Del Mar Recap for Thursday (8-1-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a 3-1 stalker graduated in the 5f opener, a 9-2 outside stalker scored at 5f, a front running favorite scored at 8.5f, and a 9-2 stalker won the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Hat trick for Juan Hernandez (2 dirt). John Sadler saddled the early double.
August 1 Claims: Race 2 – American Farmer ($32k, Sam Wilensky), Bright Leaf ($32k, Sean Williams). Race 5 – Sing a Happy Song ($20k, Doug O’Neill). Race 6 – Pioneer Prince ($32k, Doug O’Neill).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $91,311 and tickets with six winners paid $7,964.40. The jackpot carryover stands at $55.70.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Thursday (8-1-24)
DMR 1 Supa Speed/Sophistry/My Perfect Wave Trifecta ($305.00)
DMR 2 BRIGHT LEAF ($4.00), Exacta ($15.80)
Double (races 1-2, $18.00)
DMR 3 One Arrow/Girlcanthelpit/I’m Still In It Trifecta ($182.00)
Double (races 2-3, $37.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $158.00)
DMR 6 PIONEER PRINCE ($6.60)
Double (races 5-6, $21.80)
DMR 7 Loretta Lynn/Nanci Griffith/Dendera Trifecta (DMR Price Play, $86.40)
Double (races 6-7, $13.20)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $63.80)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $97.60)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Friday (8-2-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. All four dirt races were captured in wire-to-wire fashion (5.5f, 8f, 7f, 5,5f). On the turf course, an 18-1 longshot wired the field from the inside post in the 5f opener, a 13-1 midpack stalker graduated at 5f, a 13-1 patient runner rallied for the win at one mile, and a 5-1 patient runner rallied to graduate at one mile (rail at 30 feet).
Diego Herrera and Antonio Garcia teamed up for two dirt sprint winners. Jeff Mullins saddled two maiden sprint winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-2-24
Real Good Deal (CA-bred, 7f): Curlin’s Kaos ($14.80) put blinkers back on and was aggressively handled. His rider Diego Herrera put him on the lead and that was the ballgame. He was clear throughout and won by 5 3/4 lengths. Pure Madness did not have the best beginning from the intimidating inside post, and he chased the pace and ended up 7 1/4 lengths in front of beaten favorite Shady Tiger. The latter stalked wide from post 12 and was best of the rest in third. The final time was 1:21.72.
August 2 Claims: Race 2 – Annie Fox ($20k, Edward Freeman). Race 8 – Moonlight Tryst ($50k, George Papaprodromou).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $174,825 and tickets with six winners paid $106,741.10. Tickets with five winners paid $1,212,90.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (8-2-24)
DMR 2 Sky Sailing/Annie Fox/Dixie Trifecta ($164.20)
DMR 4 NORMANDY QUEEN ($5.40)
SAR 8 CINDERELLA’S DREAM ($2.60), Exacta ($12.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Saturday (8-3-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 8f). Stalkers won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a 5-2 closing first timer graduated in the flat mile opener, an 8-1 front runner held on by a nose at one mile, a 42-1 outside stalker scored from post 10 at 5f, a 5-2 inside stalker scored at one mile, a stalker from the inside post won the California Dreamin’ at 8.5f, and a 7-2 stalker graduated in the 8.5f finale (rail at 18 feet).
Hector Berrios (routes), Abel Cedillo (turf routes), Juan Hernandez (dirt routes), and Umberto Rispoli each booted home a pair. John Sadler saddled a pair of dirt route winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-3-24
California Dreamin’ (CA-bred, 8.5T): The expected strong pace did not develop. Proof He Rides got loose through moderate splits. On the Whim stalked from the inside post and edged away in the lane to win by a length and a quarter. Abel Cedillo rode the winner for Dean Pederson and he paid $22. Proof He Rides held the place and None Above the Law rallied for the show. The final time was 1:41.44.
Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch (8.5f): 58-1 outsider Olivia Twist showed the way early and Scylla was in a perfect pressing spot. The later took over and looked home free, and strong favorite Adare Manor was stalking inside and seemed to be in trouble. Scylla was clear in the lane but Adare Manor came alive and rolled right on by to score by 2 3/4 lengths. Scylla was clearly second best and Flying Connection nipped Desert Dawn for the show. The final time was 1;43.29 and Juan Hernandez rode Bob Baffert’s popular winner.
