Del Mar Recap for Thursday (7-25-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (5f, 6f, 12f). On the turf course, a 6-1 front runner scored at 5f, an even money front runner tallied at 5f, and an 11-1 closer graduated in the flat mile finale (rail at 24 feet).
No riding or training doubles on Thursday.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-25-24
Grade 3 Cougar II (1 1/2 miles dirt): Reincarnate was hammered in the wagering for Hernandez/Baffert but another runner got out there and never gave them a chance. That runner was Midnight Mammoth and he controlled this marathon dirt race on the front end under Armando Ayuso (24.21, 48.16, 1:12.93). Reincarnate chased from second and tried to make a race of it, but Midnight Mammoth ($20) had no intention of stopping and widened in the lane to score by 10 lengths. Reincarnate had no dangers for the runner-up spot and was 7 3/4 lengths in front of Salesman (IRE). Dual Threat was fourth and it was a long way back to Cam Sea (eased, walked off). Clooney scratched. The final time was 2:32.03 and Craig Dollase saddled the winner.
July 25 Claims: Race 3 – Adday in Asia ($32k, Vann Belvoir), Aventapp ($32k, Steve Knapp), Paleo’s Princess ($32k, Sandino R. Hernandez), She’s Got a Way ($32k, Vann Belvoir).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $1,216,450 and tickets with six winners paid $177,525.50. Tickets with five winners paid $559.20.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Thursday (7-25-24)
DMR 1 GREATHEART ($6.00)
DMR 2 A VOTRE SANTE ($19.60)
Double (races 1-2, $42.80)
Double (races 2-3, $245.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $290.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $541.60)
DMR 7 Midnight Mammoth/Reincarnate Exacta ($24.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Friday (7-26-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (5f, 8f, 7f). On the turf course, a 7-1 closer scored at one mile, a 22-1 front runner earned his diploma at 5f, a stalking favorite tallied at 11f, and a 2-1 stalker broke her maiden at one mile (rail at 24 feet).
Riding double for Juan Hernandez (routes). Phil D’Amato and Michael McCarthy (dirt) both saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-26-24
Fleet Treat (CA-bred, 7f): Pushiness made the lead and post time favorite Grand Slam Smile chased from second. It was always going to be one of those two, and Pushiness ($7.60) kept on going under Rispoli and won by a comfortable 3 1/2 lengths. Grand Slam Smile was second best and Safa rallied to complete the trifecta. Michael McCarthy saddled the winner and the final time was 1:23.03.
July 26 Claims: Race 2 – Madiha ($25, Vann Belvoir), Sky Maker ($25k, Steve Knapp).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $217,552 and multiple tickets with six winners paid $16,603.60. Ticket with five winners paid $106.20.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (7-26-24)
DMR 5 MYSTIC SPIRIT (DMR Best Bet, $4.20), Superfecta ($128.40)
Double (races 5-6, $15.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7 $46.80)
DMR 8 MIZ CLUBCALI ($6.80), Exacta ($7.00), Superfecta ($166.20)
Double (races 7-8, $25.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $91.00)
Late Pick 4 (races 5-8, $236.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Saturday (7-27-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running sprint winner at 5 1/2 panels on dirt. Stalkers were best on the main. On the turf course, a stalker from the outside post won at 5f, a 4-1 front runner wired the field and graduated from the inside post at one mile, 9-2 stalker Connie Swingle returned from a long layoff to capture the Daisycutter Handicap at 5f, a 7-2 closer scored at one mile, and a midpack stalker earned her diploma in the flat mile finale (rail at 12 feet).
Hector Berrios, Antonio Fresu, and Kyle Frey (sprints) each booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two turf winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-27-24
Daisycutter Handicap (5T): Phil D’Amato saddled the 1-2 finishers in this turf sprint. Elm Drive was the favorite but was outshined by her stablemate Connie Swingle ($11.20). The latter, making her first start since October 2022, stalked inside from third and out finished her stablemate Elm Drive in the lane to score by 1 3/4 lengths. Elm Drive was second best and my top choice Stay and Scam stalked the pace from the outside post and held the show. Kyle Frey was the winning pilot and the winning time was 56.42.
