7/17: Del Mar (Opening Day; 4th-10th)

[Kasept]

The summer racing season becomes reality over the next 72 hours Del Mar's renewal today and Saratoga's Friday and both venues look poised for strong seasons. Certainly the opening day cards for both fan favorites get things off on the right foot. As discussed Tuesday with Brad Free and Jon White, remember that the speed of the Del Mar polytrack is greatly influenced by heat and humidity. When temperatures are coolish, the surface is tighter and has played honestly for speed. But when the mercury soars, the strip gets torpid and tiring and favors the rallying type. Two divisions of the Oceanside today of course and some good supporting action.

Welcome to summer... Enjoy it! Labor Day shows up fast..


DEL MAR


POST-SCRATCHES


4th: OC/N2X, 3+, 8.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Ivanho 5-2 WON ($8.60)
Best Value: #3 Kingpin Ryno 8-1 6th
Next Best: #6 Dreamcatcher 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #4 Cyclometer 7-2 4th


5th: Cal-MSW, 2yo-F, 5f (P6, P3, DD)

P6 players -- and the rest of us today -- will at least be able to get some clues as to live baby girls because there's precious little to grab hold of here after the $300k+ O'Neill Tapit Cal Gal (:10.0 at OBS April) and Kaleem Shah homebred My Lucky Rose from Baffert. Even when you see a hot working miss like Betty Bing Bing, you're tempered by Peter Eurton's 0/31 stat with first time starters..

Most Likely: #10 Cal Gal 4-1 3rd
Best Value: #7 Singleinthelast 12-1 6th
Next Best: #6 My Lucky Rose 3-1 8th
Exotics Use: #2 Cause Ur My Babe 6-1 4th
Super Add: #8 Betty Bing Bing 6-1 2nd


6th: Oceanside, 3yo, 1m-T (P3, DD)

'Softer' of the 2 divisions but still solid. Ward shows up with Wes Welker's Undrafted who after many different tests this spring, appears to have aptitude for today's exact assignment: Turf miles. Anderson gets visiting Rosario back aboard..

Most Likely: #5 Undrafted 5-2 4th
Next Best: #2 Gervinho 4-1 WON ($7.80)
Best Value: #4 Greeley Awesome 10-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #6 Freakin Rocket 7-2 3rd


7th: CLM, 3+, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Royal Meridian 3-1 2nd
Best Value: #4 Diamond of Blue 6-1 WON ($10.80)
Next Best: #1 Magic Beam 7-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #8 Legal Separation 4-1 4th


8th: Cal-MSW, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Tricky feeling group of Cal-bred maidens..

Most Likely: #4 Bro's Bro 4-1 2nd
Best Value: #7 Hope 'n Pray 6-1 6th
Next Best: #5 Love de Car 5-1 WON ($7.60)
Exotics Use: #2 Gentleman Pete 7-2 4th


9th: Oceanside, 3yo, 1m-T (DD)

2nd division features Derby Trail refugee Den's Legacy back on preferred surface. Anticipated return of Gabriel Charles comes here and he's been working up a storm. Joelito is 2/2 turf miling. Brad Free believes the imported Si Sage has a Euro class edge..

Best Value: #2 Gabriel Charles 5-1 2nd
Next Best: #4 Den's Legacy 7-2 6th
Exotics Use: #7 Joelito 5-1 7th
Super Add: #1 Saint Prado 20-1 9th


10th: MCLM/$20k, 3+, 6f (Super Hi-5)

Watch out for the AE's should they draw in. Valid But True and AE-Wildcat Candy are NEW geldings. Follow https://twitter.com/bobike1 for gelding info on SoCal circuit. This thing is a quagmire. Eight of the 12 look eligible to me and 10 of the 14 adding the AE's!

NOTE: #13 Wildcat Candy DOES draw in..

Most Likely: #12 Spring Up 5-1 WON ($12.40)
Next Best: #2 Jimmy the Whip 5-1 10th
Best Value: #1 Valid But True 20-1 12th
Exotics Use: #13 Wildcat Candy 7-2 2nd
Super/Hi-5: #3 In a Wine Tizzy 9-2 4th


<$50 P4 Play:

7: 4-6
8: 2-4-5-7
9: 2-4-7
10: 1-2-12-13

2x4x3x4 = 96 x .50 = $48


Good luck!
Steve