Del Mar Recap for Saturday (7-20-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Five front running sprint winners on dirt (8f, 5f, 8f, 5f, 6f). The other winner on dirt chased from 2nd, and the main track was clearly speed favoring on opening day. On the turf course, a 6-1 midpack stalker scored at 5f, a stalking favorite won at 8.5f, a 3-1 closer won the Oceanside at one mile, a front running favorite won the San Clemente (G2) at one mile, and a 35-1 closer graduated in the flat mile finale.
Juan Hernandez guided home three winners (2 dirt). Hector Berrios (turf routes) and Umberto Rispoli (turf) both booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled two winners and Hernandez rode both. Mark Glatt and Michael McCarthy (routes) both saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-20-24
Oceanside (8T): The pace was fast and closers dominated. The top three finishers rallied from 9th, 10th, and 8th. My top choice Guy Named Joe got a great setup as expected, but Formidable Man ($8.20) closed faster in the stretch to score by a length and a half under Rispoli. Guy Named Joe landed the place and was a half-length in front of Rothschild. The latter was making his first start since December 2023, and he closed from post 10, led, and saved the show.
Grade 2 San Clemente (8T): Iscreamuscream ($4.40) stretched out, set a pressured pace, and turned away my 9-1 top choice Zona Verde to prevail by 3/4ths of a length as the betting favorite for Berrios/D’Amato. Zona Verde is also a D’Amato trainee and he likes this turf course. Medoro had an uncomfortable closing trip from post 10 and was best of the rest in third. He missed the place by a half-length and this was his first career loss.
July 20 Claims: Race 1 – Atomic Drop ($16k, Francisco Rodriguez). Big Spin ($16k, Peter Miller), Supermazel ($16k, Bob Hess Jr.), Upstart Yankee ($16k, Doug O’Neill). Race 3 – Mas Rapido ($40k, George Papaprodromou). Race 10 – Tarantino ($40k, Peter Eurton).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $416,752 and tickets with six winners paid $254,450.80. Tickets with five winners paid $323.40.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (7-20-24)
DMR 1 ATOMIC DROP ($4.80)
Double (races 1-2, $11.40)
DMR 3 TIGERHON ($14.60)
Double (races 2-3, $34.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $95.40)
DMR 4 DE’ MEDICI ($5.00), Trifecta ($40.00)
Double (races 3-4, $33.40
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $127.00)
Double (races 4-5, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $130.40)
50 cent Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $92.15)
50 cent Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $227.90)
DMR 6 CAYUCOS ($3.20), Trifecta ($24.20)
Double (races 5-6, $13.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $31.40)
DMR 7 Formidable Man/Guy Named Joe Quinella (DMR Best Bet #1, $20.40)
Double (races 6-7, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $86.00)
DMR 9 Iscreamuscream/Zona Verde Quinella (DMR Price Play, $19.20)
$1 Place Pick All (races 2-11) – 9 of 10 ($657.40)
MTH 10 TAPIT TRICE ($7.60), Exacta ($14.40)
SAR 11 THORPEDO ANNA ($2.50)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (7-21-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (8f, 5f, 5f). The other two dirt winners pounced from 2nd. On the turf course, a 5-1 stalker won the flat mile opener, a 7-2 closer scored at 8.5f, an 11-1 stalker tallied at 9f, front running favorite Ag Bullet won the Osunitas at one mile, 7-2 stalker First Peace won the Wickerr at a mile, and a 25-1 outside stalker took the 8.5f finale from the outside post.
Umberto Rispoli booted home three turf route winners. Kyle Frey guided home two route winners. Doug O’Neill saddled three dirt winners (2 sprints).
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-21-24
Osunitas (8T): Ag Bullet was the favorite and he dominated this race throughout (23.69, 47.80, 1:12.02). He got clear early and won by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths at 1.40-1. My top choice Hang the Moon sat in midpack and rallied for the place in a solid effort. Ascendancy stalked inside and completed the trifecta at 31-1. Umberto Rispoli rode the winner for Richard Baltas and the final time was 1:34.73.
Wickerr (8T): This event was two races after the Osunitas and the pace was much quicker in this heat (22.16, 45.04, 1:09.59). Noble Reflection, Cabo Spirit, and Air Force Red were the three early runners and they were nowhere at the end. First Peace let the three early runners go and was patiently handled by Mike Smith. He got the first run and stayed clear in the lane to win by a length and a quarter. Astronomer sat in midpack from post 11 and was second best. Flashiest rallied for the show and was followed by Conclude and beaten favorite Almendares (GB). The latter was my top choice and he was a flat 5th in a disappointing effort.
July 21 Claims: Race 2 – J B Strikes Back ($20k, Ryan Hanson). Race 6 – The Big Cheeseola ($12.5k, Steve Knapp). Race 10 – Lansdowne ($20k, J. Kent Sweezey), Smuggler’s Run ($20k, Isidro Tamayo), Windribbon ($20k, Peter Miller).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $237,355 and nobody had all six winners. Tickets with five winners paid $503.10. There will be a Pick 6 carryover of $144,919 when live racing resumes on Thursday.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (7-21-24)
DMR 4 CASALU ($3.20)
Double (races 3-4, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $135.60)
DMR 7 Ag Bullet/Hang the Moon Quinella ($8.20)
DMR 8 Nyce Going/I’m a Bad Boy/Style Cat Trifecta ($79.80)
SAR 5 RAGING SEA ($5.30)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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