DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
A field of eight went to the gate for Monday’s featured race, a five-furlong
grass sprint for three-year-olds and up. CELTIC SWORD (Arg) (Hidden Prize) was
sent to the post as the 2-1 favorite and rewarded his backers by rallying from
the back of the pack, making a nice move up the rail, to hit the finish line 2
1/4 lengths in front.
There was a blanket finish for the second and third spots but when the photo
had developed, it showed Outofthe Blue Slew (Slewledo) crossing the finish line
in second, a nose in front of Crosscut (Woodman) in third.
Though it now sounds like a broken record, the “Inquiry” sign immediately lit
up on the tote board and the stewards began sifting through the various angles
of film which showed a great deal of bumping involving the eventual winner and Zayed (In Excess [Ire]) during the stretch drive. Once all was said and done
though, it was revealed that the fourth-place finisher, Sex Machine (Aus)
(Shagny), had created a chain reaction that led to Zayed getting sandwiched between the winner and the Art Sherman-trained Greenie (Iron
Cat). Sex Machine was disqualified and placed last.
Patrick Valenzuela rode a winner on the day, giving him 23 for the meet.
Garrett Gomez picked up two wins on the day to close some ground and take sole
possession of second with 18 winners thus far. Victor Espinoza is in third with
16.
As for the trainers, Jeff Mullins picked up a win on the day to widen his
lead in the standings over Bob Baffert. The score currently stands at 11 to
nine. Doug O’Neill is in third with eight winners for the meet.
There were three sprints contested on the main track with horses on or near
the pace winning all of them. As for the two main-track routes, one was won in
gate-to-wire fashion while the other was won by a runner coming from well off
the pace. In addition to the feature, there were two turf routes contested on
the grass Monday and horses coming from off the pace won both of them.
Horses to Watch
1ST – AN ANNIKA MOMENT (Mecke) went to her knees at the start of this eight-furlong claiming event and, though she righted herself, it looked as is she had
lost all chance. The four-year-old filly didn’t quit though and put in a nice
closing move from well off the pace, even wrestling the lead away late in the
stretch drive, only to lose by a head bob at the wire.
5TH – DYNAWHITE (Lite The Fuse) vied for the lead early in this claiming
event, contesting early fractions that went in :21 4/5 and :44 2/5. Once the
field came off the turn, the gray sprinted away, widening his margin through the
stretch to hit the wire six lengths in front.
Tomorrow’s Outlook – Wednesday, August 10
A field of 12, including two who are also eligible, is scheduled to go to the
post for Wednesday’s Osunitas H., for fillies and mares three-years-old and up
going 1 1/16 miles over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. TICKER TAPE (GB) (Royal
Applause [GB]) will be
dropping out of graded stakes competition in search of a return to the winner’s
circle. The four-year-old filly is coming off of a last place effort in the John
C. Mabee H. (G1) but should find the competition here a little more to her
liking.
SECRET CHARM (Ire) (Green Desert) will be making her second start in North
America for trainer Neil Drysdale and has been working steadily over the lawn,
including three works right here at Del Mar, since finishing fourth in the Royal
Heroine Invitational S. (G3) at Hollywood last out. BOND DEAL (Pivotal) is another European import of interest that will be making her first start
in North America for trainer Ben Cecil.
SCROFA (Unusual Heat) holds some interesting possibilities in this event. The
Cal-bred’s BRIS Speed ratings are near the top of the field and she will be
getting Valenzuela for the ride.
Wednesday’s forecast calls for cloudy skies in the morning giving way to
mostly sunny conditions in the afternoon and highs in the mid-70s.
Wednesday’s Best Plays
5TH – BLUE STELLER (Ire) (Barathea [Ire]) returned from a near 18-month layoff with a solid second-place effort against claiming company at Hollywood in
July. The bay was only going eight furlongs that day and appeared to want more
ground, which he will get in this nine-furlong $62,500 claiming event. The
seven-year-old horse tops the field by over 10 points in the BRIS Prime Power
category and has never been out of the money in four starts at Del Mar. Jockey
Alex Solis is a solid 21 percent grass rider and trainer Bobby Frankel wins 24
percent of his turf starts.
7TH – Secret Charm came up just short to Ticker Tape last out in the
aforementioned Royal Heroine but that was her first start in over
nine months. The bay has been working steadily since that time and should show
improvement in her second start for Drysdale at what could be a square price.