Del Mar Daily Notebook

DEL MAR DAILY NOTEBOOK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2005

by Brian P. Turner

A field of 10 contested Sunday's Del Mar H. (G2) for three-year-olds and up

going 11 furlongs over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. This was an extremely

wide-open affair as six of the 10 in the field were sent off at odds of 8-1 or

less with the Dan Hendricks-trained Runaway Dancer (Runaway Groom) being sent

off as the 2-1 favorite.

When the field left the gate, LEPRECHAUN KID (Alphabet Soup) sprang to the

early lead and absolutely no one in the field moved up to challenge. The gray

was allowed to set somewhat pedestrian fractions of :24 3/5 and :49 while

sitting on a 4 1/2-length lead. Once the field approached the final turn,

Laura's Lucky Boy (Theatrical [Ire]), who had loped behind the pacesetter in

second, began to mount a serious challenge and collared the leader as the pair

made their way down the stretch.

Laura's Lucky Boy actually poked his head in front and looked as if he would

continue to go running on by but Leprechaun Kid wasn't finished and re-rallied

along the rail to take the victory by a head bob in a photo at the wire. It was

another four lengths back to the Bobby Frankel-trained Exterior (Distant View)

in third.

There were five sprints contested on the main track today and horses on or

near the pace won four of them while the lone main-track route was won by a

runner coming from off the pace. In addition to the feature, there were two

other turf routes contested today and a horse stalking within three lengths won

one of them while the other was won by a horse closing from farther back.

Victor Espinoza and Garrett Gomez each picked up a win of the day which

allowed Espinoza to maintain the margin of his lead in the jockey standings. The

score currently stands at 42 to 39. Patrick Valenzuela went winless on the day

and remains in third with 31 winners for the meet.

As for the trainers, Jeff Mullins saddled a winner on Sunday and is still in

command atop the trainer standings with 19 for the meet. Both Bob Baffert and

Doug O'Neill went winless and remain in a tie for second with 16 winners each.

Horses to Watch

1ST - CATCH MY FANCY (Yes It's True) had an extremely impressive career debut

for trainer Craig Dollase. The two-year-old filly broke well from the gate and

vied for the lead through early fractions of :22 and :44 4/5 before opening up

on the field to hit the finish line five lengths clear of the field under little

more than a hand ride. Catch My Fancy could prove to be any sort.

3RD - BEDUGUL (Boundary) was full of run at the top of the stretch in this 1

1/16-mile turf maiden special event. Unfortunately, the chestnut was trapped

behind a wall of horses at the time. Jockey Rene Douglas attempted to go through

a hole that disappeared as quickly as it appeared and was forced to check at

which point the filly lost all chance. Bedugul finished evenly, crossing the

finish line in fourth, but a clean trip next out could find her in the winner's

circle.

6TH - HEAVY TRAFFIC (Elusive Quality) broke his maiden impressively in this,

his fifth career start. The four-year-old colt broke from the gate sharply,

something he had not done particularly well in the past, and guided the way

through opening fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5. Once the field hit the

stretch, the bay sprinted off and left his competition behind, crossing the

finish line 5 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest rival and 13 1/2 lengths clear of

the third-place finisher.

7TH - RESIDENT ALIEN (Bertrando) is making a return to the "Watch" list after

easily handling this starter allowance field. The three-year-old filly stalked

the pace early then moved up to challenge before the turn. Once she hit the

stretch, the dark bay took the lead and carried on gamely through the stretch to

cross the wire two lengths in front under little more than a hand ride.

DIAMOND FOR KACI (Diamond For King [Fr]) is also returning to the "Watch"

list. Though she finished second to Resident Alien, she was making a nice

closing move late and is a definite threat to return to the winner's circle in

her next start.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Monday, August 29

Monday's 7TH race is an optional-claiming event for fillies and mares,

three-years-old and up, contested at eight furlongs on the lawn. The Bobby

Frankel trained DOMAINE (Chi) (Hussonet) is one among the field to keep an eye

on. The four-year-old filly is coming off of a fourth-place effort against

similar where she was beaten by only a length. Domaine had her share of trouble

that race and is capable of making it into the winner's circle with a clean

trip.

GLASSY (Run Softly) is another in the field that holds interesting

possibilities. The dark bay returned from a 10 month layoff last out with a

solid effort where she stalked the pace early on her way to a game victory

against allowance company. NEWYEARRESOLUTION (Arch) could find herself with an

uncontested lead in this affair and with the way speed has held its own on the

grass, she is more than capable of taking this field from gate to wire.

Monday's forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s.

Monday's Best Plays

3RD - INDY MISS (A.P. Indy) will be making her first career start in this

maiden special turf event but she could be capable of pulling off the victory at

what could be a square price. The two-year-old filly has a solid pedigree for

the lawn in that A.P. Indy's progeny win a respectable 12 percent of the time

in their first try on the surface and the dam, Champagnarde (Arg) (Oak Dancer

[GB]), has produced four grass winners from seven starters. Among these is

Lovely Rafaela, a full sister to Indy Miss, who was the winner of the 2004

Honeymoon Breeders' Cup H. (G2) on the turf at Hollywood. The bay has been

working steadily since early July which includes three works at seven furlongs.

Trainer Richard Mandella is a respectable 12 percent in the "1st Time Starter"

trainer category and 16 percent in the "1st At Route" category. Jon Court, who

wins with 15 percent of his turf mounts, has been enlisted for the ride, only

adding to the list of things to like.

7TH - Newyearresolution could prove to be a solid play in this optional-claiming event. The dark bay's BRIS Early Pace ratings tower over the field

which should ensure that jockey Gomez should be able to put her on the lead if

the pace is soft but she has also shown the ability to rate which will benefit

her if another runner in the field wants to set hot early fractions. Trainer

Julio Canani has been red hot for the meet, winning with nine of his 27 starters

and he wins with 23 percent of his turf starters over all.