Del Mar Recap for Thursday (9-2-21)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on a speed favoring dirt oval (8f, 8f, 6.5f). The turf course winners were a front runner at 5T, a stalker at 5T, a closer at 8T, and a stalker at 5T (rail at 30 feet).
With multiple ship and win horses competing at Del Mar, I am keeping track of where the winners are coming from. On Thursday, eight winners last started at the current DMR meet, and Seven Sisters became a two-time local winner in the 5th race. The other winner was debut juvenile Brandon’smylawyer.
Flavien Prat booted home a pair.
The 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 pool was $251,164, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $10,321.44. The jackpot carryover stands at $351,686.
Sept. 2 Claims: Race 5 – Li’l Grazen ($20k, Martin H. Valenzuela Jr.). Race 7 – Double the Gold ($40k, Art Sherman). Race 9 – Navy Queen ($16k, D. Wayne Baker), Zahra ($16k, Steve Knapp).
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Thursday (9-2-21)
DMR 4 Brandon’smylawyer/Sterling Crest Exacta ($33.20)
DMR 6 PEPPERMINT FLIRT ($12.80), Exacta ($27.00)
Double (races 5-6, $193.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $589.20)
Double (races 6-7, $35.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $381.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $255.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Del Mar Recap for Friday (9-3-21)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (5.5f, 8f). The turf course winners were a front runner at 8.5T, a front runner at 5T, a stalker at 8T, and a stalker at 11T (rail at 30 feet).
With multiple ship and win horses competing at Del Mar, I am keeping track of where the winners are coming from. On Friday, five winners last started at the current DMR meet, and Connie Swingle became a two-time local winner in the Generous Portion Stakes. Two winners last raced at SA, and the other winner was a juvenile FTS.
Riding doubles for Victor Espinoza (turf routes) and Umberto Rispoli.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-3-21
Generous Portion Stakes Recap – Winner: Connie Swingle ($3.40)
Sally Stanford hustled to the early lead and tried to sneak away at 28-1 odds, but strong favorite Connie Swingle chased outside and always had the measure of the longshot leader. Geovanni Franco took over aboard the chalk and they kicked clear to win by an east 3-1/4 lengths. Carmen Miranda rallied inside to land the place and my value top choice Big Novel stalked wide from midpack and was long for the show under Joe Bravo. Sally Stanford weakened to 4th and was followed by Bold Choice, Madiha, Stopdropandroll, Cause She’s a Lady, Drizella, and Irish Wahine. The winner completed six furlongs in 1:10.89.
The 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 pool was $296,896, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $1,742.96. The jackpot carryover stands at $419,662.
Sept. 3 Claims: Race 1 – Sea of Liberty ($32k, Jamey Thomas). Race 8 – California Street ($20k, Doug O’Neill), Scabbard ($20k, Bob Hess Jr.), Tacoflavoredkisses ($20k, Ryan Hanson).
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (9-3-21)
DMR 1 VIA EGNACIA ($12.00)
Double (races 1-2, $47.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $152.00)
DMR 6 Connie Swingle/Carmen Miranda/Big Novel Trifecta ($62.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Del Mar Recap for Saturday (9-4-21)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Four front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 6f, 6f, 5.5f). This was probably the strongest dirt speed bias of the summer meet. The turf course winners were a closer at 8T, a stalker at 8.5T, a stalker at 8T, a stalker at 9T, and an inside midpack stalker at 9T.
With multiple ship and win horses competing at Del Mar, I am keeping track of where the winners are coming from. On Saturday, nine winners last started at the current DMR meet, and four of them were exiting victories (Queen Goddess, Joker Boy, Going To Vegas, None Above the Law). One winner last raced at SA March 2020, and the other winner was a very impressive juvenile FTS for Baffert (Corniche).
Flavien Prat booted home a pair. Richard Baltas saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-4-21
Three stakes were on the docket Saturday starting with the I’m Smokin’. Joker Boy dueled early, turned away solid favorite Rock N Rye, and bounded away to score by 3+ lengths for Maldonado/Koriner. The winner covered 6f in 1:10.77. Rock N Rye was clearly second best and Thirsty Always stalked outside and checked in 3rd. My value top choice Moose Mitchell was well clear of the others in 4th and can score in the maiden ranks next time. Mr. T’s Thirsty, Eleuthera, and Zuboshi also ran.
In the John C. Mabee (G2) for distaff turf routers, Going To Vegas sat the perfect trip in 2nd behind longshot front runner Nasty. She hit the front early under Flavien Prat and comfortably held off my top choice Dogtag to score by 2-1/4 lengths. The runner-up bobbled at the start, was patiently handled under Rispoli, moved outside turning for home, and ran on nicely in the lane. Bodhicitta held 3rd by a neck over South American import Fast Jet Court, and Maxim Rate saved ground stalking the pace to no avail. Nasty and Tapwater trailed.
Finally, in the most wide open stakes race of the meet, None Above the Law sat a great ground saving trip behind the speed under Joe Bravo, and his rail rally made all the difference in the Del Mar Derby (G2), a 9T affair with a bulky field and plenty of traffic woes. Peter Miller’s CA-bred gelded son of Karakontie paid $23.00 in a race begging for an upset. Flashiest ran a bang up race to land the place from the far outside post in the 13-horse field. Hockey Dad set the pace and held 3rd over a troubled Cathkin Peak. Lincoln Hawk rallied to complete the Super High 5 after a troubled beginning. Zoffarelli was next and he had trouble as well, and Sword Zorro sat back and rallied wide from a tough post. Barraza chased and weakened, and Hudson Ridge did not have clear sailing from the inside post. No Foolery Here, Petruchio, Crew Dragon, and Jimmy Blue Jeans also ran.