August 3 Claims: Race 2 – Demotivate ($25k, Val Brinkerhoff), Haywood ($25k, Steve Sherman), J B Strikes Back ($25k, Doug O’Neill), Midnight Love ($25k, Craig Dollase). Race 4 – Good With People ($40k, Mark Glatt), Red Flag ($40k, Jeff Mullins), Terry’s Boy ($40k, Jeff Mullins). Race 5 – Zoffarelli ($80k, Peter Miller). Race 7 – Mogollon Rim ($20k, Val Brinkerhoff). Race 8 – Big Hat Willie ($40k, Ryan Hanson). Race 11 – Leading ($62.5k, Doug O’Neill), Mysterious Husband ($62.5k, Doug O’Neill).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $453,193 and tickets with six winners paid $21,284. Tickets with five winners paid $106.80.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (8-3-24)
DMR 6 ONE MAGIC PHILLY ($5.60), Exacta ($14.80)
Double (races 6-7, $21.40)
DMR 10 ADARE MANOR ($3.20), Trifecta ($55.80)
DMR 11 – 50 cent Super High 5 (4-9-6-1-2) – $5,888.85
Double (races 10-11, $22.60)
SAR 8 WAYS AND MEANS ($3.40), Exacta ($7.50)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (8-4-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Five front running sprint winners on dirt (7f, 8f, 5.5f, 5.5f, 6f). On the turf course, an 8-1 stalker graduated at 5f, a last-to-first closer won the La Jolla at 8.5f, an 8-1 stalker tallied at 5f, a 9-2 front runner wired the field at 5f, and a stalking favorite captured the flat mile finale (rail at 18 feet).
Antonio Fresu (routes), Reylu Gutierrez (dirt sprints), and Juan Hernandez (sprints) each booted home a pair.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-4-24
La Jolla Handicap (8.5T): Stay Hot was too good for these as my top choice. Overbet favorite Final Boss set the pace but did not last. The turf course at Santa Anita is more kind to speed horses and he gave up the ghost in the stretch in this event. Stay Hot ($8.00) finished under a full head of steam and scored by a length and a half. King of Gosford (GB) rallied for the place after a troubled trip in the Oceanside. I was surprised that he was not the betting favorite in this affair. Atitlan got past Final Boss late to secure the show by a neck, and Prince of Power trailed. The final time was 1:40.98 and Antonio Fresu rode the winner for Peter Eurton. Stay Hot might go next in the Del Mar Derby.
CTBA (CA-bred, 5.5f): The main track has been mostly speed favoring since opening day, and front runners captured the first five dirt races on Aug. 4. Based on those stats, In the Air Tonight had no business winning this race. My top choice took the late money and was the 2-1 favorite when all was said and done, and she raced wide every step of the way from the outside post and closed down the center of the track to score in visually impressive fashion by 5 1/4 lengths. Thirsty Mama stalked the pace and was clearly second best, and Thirsty in Vegas dueled and was best of the rest in third. The final time was 1:05.37 and Tiago Pereira rode the winner for Steve Knapp. Stay Thirsty sired the top three finishers.
August 4 Claims: Race 4 – El Diablo Rojo ($10k, Sean Williams), Rivoli ($10k, George Papaprodromou). Race 11 – Spirit Maker ($25k, Steve Miyadi).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $310,262 and tickets with six winners paid $7,577.20. Tickets with five winners paid $46.30.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (8-4-24)
DMR 1 JONAS’ DREAM ($5.20), Exacta ($11.80)
DMR 4 CAJUN BROTHER (DMR Price Play, $11.00), Exacta ($42.80), Trifecta ($252.40)
Double (races 3-4, $172.40)
DMR 5 STAY HOT (DMR Best Bet #1, $8.00), Exacta ($19.20)
Double (races 4-5, $64.70)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $699.80)
DMR 7 Bob’s Blue Moon/Lemon Sushi Exacta ($66.20)
DMR 8 HOPE ROAD ($3.40)
Double (races 7-8, $31.40)
Double (races 8-9, $21.00)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $183.80)
DMR 10 IN THE AIR TONIGHT ($6.20), Trifecta ($92.20)
Double (races 9-10, $44.20)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $57.80)
Double (races 10-11, $17.60)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $76.80)
Late Pick 4 (races 8-11, $128.80)
50 cent Late Pick 5 (races 7-11, $311.40)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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