DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
A field of nine went to the post for Friday night’s featured event, a wide
open eight-furlong allowance for fillies and mares three-years-old and up.
SHIMMER (Pulpit), under a nice ride from Victor Espinoza, rallied from the back
of the pack and absolutely engulfed the field through the stretch drive to hit
the finish line 1 1/4 lengths in front. Royal Kleven (Kleven) closed from just
off the pace and picked up the place, three parts of a length in front of a fast-gaining Run For Dessert (Belong To Me) in third.
Espinoza came back to capture the 9TH race as well, giving him two winners on
the card and helping him to gain ground on Patrick Valenzuela in the jockey
standings. Valenzuela picked up one win on the day and still holds the lead by a
score of 18-16. Garrett Gomez went winless and is currently in third with 14
winners for the meet.
Jeff Mullins and Bob Baffert remain tied atop the trainer standings with
eight winners apiece. Mike Mitchell picked up a win on the day, creating a log
jam in the third spot as he, Doug O’Neill, and Julio Canani all have six winners
each.
There were five sprints contested on the main track with horses on or near
the pace winning four of them but the lone route was won by the aforementioned
Shimmer who closed from last. As for the turf, there was one sprint and one
route with the sprint being won by a front runner and the route going to a horse
coming from off the pace.
Horses to Watch
2ND – ABBI’S CHOICE (Slewacide) was making a nice move up the rail in this
$32,000 claiming event when his hole completely closed on him. Jockey Espinoza
was forced to check sharply and the seven-year-old gelding could never get back
on track afterwards. A cleaner trip next out could yield better results.
4TH – ASPIRING SUMMER (Siberian Summer) was impressive in his second career
start for trainer Bill Spawr. The dark bay was beaten by 14 lengths in his debut
but rebounded well here as he vied for the lead through early fractions of :21
4/5 and :44 4/5 before pulling away in the stretch drive to cross the finish
line five lengths clear of the field.
6TH – WHAT SOLDIER (Lost Soldier) is now a perfect two for two on the lawn.
The dark bay vied for the lead early in this five-furlong sprint allowance event
before scampering away in the stretch to hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front,
setting a new course record of :55 in the process.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Saturday, August 6
Two year-old fillies will have the center stage on Saturday as a field of
nine is set to go to the post for the 6 1/2-furlong Sorrento S. (G3). While this
could prove to be a wide-open event, the betting public will probably center
their attention on HYSTERICALADY (Distorted Humor), recent winner of the Juan
Gonzalez Memorial S. at Pleasanton, and INDIAN BREEZE (Indian Charlie), winner
of the Landaluce S. at Hollywood.
BULLY BONES (Hesabull) is another to keep an eye on as she ran a 102 BRIS
Speed Rating in her only career start at Hollywood back in April. The chestnut
has been burning up the Del Mar strip in the mornings and could have a shot at a
bit of a price. TIGER ON THE LOOSE (Tale of the Cat) is another coming off of a
win at Hollywood where she posted a solid 95 BRIS Speed Rating against a solid
field of maidens.
Saturday’s forecast calls for morning clouds giving way to mostly sunny skies
in the afternoon and highs in the mid to upper 70s.
Saturday’s Best Plays
1ST – RECKLESS HERO (Smokester) will be making the move from the grass to the
main track in this 6 1/2-furlong allowance event and trainer Gary Mandella is a
solid 17 percent in the “Turf to Dirt” trainer category. The gray’s BRIS Speed
Ratings top the field and he holds the advantage in both BRIS Prime Power and
BRIS Class Rating. Reckless Hero’s BRIS Pace Ratings indicate that he should be
able to dictate the pace on the front end and still have something left at the
end for the run to the wire.
3RD – ART MODERNE (Woodman) will be taking a big class drop in this N1X
allowance turf event as he has been competing against stakes company in Europe.
His new trainer, Bobby Frankel, obviously has big plans for the chestnut and has
found what appears to be a soft spot for him to make his North American debut.
The five-year-old horse should be ready to go as he has been working steadily
since the middle of June and this is a situation Frankel thrives in as his 41
percent win percentage in the “Shipper to U.S.” trainer category stands
testament. Valenzuela has been enlisted for the ride, only adding to the list of
things to like.
5TH – STEVIE WONDERBOY (Stephen Got Even) should appreciate getting away from
What A Song (Songandaprayer) and back into maiden special company. The chestnut
has had the misfortune of tangling with What A Song in both of his career starts
and has come up on the short end of the stick on both occasions. Stevie
Wonderboy towers over this field in every BRIS category, including Prime Power
where he holds a nearly 12-point advantage. The two-year-old colt’s BRIS Pace
Ratings indicate that he should be able to have things his own way on or near
the lead and have plenty left at the end to hit the finish line in front.