Del Mar Recap for Friday (7-22-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (8f, 6.5f, 6f). On the turf course, a front running favorite held on by a nose at 5f, a 22-1 closer tallied at 9f, closer Balnikhov (IRE) stormed home from 12th place in the Oceanside at 8f, and a stalker graduated in the flat mile finale at 5-1 odds.
Hat trick for Juan Hernandez.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-22-22
Oceanside (8T): My best bet top choice Balnikhov ($8.40) was clearly best for Rispoli/D’Amato. He broke slow, rallied through traffic, and kicked away late to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Anmer Hall stalked, led, and was second best at 29-1. Early runner Barsabas held 3rd at 55-1. Mackinnon did not have a great trip from the rail but also did not have a legit excuse in a disappointing 4th as the even money favorite. The final time for one mile on firm turf was 1:34.85.
July 22 Claims: Race 3 – Big Scott Daddy ($20k, Mark Glatt), Priano ($20k, Doug O’Neill), Pyeong Chang ($20k, Peter Miller). Race 4 – Big Buzz ($16k, Charles Treece), Exclusive Speaker ($16k, Bob Hess Jr.), Manitowish ($16k, Reed Saldana), Secret Touch ($16k, Unknown Trainer). Race 9 – Clem Labine ($40k, Peter Miller).
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $209,246, and nobody had all six winners. Multiple tickets with five winners paid $4,299.46. The jackpot carryover stands at $47,907.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (7-22-22)
DMR 2 Fast Buck/Gregory’s Pride Exacta ($20.80)
DMR 4 BIG BUZZ ($15.00)
Double (races 3-4, $57.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $292.80)
DMR 8 BALNIKHOV (DMR Best Bet #2, $8.40)
SAR 9 DOLCE ZEL ($8.60), Trifecta ($96.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Del Mar Recap for Saturday (7-23-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a stalker scored at 8f, an 18-1 closer won at 8.5f, 6-1 closer Avenue de France (FR) captured the Osunitas, and midpack stalker Bellabel (IRE) took the San Clemente (G2) as the 3-1 chalk.
Another hat trick for Juan Hernandez. Riding doubles for Joe Bravo and Kyle Frey (closing 2yo filly firsters at 5f). Umberto Rispoli and Phil D’Amato teamed up for two turf route wins including the San Clemente (G2) with Bellabel. They also teamed up to win the Oceanside on opening day with Balnikhov.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-23-22
Osunitas (8T): Hamwood Flier (IRE) got clear and tried to steal this as the 2-1 favorite, but this turf course does not typically reward front runners. She had the lead until deep stretch but Avenue de France ($14.00) was under a full head of steam under Juan Hernandez and closed fast to score by 1-1/4 lengths. Hamwood Flier just held the place by a nose over midpack stalker Rocking Redhead. The final time for 8T was 1:34.57.
San Clemente (G2): Bellabel ($8.00) sat chilly in midpack under Rispoli, and she found inside running room in the stretch and scored by a comfortable two lengths. Sixteen Arches (IRE) broke slow and rallied for the place at 36-1, and Island of Love (IRE) closed ground and was another neck back in 3rd. Lady T had the early lead, staked after that, and missed 2nd and 3rd by two necks. Lucky Girl (IRE) was up to her usual antics. She pulled hard, moved too soon, interfered with rivals behind her in the stretch, and was demoted from 5th to 9th. The final time for 8T was 1:35.32.
July 23 Claims: Race 1 – Established ($20k, Steve Knapp), Horn of Plenty ($20k, Mike Maker), Italiano ($20k, Dean Pederson), Joe Don Looney ($20k, Bob Hess Jr.), Lucky’s Royal Flush ($20k, Jamey Thomas). Race 6 – Sumo ($16k, Jerry Wallace II), Superman Shaq ($16k, Jonathan Wong), Tom Bombadil ($16k, Mike Maker).
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $326,540, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $947.36. The jackpot carryover stands at $122,671.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (7-23-22)
DMR 1 ESTABLISHED ($6.20), Trifecta ($65.80)
DMR 3 FEARLESS GIRL (DMR Best Bet #1, $9.60)
DMR 8 THE BIG WAM ($2.80)
Double (races 8-9, $16.80)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $69.20)
DMR 11 BELLABEL ($8.00)
Double (races 10-11, $33.00)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $235.00)
Late Pick 4 (races 8-11, $388.80)
SAR 5 NEST ($3.90) – Dr. Atlas
MTH 10 SEARCH RESULTS ($3.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Del Mar Recap for Sunday (7-24-22)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (5f, 8f). Three horses pressing from 2nd also won on the main track. On the turf course, a front running favorite graduated at 5f, a closing favorite scored at 5f, a stalking favorite from the inside post tallied at 9f, closing longshot Irideo (ARG) upset the applecart in the Wickerr Stakes at 8f, and a dueling longshot drew away in the 8.5f finale.
Ramon Vazquez booted home a pair. Doug O’Neill saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-24-22
Cougar II (G3): Tizamagician was making his first start since November 2021 for Richard Mandella, and the overbet favorite set the pace as expected. He was never able to get away from my value top choice Heywoods Beach ($8.20), and latter kept ratcheting up the pressure, wrestled away the lead, and was best by a length. Tizamagician held 2nd by a neck over Extra Hope and Order and Law was best of the rest in 4th. Dicey Mo Chara (GB) and Dean Martini also ran. The winner completed his 12f journey on dirt in 2:30.09.
Wickerr Stakes (8T): This race was turned upside down after the defection of strong morning line favorite Smooth Like Strait. Majestic Eagle also scratched, and Kentucky Pharoah showed the way early in the 11-horse field. The 38-1 longshot was still in front in the lane, but the closers were beginning to make an impact. Bran (FR) chased and made a bid, along with stalker Gregorian Chant (GB), but Irideo (ARG) sat back early, found running room in the stretch, and got up late to post a 31-1 upset for Hector Berrios and Marcelo Polanco. Gregorian Chant nipped Bran very late for runner-up honors. Kentucky Pharoah just held 4th. The final time for 8T was 1:35.50.
July 24 Claims: Race 1 – Secret Fix ($40k, Robertino Diodoro). Race 3 – Allaboutthemoney ($32k, Bob Hess Jr.), Loud Mouth ($32k, Resharn Creque), Sol Del Sur ($32k, Bob Hess Jr.). Race 10 – Dark Vader ($40k, Jeff Metz).
The 20 cent Rainbow 6 pool was $340,863, and multiple tickets with six winners paid $36,418.38. The jackpot carryover stands at $200,710.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (7-24-22)
DMR 4 HAVNAMELTDOWN ($4.60), Trifecta ($158.40)
DMR 5 JOHNNY PODRES (DMR Best Bet #1, $7.60)
Double (races 4-5, $18.80)
DMR 6 Hacking it Up/Stay in the Game Exacta ($22.60)
Double (races 5-6, $19.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $52.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $102.60)
DMR 8 HEYWOODS BEACH ($8.20), Trifecta ($70.60)
Double (races 7-8, $57.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $85.80)
WO 9 MOIRA ($4.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
————–
Article by Jarrod Horak
