1 st. Handicappers Selections. A Closer Look... RACE. Horses listed by program number. Mark Ratzky. Bob Mieszerski

Transcription

1 1 st by 3-Year-Olds and up, fillies and mares, claiming price $6,250, Five & One-Half Furlongs Ruben Fuentes Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Avail 1. Thames Valley -Veteran mare makes her 60th trip to the post, with the majority of her work coming over the smaller night oval here; hasn t been a threat with softer company in those outings and has just a show finish from 8 starts over the daytime oval here. 2. Coco Smooches - One of 2 in the cast with a tally over the mile layout here; has earned nibbles this year while racing under the Orange County lights, with the most recent outing coming during the summer TB meet where she was used up battling and finished behind today s rival Sharp Holiday; needs her very best to threaten. 3. Avail - Drops to a career soft spot here for Koriner and the only appearance here saw her a runner-up vs. straight maidens a year ago; chased home a hard-knocking mare in Myrcella in that last Del Mar appearances and figures to be a major player under these conditions. 4. Sunset Melody - Most recent snapshot came up in Sacramento in July when she upset a modest conditoned group at 19-1; a good runner-up over the Santa Rosa lawn with starter company at next asking and then was no threat after a slow start in an 870 affair here in the evening, finishing ahead of a troubled Sharp Holiday. 5. My Ebony Star - The other member of the cast with a local daytime score and the only distaffer in here coming off a victory; that win came in coast-to-coast fashion during the summer session with new best friend McDaid at the helm; Nunez re-claim paid instant dividends in that outing and a solid threat to do an encore. 6. Sharp Holiday - Both wins this season have come over the five-eighths night course, followed by the Battle Born/Vallejo claim from a race where she was run down late; first start for new connections saw her floated out on the bend in one of those 870 affairs during the evening. 7. Dancindyclear - Gave way in both of the Ferndale appearances vs. softer company and difficult to make a case today. 6. Sharp Holiday 3. Avail 4. Sunset Melody 3. Avail 6. Sharp Holiday 4. Sunset Melody

2 2 nd by 2-Year-Olds, Fillies, maiden claiming, Top claiming price $30,000, Five & One-Half Furlongs Martin Garcia Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Twitterati 1. Twitterati - One of 3 in her exiting that August 10 affair at Del Mar won by Secret Maneuver and she was best of the trio, picking up the show money despite getting away slowly for the 2nd time in as many starts and encountering some traffic issues at the furlong marker; Maldonado on the re-ride and a serious threat, especially with a clean take-off. 2. Party All Night - Gives Marchowsky two looks at the outcome along with the rail miss; played the role of bystander in that dash down at the seaside behind her barnmate, but has a right to move forward with the race under her belt and a couple of maintenance works in tow. 3. Gee Cee Cee - Gave way readily in both of the apperances down at the seaside; the most recent saw her departing from the tricky rail slot and taking a bump away from there; has to do better. 4. Bam Bams Lil River - The first of 2 new faces; sire has won with 27 of 208 debut youngsters while mom was unraced and getting her 2nd to the races; hails from Hall-of-Fame Hollendorfer barn with a long string of local works on her card. 5. Romolina - The other in here coming out of that August 10 contest down south and after an awkward start, she dueled up front and stopped when push came to shove; was hammered down to even-money when she made the introduction here in July and faltered in deep stretch that afternoon. 6. Pure Resolution - The other beginner; New Year s Day is off to a good start with 8 wins from his 43 newbies while the dam was unraced and has produced 4 winners from 6 to the wars, headed by Nakamoto (1K); modest Del Mar drills showing for Blacker. 1. Twitterati 2. Party All Night 4. Bam Bams Lil River 4. Bam Bams Lil River 1. Twitterati 2. Party All Night

