RACE 1 - [S] (F) OC 80k/N1X - Six and a Half Furlongs Synthetic
A’s
# 1 Easter Fever (Morning Line 5-1)
# 5 Grand Yodeler (ML 5-2)
B's
# 3 Princess Bertrando (ML 9-5)
C’s
# 4 Desert Thief (ML 8-1)
Grand Yodeler is the type of horse I would normally single in a race like this. Grand Yodeler has had three career races, all on this main track, and she's won two of them. Last time out Grand Yodeler defeated open company $50k claimers; so the move to today's contest is certainly no worse than a sideways move on the class ladder. The only bad race Grand Yodeler has run in her career was in the Generous Portion Stakes; but even in that event she finished ahead of a few who are running against her again today, including the Morning Line Favorite in this race, Princess Bertrando.
So why then isn't Grand Yodeler a single "A" Selection above? Because of the jockey scheduled to ride her today. And I never thought I would say that about Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens; but the fact is that he has yet to win since rushing back from knee surgery to compete in The Breeders' Cup earlier this month. Indeed, Stevens has finished in the Trifecta just once during this current Del Mar meet.
Now, I'm not saying that Stevens is done; nor am I tossing a well meant horse just because Stevens is on her. What I am saying is that caution is called for, at least until Stevens shows that he is indeed fully recovered, and gets his picture taken on horseback after a couple of races. So being cautious, we're spreading out in this one.
Easter Fever is one-for-two in her career over this main track, and took the Place at this class level two starts back at Santa Anita.
Princess Bertrando took a big step forward last time out in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Santa Anita. But will that form carry over in her return to the plastic? Princess Bertrando broke her maiden on the Del Mar main track, but that's been her only Win so far in four tries on the fake stuff. Your guess is at least as good as mine as to how Princess Bertrando will do today on the polytrack; all I know is that my life is going to be much, much easier once all the SoCal tracks are using real dirt.
Quite frankly, Desert Thief is on this ticket only because I didn't want to leave just one horse in the field uncovered. Still, Desert Thief is not without attributes, as she does possess legitimate early speed (it was she who lead the pack for the first half in the Generous Portion Stakes) and she has defeated open (non-state restricted) company. So while she's on this ticket primarily by default, it would not be a total shocker were Desert Thief to cross the wire first in this contest.
RACE 2 - (F) OC 40k/N1X - Eleven Furlongs Turf
A’s
# 4 Shysheisnot (ML 3-1)
# 6 Kadesha (Fr) (ML 5-2)
B's
# 3 Perfecta (ML 8-1)
C’s
# 5 Luvly Rita (ML 4-1)
Shysheisnot stretches out past a mile for the first time; in addition, this is her first try against open (non-state restricted) company. Still, she was solid in winning last time out, and the breeding is there, with Tribal Rule as her sire and Dynaformer as her dam sire.
Kadesha (Fr) took the Place at this class level over this turf course last time. Also factor in her connections; the Jockey / Trainer tandem of Kent Desormeaux and Bob Hess Jr has been winning more than a fourth of their contests over the past two years at Del Mar.
Perfecta is two-for-twenty lifetime; not exactly a glowing resume, until one sees that both of those career wins came over this turf course, in just six tries.
Luvly Rita is still a maiden, so she's racing above her conditions here. But she also ran above her conditions last time out on the Santa Anita grass, and managed to take the Place. Besides, how many eleven furlong turf races can there possible be for maidens? So since her connections want her to go long, just about the only way for Luvly Rita to do that is to compete against winners.
RACE 3 - Clm $8k - Eight Furlongs Synthetic
A’s
# 6 Cloud Hopper (ML 4-1)
B's
# 1 Cardio Royale (ML 5-1)
# 3 Usbek Thunder (Brz) (ML 2-1)
# 4 Deep Play (ML 5-2)
C’s
None
Cloud Hopper is back in the barn of Trainer Art Sherman, for whom he did his best running, earning a career best Beyer Speed Figure over this main track at today's distance at today's class level. A repeat of that performance would make Cloud Hopper an easy winner today.
