Del Mar Recap for Friday (11-29-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6.5f, 5.5f, 8f). On the turf course, a last-to-first closer won the flat mile opener as the favorite, a 3-1 closer tallied at 5f, a 9-1 midpack stalker graduated at one mile, closing favorite Truly Quality won the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at 1 1/2 miles, and a 3-1 closer captured the flat mile finale (rail at 24 feet).
Juan Hernandez (dirt) and Kazushi Kimura (turf routes) both booted home a pair.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 11-29-24
Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup (1 1/2 miles turf): None of the forwardly placed runners were around at the end. Truly Quality was the favorite from the outside post and the race flow was in his favor. My top choice Balnikov (IRE) was last for 1 1/4 miles before launching his rally under Kazushi Kimura. He struck the front in the stretch and I thought he had it, but Truly Quality ($5.20) found his best stride late and got up to win by a half-length for Vincent Cheminaud and Jonathan Thomas. Balnikov was clearly second best and Nineeleventurbo sat in midpack, led, and settled for the show. Rockemperor (IRE), Divin Propos (FR), None Above the Law, Goldeneye, Dicey Mo Chara (GB), and Fearless Soldier also ran. The final time was 2:28.54.
Nov. 29 Claims: Race 9 – Tam’s Lil Angel ($40k, Hector Palma).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $137,876 and tickets with six winners paid $2,445.70. Tickets with five winners paid $27.20.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (11-29-24)
DMR 2 HALONE ($8.60), Exacta ($13.20)
Double (races 1-2, $16.80)
DMR 3 PATRON D’ORO ($8.40)
Double (races 2-3, $50.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $168.60)
DMR 4 DON’T TELL TAMMO (DMR Best Bet, $5.00), Exacta ($13.20), Trifecta ($29.80)
Double (races 3-4, $15.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $115.20)
Double (races 4-5, $56.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $224.80)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $1,322.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $195.80)
DMR 7 Truly Quality/Balnikhov/Nineeleventurbo Trifecta (DMR Price Play, $205.40)
DMR 8 ACCURACY ($2.20), Exacta ($3.40)
Double (races 7-8, $6.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $23.60)
DMR 9 Sareeha/Strutting/Word Play Trifecta ($355.00)
Double (races 8-9, $15.00)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $44.40)
AQU 7 GIANT MISCHIEF ($3.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Saturday (11-30-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 6.5f, 6f). On the turf course, a 7-1 front runner graduated in the flat mile opener, a 20-1 closer tallied at one mile, 10-1 closer Will Then won the Jimmy Durante (G3) at one mile, 11-1 closer Mi Hermano Ramon captured the Seabiscuit (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, and 5-1 stalker Formidable Man won the Hollywood Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles.
Antonio Fresu booted home a pair.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 11-30-24
Grade 3 Jimmy Durante (8T): The early runners were not around at the end. Will Then ($23) sat back in 10th for the opening half-mile, and he advanced under Vincent Cheminaud and was going away at the end in a strong victory by 2 1/4 lengths. Casalu sat in midpack, forged to the lead, and settled for the place, and Resolve saved ground from the inside post and completed the trifecta. Sea Runner, Ce La Vi Charli, Slick (IRE), Dandy Vandy (FR), Schilified, Tigerish, Lee’s Baby Girl, and Acquitted also ran. Origami (IRE) and Supa Speed scratched. Jonathan Thomas saddled the winner and the final time was 1:36.46.
Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap (8.5T): Another turf route stakes and patient runners ruled again. Mi Hermano Ramon ($24.80) rallied to the fore in the stretch under Hector Berrios and he held off morning line favorite Redistricting (GB) to score by a half-length. Astronomer sat in midpack and finished 3rd. My 8-1 top choice Easter (FR) rallied inside and missed the show by a nose, and he was followed by Seal Team (GB), Zio Jo, St Anthony, Fast Buck, Almendares (GB), Cabo Spirit, Sumter, and Masteroffoxhounds. Mark Glatt saddled the winner and the final time was 1:41.07.