Grade 2 San Diego (8.5f): This was the local prep for the G1 Pacific Classic and it did not go according to plan for heavy favorite Arabian Knight. He made the lead as expected vs. four rivals, but Dr. Venkman ($8.20) was breathing down his neck and put him away early and easily, and he held off 20-1 longshot Katonah to win by a length. Dr. Venkman, ridden by Antonio Fresu, was making his first start over a route of ground. Katonah stalked the pace and landed the place in his first start since June 2023. Express Train rallied from last and made a menacing move, but could not go with the top two late and settled for the show. Arabian Knight had not been seen since the 2023 BC Classic, and he was obviously short but should have shown more. Newgrange raced wide and trailed. Mark Glatt saddled the winner and the final time was 1:43.36.
Grade 1 Bing Crosby (6f): Front runner Straight No Chaser scratched and that development threw the race shape into chaos. Five horses were in a mad scramble for the early lead through a quarter in 22.73 and a half in 45.36. CA-bred win machine The Chosen Vron ($5) raced wide under Hector Berrios and forged to the front after a half, and he took over after that. He kicked away to score by 2 1/4 lengths over Kentucky shipper Closethegame Sugar, and lightly raced Jackstown raced wide from the outside post and was best of the rest in third. See Through It, Anarchist, a disappointing Happy Jack (never got involved), and Giant Game also ran. The final time was 1:08.99.
July 27 Claims: Race 2 – Heart Headed ($50k, George Papaprodromou), Mission Beach ($50k, John Sadler). Race 4 – Gypsy Lynn ($10k, J. Kent Sweezey). Race 6 – Cloudy Women ($80k, John Sadler), Ready to Dare ($80k, Francisco Garcia).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $446,792 and tickets with six winners paid $272,786.50. Tickets with five winners paid $1,033.20.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (7-27-24)
DMR 9 HALFWAY LINE (DMR Price Play, $9.40), Trifecta ($200.00)
Double (races 8-9, $34.40)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $354.40)
Double (races 9-10, $26.80)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $223.20)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (7-28-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Four front running winners on dirt (8f, 5,5f, 8f, 6.5f). On the turf course, an 11-1 stalker graduated at 5f, a 5-1 outsider presser tallied at 5f, an outside 5-1 stalker graduated at 8f, outside stalking favorite Johannes won the Eddie Read (G2) at a mile and an eighth, and a 1.90-1 stalker won the flat mile finale (rail at 12 feet).
Kazushi Kimura (dirt) and Umberto Rispoli (turf) both booted home a pair. Tim Yakteen saddled two winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 7-28-24
Grade 2 Eddie Read (1 1/8 miles on turf): Solid favorite Johannes ($4.20) looked good in this one. He chased Balladeer from second, took over in the stretch, and was clear at the end by 2 1/2 lengths. 76-1 longshot Dicey Mo Chara (GB) stalked from midpack and completed the exacta, and Balnikov (IRE) rallied from last to land the show. Master Piece (CHI) nipped Easter (FR) for fourth, and Du Jour, Gold Phoenix (IRE), Balladeer, and There Goes Harvard also ran. The final time was 1:47.88 and Umberto Rispoli rode the winner for Tim Yakteen.
July 28 Claims: Race 1 – Dream Princess ($16k, Sean Williams), Flatterwithjewels ($16k, J. Kent Sweezey). Race 5 – Give Me the Lute ($32k, Phil D’Amato), Whatmakessammyrun ($32k, J. Kent Sweezey). Race 6 – Respect the Crown ($12.5k, Gary Stute). Race 10 – Anna’s Wish ($40k, Dean Peterson).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $311,402 and tickets with six winners paid $6,844.10. Tickets with five winners paid $81.90.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (7-28-24)
DMR 1 DREAM PRINCESS ($7.60), Exacta ($17.20)
DMR 4 PARENTING ($2.80)
Double (races 3-4, $18.20)
DMR 11 MOMENT’S PLEASURE (DMR Best Bet #2, $5.80)
SAR 9 SILVER KNOTT ($2.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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