Del Mar Mile

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

With the local course favoring closers, BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) rates top
billing in Saturday’s $300,000 Del Mar Mile H. (G2). The classy seven-year-old
gelding loves the local ground, winning a division of the 2005 Oceanside S. as
well as the 2006-07 editions of the Wickerr H., and he’ll enter this event in
strong form off a second to Colonel John (Tiznow) in the July 31 Wickerr. The
John Sadler trainee posted a career-best 104 BRIS Speed rating last time, and
the one-run closer has been displaying good tactical speed in his recent starts.
We’ll look for him to be along in time under Joe Talamo.

Winner of the 2007 Del Mar Derby (G2), MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) raced
sparingly prior to conclude 2008 a good third in the San Gabriel H. (G2), and
he registered two commendable efforts earlier this season, finishing second in
both the San Marcos S. (G2) and San Luis Rey H. (G2). The Darrell Vienna-trained
gelding hasn’t started since March, but he’s training forwardly for his return
and has run well off the layoff previously. The one-mile distance looks a little
short, but we don’t dismiss the late runner’s chances, especially over a course
that has really favored closers lately.

MONTEREY JAZZ (Thunderello) is the horse to beat, but he’s dropped his three
previous starts at Del Mar, finishing fifth as the even-money choice in the
Eddie Read S. (G1) most recently, and is a confirmed speedball. LETHAL HEAT
(Unusual Heat) and TEMPLE CITY (Dynaformer) could both apply pressure on the
front end Saturday, and we were surprised to see Craig Dollase bring Monterey
Jazz back in this spot. The five-year-old horse is the class of the field, but
we’ll try to beat him on top at short odds.

2008 Hollywood Oaks (G2) victress Lethal Heat just missed against Zenyatta
(Street Cry [Ire]) last time, finishing third by three parts of a length in the
Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1), and the four-year-old owns a respectable 5-2-0-2 mark
on the grass. In fact, she just missed by 2 1/2 lengths when third in last
year’s Del Mar Oaks (G1), leading in the stretch before coming up a little short
in the 1 1/8-mile affair, and Saturday’s one-mile distance is a much better fit.
She figures to sit a close stalking trip under Alex Solis, and we’ll use the
Barry Abrams runner on the bottom of the exotics. FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru) drew
a tough post (9), but the five-year-old exits a solid third in the Wickerr and
could make his presence felt in this spot. The Irish Group 3 winner has yet to
break through with a U.S. stakes win, but he recorded three stakes-placings and
is probably at his best going a mile. Consider him for a minor award.

Temple City is eligible to improve upon a fourth in his stakes debut last
time, the San Diego H. (G2). That effort was on Polytrack, but the dark bay
captured his last turf race two starts back, a one-mile allowance/optional
claiming event at Hollywood Park. The four-year-old owns encouraging BRIS
numbers, but Temple City will have to overcome the far outside post. We still
respect the Carla Gaines runner.

KNOCKOUT ARTIST (Exploit) has run well previously over the course, winning a
division of the 2007 Oceanside, but he hasn’t started in nearly 12 months. The
stalker dropped all six starts last season, and we’ll give him a race off the
shelf. VICTOR’S CRY (Street Cry [Ire]) will bring a two-race win skein into his
stakes debut, but the four-year-old has started only once this season, winning a
one-mile allowance/optional claiming event earlier this meet at 7-1. He’s a
candidate to regress off that effort while jumping up in class.

RED ALERT DAY (GB) (Diktat) has come up short in his last two attempts versus
allowance/optional claiming rivals, recording a pair of fifths, and drew an
outside post here. Trainer Neil Drysdale appears to believe in the English
import’s potential, but he hasn’t shown enough so far for us to recommend his
chances. Grade 2-placed ALLICANSAYIS WOW (Street Cry [Ire]) will step up to face
males off an allowance score over fillies and mares at Hollywood Park. She’s
never won at a mile and owns lower BRIS numbers, so it will be surprising to see
her make a significant impact.