Grade 1 Hollywood Derby (9T): The pace was more controlled in this contest and Formidable Man ($12.60) stalked inside from fourth under Umberto Rispoli, and he moved out and edged clear to win by 3/4ths of a length. King of Gosford (GB) stalked the pace and landed the place, and longtime leader Donegal Momentum held the show by a nose over my 10-1 closing top choice Stay Hot. Beaten favorite Carson’s Run was next, followed by British Isles, Atitlan, Twirling Point, Cathal (IRE), Rothschild, and Heart Headed. Chatalas and Tirupati scratched. Michael McCarthy was the winning trainer and the final time was 1:48.40.
Nov. 30 Claims: Race 2 – Fifth Street ($25k, Doug O’Neill), Mischelof ($25k, Peter Miller). Race 6 – Brave Blend ($20k, Richard Baltas).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $166,831 and tickets with six winners paid $33,952. Tickets with five winners paid $161.10.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (11-30-24)
DMR 2 Man Child/Fifth Street Quinella (DMR Best Bet, $8.00)
DMR 6 Brave Blend/Pratchett/Ignatowski Trifecta ($63.20)
CD 9 Good Cheer/Quietside/Eclatant Trifecta ($13.48)
CD 10 IMPULSE BUY ($6.54), Exacta ($17.54), Trifecta ($71.84)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (12-1-24)
Fast main track and firm turf course. No front running winners on dirt. On the turf course, a stalking favorite won the 5f opener, last-to-first closer Unconquerable Keen captured the Stormy Liberal (5f) at 5-1 odds, front running favorite Clock Tower went all the way in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille at one mile, 12-1 inside stalker Sacred Wish upset the Grade 1 Matriarch at one mile, and a front running favorite graduated in the flat mile finale.
Five wins for leading rider Juan Hernandez. Riding double John Velazquez and both were flat mile graded turf races. Peter Eurton saddled two route winners and Hernandez rode both.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 12-1-24
Stormy Liberal (5f): Sassy Nature set a fast pace and Unconquerable Keen ($13.60) went last-to-first under Umberto Rispoli. My top choice Sorrento Sky (IRE) stalked from the inside post, led, and was second best, and Boss Sully stalked the pace and held the show by a nose over Just Nails. Turn On the Jets (IRE), Johnny Podres, Noble Reflection, Slider, and Sassy Nature also ran. The final time was 56.32 and Phil D’Amato saddled the winner.
Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille (8T): Clock Tower ($3.80) made the lead, slowed things down on the front end under Johnny V, and had plenty left in a sharp wire-to-wire win over unlucky maiden Scipio. The latter rallied from last and finished a clear 2nd, and Origami (IRE) nipped Game Warrior for the show. Snowdonia, Prince Dolce, and Lazlo also ran. The final time 1:36.78 and Wesley Ward saddled the winner.
Grade 1 Matriarch (8T): Sacred Wish ($27.60) was in the right tactical spot from the inside post under John Velazquez. Gina Romantica stalked from post 10, battled with Sacred Wish in the lane, and came up a neck short. Ag Bullet set the pace and weakened to 3rd, and Tax Implications (GB), Aspen Grove (IRE), Child of the Moon (GB), Mouffy, Nadette (FR), Aussie Girl (IRE), Prerequisite, and Tirupati also ran. George Weaver saddled the winner and the final time was 1:34.76.
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $300,264 and tickets with six winners paid $1,222.20. Tickets with five winners paid $12.70.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (12-1-24)
DMR 1 STYLE CAT ($5.60)
DMR 2 CHASING KAT ($3.40), Trifecta ($23.60)
Double (races 1-2, $11.40)
Double (races 2-3, $25.80)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $70.80)
DMR 4 DADDY JUSTIFY ($3.00), Exacta ($6.80), Trifecta ($17.00)
Double (races 3-4, $24.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $33.60)
DMR 5 Clock Tower/Scipio Quinella ($3.80)
Double (races 4-5, $7.20)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $38.00)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $87.40)
DMR 6 PAVEL IS APPEALING ($7.20), Exacta ($14.80), Trifecta ($97.80)
Double (races 5-6, $10.60)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $26.00)
DMR 9 CHARLIE’S TO BLAME ($6.40)
Double (races 8-9, $40.20)
Place Pick All (races 1-9, $145.00)
CD 11 SCOTLAND ($12.92), Exacta ($78.94)
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