3 3 rd by 3-Year-Olds and up, fillies and mares, claiming price $6,250, Five & One-Half Furlongs Mario Gutierrez Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Smart Rachel 1. Majectic Diva - Hasn t made the board in a trio of attempts over this layout, the most recent coming a year ago, and nothing doing in the 2 outings since the June claim at Santa Anita; does drop down to the purchase price for the first time in hopes of turing things around with Pereira trying his hand. 2. Gypsy s Rule - The good news would be that this gal has a win from 2 starts over this layout, with the downside being that win came 2 years ago and she s suiting up for the first time in over 18 months; barn having solid season and she returns in what could prove to be a pretty cozy spot. 3. Millie Joel - Took a drop in class, switched to the evening oval here last month and proved a punctual favorite over a bottom-level crew; overcame trouble on the turn that night with the runner-up returning to get her picture taken; new barn moves her up and to the mile layout where she has a show finish from 3 attempts. 4. Diamond Proof - Dominated her nighttime rivals 2 weeks ago at evenmoney with a coast-to-coast score for Hernandez while earning the overdue 2nd snapshot; the other victory came on the mile layout here last season and you know this filly is headed in the right direction. 5. Lovely Linda - Dips to the lowest level of her career in hopes of getting the first victory since a Del Mar graduation last November going a mile; last seaside effort saw her pushing the pace while outside a big spread and she couldn t quite hang with them late; was 3rd in lone local try vs. a better field in July. 6. B K Miss - It s been a long time since this one visited the circle and it s difficult to get excited about the work she s been doing here in the evening hours; looking elsewhere. 7. Singleforthesummer - Just the lone score from 24 attempts and you have go back pretty far to find that picture; had some trouble in that last Ferndale run, but a minor prize is the best we can predict. 8. Smart Rachel - Most recent try over this layout saw her crushing 9 rivals for the graduation papers, then she had an awkward start in the initial effort vs. winners down at Del Mar in late July and was well beaten that day; Palma has regrouped and she looks to be in a very nice spot from a cozy post with Payeras once again giving directions. 2. Gypsy s Rule 8. Smart Rachel 5. Lovely Linda 8. Smart Rachel 5. Lovely Linda 2. Gypsy s Rule

4 4 th by 2-Year-Olds, California-bred or sired, maiden special weight, Five & One-Half Furlongs. Trainer Edward Freeman Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Poppy's Note 1. Spendaholic - Reddam/Freeman runner is first of 4 new faces; dad has connected with a strong 18 of his 85 debut juveniles while the Sightseeing mare was unraced and is getting her first to the wars; modest works showing from Del Mar. 2. Nutty Sierra - One of 2 with experience; was part of a spirited early battle in the Santa Rosa unveiling 5 weeks ago and stopped in the stretch; blinkers go on with a bullet 6-furlong move showing here last month. 3. Whooping Jay - The 2nd Reddam homebred with O Neill tutoring this one; see Spendaholic for Square Eddie stats with dam winning 3 of 23 in her racing days for 3K; her only other to the gate is 1-for-9 for 45K; steady works at San Luis Rey and deserves a long post parade and toteboard check. 4. Take Charge Lucky - Lucky Pulpit hits at 10% with his debut youngsters while mom was winless in a lone start and will have her first starter; completed preparations with a bullet 3 panels from the gate her for a barn that has down well with the babies and enlists veteran Delgadillo. 5. Give Me the Lute - Rounds out the debuters for the potent Barber/Miller team with the usual SLR drills in tow; Boisterous is 1-for-10 with the new faces to this point while the Midnight Lute mare was winless in the one try and will be getting her first to the wars; must give a long look. 6. Poppy s C Note - The other to have seen action and has improved the figures with each outing for Miyadi; after getting away slowly in the first pair, he came away a little better last time and picked up his 2nd straight exacta completion; neatly drawn with Quinonez back in the saddle. 3. Whooping Jay 5. Give Me the Lute 4. Take Charge Lucky 3. Whooping Jay 5. Give Me the Lute 4. Take Charge Lucky

5 5 th by 3-Year-Olds & Up, maidens, claiming price $20,000, Five & One Half Furlongs Stewart Elliott Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Johnny Ray 1. Machete - Trailed when 2-1 in tougher spot going longer on turf 23 days ago. Best efforts have come going 870 yards at night. No factor in lone attempt over the daytime oval when competing for higher price tag against California breds. Would b e a surprise. 2. Rocinante - Hasn t been seen finishing fourth for slightly higher price tag in debut here last Dec. 2. Moderate works for return for stable that won with 15-1 outsider Exultation, who was also returning from a lengthy layoff. Not impossible and lures apprentice who shared the riding title here during the Summer Thoroughbred Festival earlier this year. 3. Scorpio - Defeated a grand total of one horse in three starts, traikling most recently when 83-1 at this level one month ago. Pass. 4. Johnny Ray - Returns to track where he is based after finishing ninth of 11 for this price tag more than seven weeks ago. Been 2-3 in half of his career starts and was second as the favorite in lone start here in first after being claimed for $20,000 from Blake Heap. Contender, but difficult to trust. 5. Crimson Charger - Finally makes debut three-quarters of a way through his 6-year-old season. Works don t inspire confidence and he s by sire who has yet to have a debut winner. Longshot. 6. Captain N. Barron - Failed to fire when 18-1 a month ago, finishing 10th of 11 at this plateau. Has hit the board in both of his local appearances, most recently finishing second as the ods-on choice the final day of the Summer Thoroughbred Festival. Can find his way into the exotics, but hard to take on top given the last effort and nine other misses. 7. Grand Minister - Broke slowly from the rail when checking in fifth of eight when 9-1 in debut here nearly two months ago. Homebred is capable of better for stable whose maidens often improve with experience. 8. Golden Gladiator - Stretches from 870 yards after finishing fourth of six when nearly 13-1 in first in four months two weeks ago. This is the first time he s been offered for a tag, but has yet to competitive in the afternoon. Tough to recommend. 7. Grand Minister 4. Johnny Ray 2. Rocinante 7. Grand Minister 2. Rocinante 6. Captain N. Barron

