Check out my Sunday (7-28-24) Del Mar Race 9 analysis below.
DMR 9 (G2 Eddie Read, 9T) – Post Time 9:08pm EDT
Primary – #4 EASTER, #9 Johannes
Secondary – #7 Du Jour, #2 Master Piece, #3 Gold Phoenix
Horse Comments:
#4 Easter (4-1) disappointed as my top choice in the G1 Shoemaker Mile on May 27. He just fell too far back from post 11 that day and the longer distance of this race could make all the difference. He rallied to win the local G2 Seabiscuit at 1 1/16 miles last November and captured the G2 San Gabriel at a mile and an eighth in his final 2023 start. He rallied for the place in the G1 Kilroe Mile on March 3 before his aforementioned Shoemaker Mile effort. He drilled a half-mile bullet for this on June 17 and his winning rider Antonio Fresu strings along. He adds blinkers and drew a favorable post, and will probably not be as far back early in this spot.
#9 Johannes (2-1) is 5-for-6 on turf. Two of those wins were in turf sprints and the other three were at one mile. His lone mistake on turf was a close 5th of 13 in the G2 American Turf at 1 1/16 miles last year. He was excellent in the G3 American and G1 Shoemaker Mile in his last pair, and Umberto Rispoli had him in the right spot throughout in both of those races. He will need to work out a trip from the outside post and we will find out if he can be as effective a mile and an eighth.
#7 Du Jour (5-2) won two local turf route stakes races last year (Wickerr, G2 Del Mar Mile), and got a great closing trip and won by 2 lengths over Easter in the G1 Kilroe Mile on March 3. He was the favorite in the Shoemaker Mile and got going too late in a show finish. The flat mile specialist reconnects with his winning Wickerr pilot Juan Hernandez and will try to navigate another furlong.
#2 Master Piece (8-1) exits a neck victory over subsequent stakes winner Ottoman Fleet (G3 Arlington, G2 Wise Dan) in the G2 Fort Marcy on May 4. The 4-time winner at this distance likes this turf course (3 1-2-0).
#3 Gold Phoenix (6-1) was last seen winning the G2 Whittingham at 10T on May 4. He is 3-for-4 with a show finish at DMR and he won the G2 Eddie Read and G2 Del Mar Handicap last summer.
Wagers:
#4 to win
Quinella 4-9
Trifecta key 4/2-3-7-9
Trifecta 4-7-9/2-3-4-7-9/2-3
Superfecta 4-9/4-7-9/all/2-3-4-7-9
July 2024 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
July 4 – Emery ($3.20)
July 12 – Miss Justify ($7.50)
July 13 – Whitebeam ($11.60)
July 14 – Star of Mystery ($3.30), Trifecta ($22.60)
July 16 – Toolcat ($14.20), Trifecta ($74.40)
July 18 – The Big Torpedo/Courtly Banker/Fedelightcayut Trifecta ($27.60)
July 19 – Unmatched Wisdom ($2.80)
July 20 – Formidable Man/Guy Named Joe Quinella ($20.40)
July 25 – Midnight Mammoth/Reincarnate Exacta ($24.20)
Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my DEL MAR summer meet analysis.
