert picked up a win on the day to pull within one
of the leader. Doug O’Neill is in third with six winners for the meet.
Horses to Watch
3RD – PRIVATE BANKING (Fr) (Anabaa) hit the side of the gate at the start of
this turf allowance event but recovered to trail the field early but well within
striking range. As the field went into the final turn, the bay began to launch a
serious rally but completely blew the turn, causing her to lose serious ground.
The three-year-old filly re-rallied and regained her momentum to make a nice
finishing move, only to lose in a head bob at the wire.
5TH – RESIDENT ALIEN (Bertrando) vied for the lead throughout in this
Cal-bred maiden claiming event, contesting early fractions of :21 3/5 and :44
1/5. Once the field hit the stretch, the dark bay had another gear left and
widened his lead through the stretch to hit the wire 9 1/2 lengths in front.
Outlook for Wednesday, August 3
A field of nine, including one coupled entry, is entered for Wednesday’s
Escondido H. for three-year-olds and up going 11 furlongs on the grass. Several
in the field have been competing against graded company and will be making the
drop to listed company in search of a trip to the winner’s circle. This could
prove to be a wide open event but keep an eye on the Bobby Frankel trained QSAR
(Ger) (Tiger Hill), who will be looking to rebound off of a dismal showing in
the Eddie Read H. (G1) where he finished last by 13 lengths, and LAURA’S LUCKY
BOY (Theatrical [Ire]), who came up only 1 3/4 lengths short last out in the
American Invitational H. (G2) at Hollywood.
Beware of last year’s winner SARAFAN (Lear Fan) because he absolutely loves
Del Mar as his record of 6-4-1-0 will stand testament. Another interesting
entrant is SLEEPLESS JOY (Joyeux Dancer) who will be making his first start in
North America for trainer Julio Canani.
Wednesday’s forecast is virtually the same as it has been for every day of
the meet thus far. Look for mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid to upper
70s.
Wednesday’s Best Plays
2ND – BACHELORETTE ONE (Perfect Mandate) will be making her first career
start in this maiden claiming affair and holds some interesting possibilities.
The two-year-old filly comes from the barn of Wesley Ward who wins 19 percent of
the time in the “1st Time Starter” trainer category and 20 percent of the time
in the “Maiden Claiming” category. Perfect Mandate’s progeny win 15 percent of
the time at first asking and the dam, Stardust Debbie (Debonair Roger) has had
three winners from four starters. Toss in the fact that Bachelorette One is
coming off of a very solid work of :47 1/5 (the third fastest of 41 that day)
over the Del Mar strip and there is much to like at what should be a square
price.
3RD – MY MISS STORM CAT (Sea Of Secrets) was all the talk a little over a
year ago when she made her career debut, absolutely destroying a maiden special
field at Hollywood by 10 lengths and equaling the track record at that time. The
dark bay made her second, and last, start in the Landaluce S. (G3) where she
went off as the overwhelming favorite only to come up 1 1/4 lengths short.
Though she has not started in over a year, My Miss Storm Cat has put in some
good works for her return to racing and trainer Bob Baffert is 24 percent in the
“90+ Days Away” trainer category. Her BRIS Prime Power Ratings, BRIS Speed
Ratings, and BRIS Class Ratings top the field so she should be extremely tough
to handle if she is ready to go after the lay off.