6 6 th by 3-Year-Olds and up, top claiming price $16,000, Five & One Half Furlongs Owner Bryan Carney Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Downside Up 1. Downside Up - Returns to scene of his maiden victory two starts ago after completing the trifecta when 5-1 for this tag five weeks ago. Has been 2-3 in well over half of his starts and has worked twice over his home track since raced, so exotics threat at the very least. 2. Kinematico - Showed way at longer distance before retreating to finish eighth of 11 when nearly days ago. Worked a halfmile over this track prepping for his first afternoon appearance here and should be prominent from the outset. 3. Michael Mundo - Split the field when third at almost 14-1 for slightly lower price 30 days ago. Blew out sharply since the effort and could make some late noise. 4. Dynamic Duo - Maiden has yet to finish better than fifth in 14 starts and is wheeled back six days aftter finishing far back when 9-1. Impossible to envision. 5. Katzumoto - Cuts back in distance after tiring in a route when 35-1 in first against winners Aug. 1. Scored an 8-1 upset over soft maiden field in last try over this track two races ago, so could perk up with the lesser company and the return to his home venue. 6. Lucky Pegasus - Idle since finishing fifth of six when 17-1 after breaking from the fence last Dec. 7. Kept relatively busy as a 2-year-old as he made nine starts in a span of about 6 1/2 months and did break his maiden here during the Los Angeles County Fair meet. Should be a forward factor, but looking elsewhere for the winner. 7. Rhettbutler - Raced wide and failed to rally when days ago. Finished in a dead heat for third in small field in lone previous try over this track for trainer-jockey combination that won with heavily-favored Hailey Rachele on Thursday. Possible. 8. Zapana s Game - Returns to dirt and the surface on which he posted his lone win after finishing fifth of six when 13-1 in tougher spot on turf Aug. 10. Gelding who graduated at -1 in his bow during the 2016 Winter meet could factor from close range. 1. Downside Up 2. Kinematico 8. Zapana s Game 1. Downside Up 8. Zapana s Game 2. Kinematico

7 7 th by 3-Year-Olds and up, maidens, claiming price $20,000, Five & One Half Furlongs Trainer George Papaprodromou Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Royal Seeker 1. Serve Me a Double - Pressed the issue while wide and faded in needed outing 25 days ago when making first start in almost two years. Goes outside to inside and is eligible to hang on better now that he s had a race as veteran jockey stays put. 2. Optimum - Sire has won with 18 of 167 debuters and first foal from dam who won four times and earned nearly $162,000. Gelding purchased for $15,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale has winning stable in his corner and won t have to be a champ to contend with this gang. 3. Friendly Steve - Exits same race as Serve Me a Double and was also prominent early before calling it a day when sixth of nine Aug. 15. Seeking first on the board finish and stamina would need to improve for him to challenge for the grand prize. 4. Hollywood Sky - Failed as the odds-on choice when facing weaker under the lights two weeks ago, but did hit the board in two tries over the daytime ovasl during an eight day span in July. May hang on for a piece. 5. Severin - Five starts into his career the homebred has defeated a grand total of four horses, checking in 10th of most recently when two weeks ago. Pass. 6. Working - Sheds the blinkers and goes for new connections after being claimed for $3,500 from Jesus Mendoza when distant third at 1-1 odds Aug. 18 going shorter distance at night. Third over this track in the afternoon three starts ago when trained by Peter Eurton. 7. Creative Hit - Trailed in lone start here when 7-1 against better more than two months ago. Strong local work tab for gelding, including consecutive best of the morning drills Aug. 17 and 26. Should be a major player in this context. 8. Tandy s Big Sky - Sire has not had a debut winner from three starters and first foal from unraced dam. Homebred has some gaps in local worktab dating to June 23, so prefer to see an outing. 9. Royal Seeker - Most experienced member of the cast will try for the 25th time to graduate. Has hit the board in three of five over this track and should put in some sort of late run. 7. Creative Hit 2. Optimum 9. Royal Seeker 2. Optimum 9. Royal Seeker 7. Creative Hit