The 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 pool was $599,424, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $11,860.12. The jackpot carryover stands at $556,901.
Sept. 4 Claims: Race 2 – Barristan the Bold ($32k, George Papaprodromou), Ian Glass ($32k, Mike Maker), Irish Heatwave ($32k, Mike Puype). Race 4 – Harbor Sky ($20k, Doug O’Neill). Race 8 – Ascot Storm ($20k, Mark Glatt), Charge Cash ($20k, Doug O’Neill), Gator Shining ($20k, Quinn Howey), Test Drive ($20k, Jonathan Wong).
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (9-4-21)
DMR 7 Sommer Daisy/Buzz of New York Quinella ($18.60)
DMR 9 Going To Vegas/Dogtag Quinella (Best Bet #3, $8.60), Trifecta ($59.60)
DMR 10 CORNICHE ($3.00)
Double (races 9-10, $12.40)
SAR 11 WAR LIKE GODDESS ($2.80) – Dr. Atlas
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Del Mar Recap for Sunday (9-5-21)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 5.5f on dirt. That strong speed bias from Saturday was long gone. Two closers won on the main track on Sunday. The turf course winners were two midpack stalkers at 8T, a pace presser at 8T, a front runner at 8T, and a front runner at 8.5T.
With multiple ship and win horses competing at Del Mar, I am keeping track of where the winners are coming from. On Sunday, seven winners last started at the current DMR meet, and two of them were exiting victories (Grace Adler, Norma Jean B.). As for the other four winners, one shipped in from CD, one last raced at LRC, one last competed at SA, and the other was a juvenile FTS.
Four-bagger for leading rider Flavien Prat. Riding doubles for Kent Desormeaux and John Velazquez. Training doubles for Bob Baffert, Bob Hess Jr., and Peter Miller.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-5-21
The first of two stakes on Sunday was the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and 34.90-1 longshot Liam’s Dove went straight to the front from post 10 and held on by a diminishing head for Kyler Frey and Peter Miller. Helens Well rallied nicely from the outside post under Prat and just missed. Dolly May was up for 3rd and maiden Urban completed the superfecta.
Bob Baffert saddled the winner of the Del Mar Debutante (G1) but not with the filly many were expecting. However, it was with my best bet top choice Grace Adler ($11.20). The latter sat patiently outside behind lively and contested fractions, and she rallied outside around the far turn, took over, and burst away to win by 11+ lengths under Flavien Prat. Dance To The Music won the pace battle but lost the war in a clear runner-up finish, and longshot maiden Bicameral gained the show at 28-1. Myfavoritedaughter passed tired rivals for 4th, and Baffert’s beaten favorite Eda got caught in a speed dueled and weakened to 5th. Rock the Belles, Elm Drive, and At the Spa trailed. The winner completed her seven panel journey in 1:23.76.
The 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 pool was $602,302, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $2,996.00. The jackpot carryover stands at $694,803, and there is a mandatory payout on closing Monday, Sept. 6.
Sept. 5 Claims: Race 1 – Wearenotbadpeople ($50k, Quinn Howey). Race 2 – Elgofranco ($25k, George Papaprodromou). Race 4 – Kerralia ($16k, Jonathan Wong), Liv and Let Liv ($16k, Librado Barocio). Race 7 – Trickle In ($40k, Dan Blacker).
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (9-5-21)
DMR 10 GRACE ADLER (DMR Best Bet #3, $11.20), Quinella ($15.80), Trifecta ($556.20)
DMR 11 BIG COUPE ($4.20), Trifecta ($61.40)
Double (races 10-11, $23.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Del Mar Recap for Monday (9-6-21)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f, 7f). The turf course winners were a front runner at 8T, a front runner at 8.5T, a front runner at 5T, a stalker at 8T, and a front runner at 8T. This was by far the most speed favoring turf course of the summer meet.
With multiple ship and win horses competing at Del Mar, I am keeping track of where the winners are coming from. On Monday, all ten winners last started at the current DMR meet, and three of them were exiting victories (A G Indy, Mackinnon, Pinehurst).
Three more wins for leading rider Flavien Prat. Riding doubles for Kent Desormeaux and Juan Hernandez. Training doubles Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 9-6-21
There were two stakes races on closing day and up first was the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. Mackinnon was the post time favorite and he stalked from 4th and drove home to win by a bit less than two lengths over 25-1 front runner Thirty Four Coupe. Silver Surfer did not have the smoothest trip from the inside post and checked in 3rd, and Optimising chased from 2nd and weakened to 4th. Aquitania Arrival was well clear of the rest in 5th. Mogollon Rim, Socal Red, Shortman, and My Mane Champ also ran.
The Labor Day feature was the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and it was the other Baffert again. Pinehurst went straight to the front under Mike Smith and easily put away his chalky stablemate in an easy 4-1/2 length victory. Finneus was up for the place at 38-1, and Saratoga shipper American Xperiment stalked from the outside post and finished 3rd. Papacap was next and Murray weakened to 5th. Olympic Legend trailed throughout.
The 20 cent Rainbow Pick 6 pool was $5,153,317 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $561,74.
Sept. 6 Claims: Race 1 – Colosi ($25k, Bill Spawr), Feast ($25k, Mike Maker), Luck of the Draw ($25k, Doug O’Neill). Race 5 – Chris Fix ($50k, Alfredo Marquez), Hay Juan ($50k, Doug O’Neill).
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Monday (9-6-21)
DMR 7 LAUREL RIVER ($3.40)
Double (races 6-7, $16.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $40.80)
Double (races 7-8, $9.20)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $57.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $38.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
Article by Jarrod Horak
