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Del Mar Recap for Thursday (8-8-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners at one mile on dirt. On the turf course, an even money favorite stalked and graduated at one mile, a dueling front running first timer earned her diploma as the 3-2 favorite at 5f, and a 5-2 first timer stalked and scored in the CA-bred MSW finale at 5f (rail at 24 feet). 

Hat trick for Antonio Fresu (2 turf sprints). Carla Gaines saddled a pair of maiden turf winners.  

August 8 Claims: Race 1 – Arrogates Spirit ($20k, J. Kent Sweezey), McLaren Vale ($20k, Bill McLean). Race 2 – Ima Joker ($62.5k, Doug O’Neill). Race 3 – Jubilant Joanie ($8k, Steve Sherman). Race 4 – Ace Ace Baby ($16k, Jorge Periban), Princess Is Olivia ($16k, Peter Miller), Sabres ($16k, Adam Kitchingman). Race 7 – Wishtheyallcouldbe ($20k, Ron Ellis).    

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $102,280 and tickets with six winners paid $1,836,70. Tickets with five winners paid $21.40. 

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Thursday (8-8-24)
DMR 5 NELL’S LEGACY ($5.00), Trifecta ($48.40)
Double (races 4-5, $11.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $19.00)
Double (races 5-6, $28.00)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $69.80)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $69.00)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

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Del Mar Recap for Friday (8-9-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. Stalkers won all four sprint races on the main. On the turf course, a 6-1 stalker scored at one mile, a stalking favorite won at one mile, a 9-1 dueling front runner graduated at 5f, and a 3-1 closer captured the flat mile finale (rail at 24 feet). 

Juan Hernandez booted home a pair. Peter Miller saddled two winners. 

Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-9-24 

Graduation Stakes (CA-bred, 5.5f): Case Hit made the lead and hung in there for quite some time. He was clear by 2 lengths in the lane but his stablemate and post time favorite R Heisman was in hot pursuit. The latter stalked the pace and was patiently handled down on the inside, and a lane opened up and he came after the front runner. Juan Hernandez was aboard R Heisman ($4.60) and he was moving best of all in the late going and scored by 3/4ths of a length. Case Hit ran a winning race and was clearly second best, and I’m a Bad Boy chased the pace and was best of the rest in third. The final time was 1:04.08 and Peter Miller saddled the 1-2 finishers.  

August 9 Claims: Race 2 – True Patriot ($32k, Robert Hess Jr). Race 3 – Running Super ($50k, Vladimir Cerin), September Magic ($50k, Ryan Hanson). Race 4 – Rugelach ($40k, George Papaprodromou). Race 5 – Joe Don Looney ($20k, Librado Barocio). Race 8 – Bee Catcher ($30k, Doug O’Neill), Explain This Audit ($30k, Peter Miller), Incredible Shot ($30k, Peter Miler).    

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $184,087 and tickets with six winners paid $22,479.20. Tickets with five winners paid $159.60. 

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (8-9-24)
DMR 2 SUPER ENTICING ($14.00), Quinella ($48.40), Trifecta ($444.60)
Double (races 2-3, $112.80)
DMR 4 Rugelach/Adelie Exacta (DMR Best Bet, $7.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $173.00)
DMR 7 R HEISMAN ($4.60)
Double (races 7-8, $20.40)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

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Del Mar Recap for Saturday (8-10-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four front running sprint winners on dirt (5.5f, 6f, 5.5f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a 5-1 stalker tallied at 5f, a front running favorite won at 8f, another front running favorite tallied at 8f, strong favorite Anisette closed and scored in the G2 Yellow Ribbon at 8.5f, and a 5-1 closing first timer graduated in the 5f finale (rail at 12 feet). 

Juan Hernandez guided home three winners. Reylu Gutierrez (sprints) and Umberto Rispoli (turf routes) both booted home a pair. Jeff Mullins saddled three turf winners (2 at 5T).  

Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-10-24 

Grade 3 Sorrento (6f): Strong favorite Nooni ($3.00) was best. She set the pace from the inside post and her stablemate Casalu pressured her from the outside. The chalk put away her barnmate and had to hold off Vodka With a Twist in the lane, and she did just that and scored by 1 1/2 lengths. Vodka With a Twist was clearly second best and Casalu ended up a clear third. Night Beacon trailed and White Sands scratched. The final time was 1:10.41 and Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. 

Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon (8.5T): Anisette ($2.60) handled this group as expected. She was patiently handled under Umberto Rispoli and she drove home from off the pace to win by a length and a quarter. Uncorked (AUS) and Fuente Ovejuna (GB) finished in a dead heat for second, and Lucky Girl (IRE), Bellabel (IRE), and Ever Smart also ran.  Leonard Powell saddled the winner and the final time was 1:40.94. 

Aug. 10 Claims: Race 2 – Forgiving Spirit ($28k, Sean Williams), Mamba On Three ($32k, Librado Barocio). Race 9 – Devil Among Us ($12.5k, Sean Williams), Pop d’Oro ($12.5k, Ryan Hanson). 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $356,081 and tickets with six winners paid $1,025.20. Tickets with five winners paid $14.30. 

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (8-10-24)
DMR 3 FOR ALL MANKIND ($4.00), Exacta ($15.20), Trifecta ($40.20)
Double (races 2-3, $21.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $102.80)
Double (races 3-4, $10.00)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $103.80)
DMR 5 NOONI ($3.00), Trifecta ($9.00)
Double (races 4-5, $11.20)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $17.80)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $221.80)
Double (races 5-6, $11.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $43.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $55.40)
DMR 8 ANISETTE ($2.60), Exacta ($3.40)
Double (races 7-8, $11.40)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $43.60)
Double (races 8-9, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $50.80)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $89.40)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (8-11-24)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6f, 5.5f, 6.5f). On the turf course, a 3-1 stalker graduated in the 5f opener, a front runner/presser pulled off a 36-1 upset at 8.5f, a last-to-first closer graduated at 3-1 odds at one mile, a last-to-first closer won at 5-2 odds at one mile, and a 7-2 stalker earned his diploma in the 9f finale (rail at 12 feet). 

Umberto Rispoli booted home a pair of turf route winners. Juan Hernandez and Bob Baffert teamed up for two wins. George Papaprodromou saddled three turf winners.  

Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-11-24 

Grade 3 Best Pal (6f): Ivan the Great scratched and the field was reduced to four. Getaway Car was 30 cents on the dollar for Juan Hernandez and Bob Baffert, and he got clear early and rolled to a big win by 5 1/2 lengths. This race was a parade. Mischief River chased from second and stayed there throughout. White Sands stalked from third and finished in that position, and Tiz Happy trailed throughout. The final time was 1:10.73 and Getaway Car is expected to go next in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 8. His promising stablemate Gaming might join him in that race. The latter, a $250k Game Winner colt, romped by 5 1/2 lengths as the favorite in his career debut on Sunday, and he completed his 6.5f journey in 1:17.42. For the record, at the 6f mark in that race, he was timed in 1:10.51.    

August 11 Claims: Race 4 – Kitty Kitana ($100k, John Sadler). Race 6 – Sir Maximus ($50k, Jorge Periban). Race 8 – Antifona ($80k, Vladimir Cerin). Race 9 – Bag’s Gold ($20k, Ryan Hanson), Mobe Town ($20k, Steve Knapp). 

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $218,731 and tickets with six winners paid $6,070.30. Tickets with five winners paid $53.30. 

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (8-11-24)
DMR 2 No More Ding Dongs/Smokem If U Gottem Exacta ($29.40)
DMR 3 GETAWAY CAR ($2.60), Exacta ($5.60), Trifecta ($9.80)
Double (races 2-3, $22.00)
DMR 5 HOT GIRL WALK ($3.20)
DMR 6 Duran/Sir Maximus Quinella (DMR Price Play, $34.40), Superfecta ($1,250.40)
Double (races 5-6, $15.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $66.20)
DMR 10 DEALERS SPECIAL (DMR Best Bet, $9.20)
SAR 10 CARL SPACKLER ($6.10), Trifecta ($35.60)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted. 

Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my DEL MAR summer meet analysis. 

Jarrod Horak

Jarrod Horak posts stakes recaps from Del Mar and Santa Anita Park, along with full card recaps and free stakes picks from Southern and/or Northern California.