8 8 th by 3-Year-Olds and up, top claiming price $,500, One Mile Trainer Jesus Mendoza Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Typhoon Harry 1. Midnight Soot - Hasn t threatened in two starts since being claimed for $30,000 - from Phil D Amato - out of a maiden victory May 13. Claiming price halved as he returns to the track over which he finished third - under this jockey - going shorter in his debut during the 2017 Los Angeles County Fair meet. 2. Johann s Command - Early factor only in similar restricted spot then faded to finish ninth of 11 when days ago. New rider aboard, but hard to take in current form and lone win came nearly 17 months ago against $20,000 maidens. 3. Spirit World - Away since finishing sixth of nine when 94-1 nearly two months ago. Hasn t been part of the exacta since defeating $20,000 maidens when odds-on May 21, 2016 when trained by Jeff Mullins. Outsider. 4. Son of a Royal - Fourth in same race Johann s Command exits and switches to apprentice who was aboard when he finished fourth as the favorite in his first start for this stable. Expecting more speed from gelding whose only score came vs. $30,000 maidens Feb. at Turf Paradise when trained by Jose Silva. 5. Typhoon Harry - Re-rallied after being passed by perennial maiden Supreme Giant to graduate in his only start over this track at this trip nearly two months ago. Fits off that effort after being overmatched on the turf Aug. 9. Has worked twice locally since and should be a player with these. 6. Canadian Warrior - Saw alll the heels when 30-1 going much shorter under the lights a month ago. Blinkers return and he did break his maiden at this distance, but that was at Turf Paradise after he was noncompetitive on the Southern California circuit in the afternoon. Pass. 7. Curly s Waterfront - Back to two turns after making some late progress going shorter eight days ago. Hasn t won since his 2-year-old season, but comes from productive stable and has some decent efforts around two turns. 8. Beloved Holiday - Start No. 13 proved lucky for gelding as he finally broke through vs. weak maiden field at Ferndale 15 days ago. Hasn t been part of the exacta in four earlier tries here, the latest when fourth of nine going much shorter distance July 13. Repeat is very unlikely. 7. Curly s Waterfront 4. Son of a Royal 5. Typhoon Harry 7. Curly s Waterfront 4. Son of a Royal 5. Typhoon Harry

9 9 th by 3-Year-Olds and up, fillies & mares, allowance/claiming, claiming price $40,000, Five & One Half Furlongs Geovanni Franco Top Recent Equibase Speed Figure at this distance: Naughty Sophie 1. Naughty Sophie - Has won her last two by a combined 16 1/2 lengths and remains with Del Mar s leading trainer after being a voided claim when romping vs. $20,000 claimers when last seen 44 days ago. Four works in the interim at San Luis Rey, but siding against a hat trick as she is facing much zip. 2. Kentan Road - Speedy 4-year-old has one way to go and might be the quickest of the quick as she returns to the scene of her maiden victory last Dec. 2. Scored 74-1 surprise over the turf two starts ago, but would be a surprise if she is able to take these all the way. 3. Demigoddess - Durable filly makes her 21st start of the year and is seeking her second lifetime win in her 59th career outing. Cuts back after failing to threaten in miler 23 days ago. Minor share not impossible as she has been third in half of her local races. 4. Tyfosha - Gray miss hasn t been better than third in five starts since an easy maiden victory at Oaklawn Park nearly eight months ago, the latest effort when fifth of nine at days ago. Needs a turnaround. 5. Belligerent - Makes first appearance outside Northern California after being claimed for $4,000 from John Martin after second consecutive victory, a seven-length romp as the odds-on chioice 30 days ago at Santa Rosa. Has been worse than third only once in her career, but facing much tougher and highly doubtful she makes the lead against this crew. 6. Vallestina - Disappointed as the favorite when returned to dirt in her second off the bench 16 days ago. Finished directly behind next out route winner Tonahutu on turf in her first after 11 months on the sidelines, so capable if she rebounds for trainer winning at a 19% clip in Diamondsandpearls - Expensive ($1.7 million) purchase as a 2-year-old makes first start in more than 13 months for Hall of Fame trainer. Proven fresh as she broke her maiden by daylight when heavily-favored in her Arcadia debut and solid work tab for return. One of the ones. 8. Dutch Mama - Broke slowly and never got involved when 49-1 vs. similar five weeks ago in race in which rival Conquest Flatterme was second. Hampered by lack of speed and lone win came against $30,000 maidens at Turf Paradise in Arizona. Longshot once more. 9. Conquest Flatterme - Seeks her fifth career score and fourth of Came up a neck short when the lukewarm choice at this level five weeks ago. Consistent mare has been off the board only once as a 6-year-old and her versatility should serve the Indiana bred well in this spot. 10. Media Tone -Lightly-raced filly makes first start since defeating maidens here in second career start July 15, the final day of the Summer Thoroughbred Festival. Has some gaps in her local work pattern since the victory, but her come-from-behind style could play well in a race that should feature a contested pace. 11. Late n Left - Has not come close in two starts after being idle for three months, the latest when last of nine 16 days ago. Won four of her first 10 races, but is only one for her last 14, so looking elsewhere. as she makes her first start for new trainer. 9. Conquest Flatterme 7. Diamondsandpearls 6. Vallestina 9. Conquest Flatterme 6. Vallestina 7. Diamondsandpearls