Cardio Royale, one-for-five in his career on this main track, flashed some early speed last time out; a bit of a change of pace for a runner whose last Win came from well off the pace. Factor in the class drop, and Cardio Royale may be sitting on a big one.
Deep Play gets some much needed class relief, as his connections look to cut their losses after scooping Deep Play up for $20k two starts back. Usbek Thunder (Brz) has been competitive at this class level, and has the aforementioned Desormeaux / Hess, Jr Jockey / Trainer combo going for him.
RACE 4 - (F) OC 40k/N1X - Five Furlongs Turf
A’s
# 8 Mahalo Princess (ML 4-1)
B's
# 7 Harlington's Rose (ML 10-1)
C’s
# 3 Lucky S. J. (ML 5-1)
# 4 Air of Royalty (ML 3-1)
Mahalo Princess won in her only prior start of this turf course, which was also at today's distance and at this class level. Harlington's Rose acquitted herself well in her only prior career start on the grass, a route against state-bred stakes company where she battled on the front end and was able to grab the lead in the stretch, but could not hold on 'til the wire.
Lucky S. J. already has a win on dirt and a win on synthetics in her brief three race career; this will be her first try on the grass. Lucky S. J. has the breeding for the turf (as expressed by her Tomlinson Turf Rating, which is the best in this field) and since she won her career debut she should be okay to go off the bench.
Air of Royalty is also making her turf debut today; no doubt because she's done so poorly in her two starts on the polytrack, relative to her other two career outings. Still, Air of Royalty must be respected here due to her speed, and the addition of Rafael Bejarano as her rider should be viewed as a positive.
RACE 5 - Clm $16k N2L - Six and a Half Furlongs Synthetic
A’s
# 5 Intaxication (ML 3-1)
# 8 Secret Command (ML 5-2)
B's
# 1 Raise the Hoof (ML 8-1)
C’s
# 7 Mahalo Arturo (ML 7-2)
Intaxication goes against winners for the first time after graduating for $18k earlier this month on this main track. Secret Command just misses by half a length of being a perfect two-for-two in his career with Kent Desormeaux on his back; and, yes, she's trained by Bob Hess Jr.
Raise the Hoof took the Show at this class level over this main track last time out. Mahalo Arturo, drawing inside of Secret Command, could get a nice setup sitting right behind and to the outsdie of a dueling Intaxication and Raise the Hoof.
OK, that's the analysis. Playing our tickets via the Crist method we get:
All A Entries
$1.00 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 6 with 8 with 5,8 $8.00
A's with One B
$0.50 P5: 3 with 4,6 with 6 with 8 with 5,8 $2.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 3 with 6 with 8 with 5,8 $2.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 1,3,4 with 8 with 5,8 $12.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 6 with 7 with 5,8 $4.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 6 with 8 with 1 $2.00
A's with Two B's
$0.50 P5: 3 with 3 with 6 with 8 with 5,8 $1.00
$0.50 P5: 3 with 4,6 with 1,3,4 with 8 with 5,8 $6.00
$0.50 P5: 3 with 4,6 with 6 with 7 with 5,8 $2.00
$0.50 P5: 3 with 4,6 with 6 with 8 with 1 $1.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 3 with 1,3,4 with 8 with 5,8 $6.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 3 with 6 with 7 with 5,8 $2.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 3 with 6 with 8 with 1 $1.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 1,3,4 with 7 with 5,8 $12.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 1,3,4 with 8 with 1 $6.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 6 with 7 with 1 $2.00
A's with One C
$0.50 P5: 4 with 4,6 with 6 with 8 with 5,8 $2.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 5 with 6 with 8 with 5,8 $2.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 6 with 3,4 with 5,8 $8.00
$0.50 P5: 1,5 with 4,6 with 6 with 8 with 7 $2.00
Total: $83.00
Post Time for Race 1 is 3:30 EST / 12:30 PST. Good luck to all.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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