9/5: Del Mar (Futurity; $194k C/O)

[Kasept]

An outstanding horseplayer summer comes to a complete end Wednesday with Del Mar's meet finale. As much fun as Saratoga was the past 7 weeks, the action at the seaside oval has been equally compelling and it was only fitting that this particular stand close with yet one ultimate carryover sequence. The pool starts with $194k and it won't surprise if the challenging skein generates a total pot of $2 million. Though I officially ended the Spa season down about $1,400 after some aggressive swings at meet's end, I guess I can take another shot and include today's California play into the tally with Del Mar's 2012 action having contributed positively to the summer's overall results.

No matter how any of us did at the windows, the success of the summer seasons at SAR, DMR, AP, MTH and ELP, as indicated by enthusiastic attendance and handle figures, flies in the face of the non-stop brickbatting by the sport's critics. Based on the overwhelmingly positive atmospheres reported by patrons around the country this summer, you have to wonder if the doomsayers actually ever go to a racetrack or ever bet. People that seriously play or casually enjoy horse racing wouldn't have time or inclination to negatively spin every racing story that appears on the internet, but the ones that do paint a portrait of a failing sport which the realities completely belie.

Hope you had a great summer and take down a piece of the Del Mar closing day jackpot..


DEL MAR


POST-SCRATCHES


5th: 1st Oak Tree Juvenile Turf, 2yo, 1m-T (P6, P3, D)

$194k 'must distribute' P6 C/O starts here..

Brutal start to sequence with lightly raced group that sees many stretching out and Euro invaders from Mitchell (Caught Napping) and Callaghan (Parisian Prince). Watch board for clues before punching final P6 plays..

Most Likely: #10 Dry Summer 6-1 WON ($16.80)
Best Value: #7 Buckleberry Grey 8-1 4th
Next Best: #6 Shining Copper 7-2 5th
Exotics Use: #5 Power Broker 4-1 2nd


6th: 14th Pirate's Bounty-R, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Deep and somewhat confusing set with some upside types, turnbackers, classy graded stake runners getting relief and more..

Best Value: #1 Sequoia Warrior 6-1 3rd
Next Best: #10 Mensa Heat 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #13 Mobilized 5-1 6th
Super Add: #6 Boxeur des Rues 20-1 4th


7th: CLM, 3+, 6.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Best Value: #7 El Vino 10-1 11th
Next Best: #11 Floating Feather 7-2 WON ($8.80)
Exotics Use: #3 Magic Beam 5-1 4th
Super Add: #6 Shediak 8-1 10th


8th: 65th Del Mar Futurity (G1), 2yo, 7f (P3, DD)

Very well-matched and well-connected juveniles with assortment of styles, levels of experience and upside. Even the Biancone filly (who Leparoux comes in to ride) and the 4 maidens have potential for pay slots. One glaring element to the cast is a slight dearth of speed and that gives Bonde's Caballo Del Cielo or Baffert's Rolling Fog a chance at thievery. Terrific end to the La Jolla stakes schedule..

Most Likely: #1 Gabriel Charles 6-1 6th
Next Best: #5 Know More 5-2 2nd
Best Value: #9 Caballo Del Cielo 12-1 4th
Exotics Use: #10 Rolling Fog 6-1 WON ($16.60)


9th: MSW, F&M-3+, 1m (DD)

Shirreffs & Stanwyck as good a place to stand as anywhere in the sequence..

Most Likely: #3 STANWYCK 5-2 3rd
Next Best: #4 Readyforthecloseup 4-1 7th
Best Value: #6 Chestnut Moon 10-1 6th
Exotics Use: #10 Changethechannel 12-1 WON ($15.80)


10th: OC/N1X, 3+, 8.5f-T (Super Hi-5)

No carryover but a mandatory pay Super Hi-5 here..

Best Value: #2 Te Rapa 6-1 3rd
Next Best: #7 Veter 5-1 5th
Exotics Use: #3 Quail Hill 7-2 2nd
Super Add: #10 Nextdoorneighbor 6-1 -
Hi-5 Play: #5 Silentio 6-1 WON ($13.60)


<$150 P6 Play:

5: 3-5-6-7-8-10
6: 1
7: 3-7-11
8: 1-5-9-10
9: 3
10: 2

6x1x3x4x1x1 = 72 x $2 = $144


<$75 P4 Play:

7: 3-7-11
8: 1-5-9-10-11
9: 3-4
10: 2-3-5-7-10

3x5x2x5 = 150 x .50 = $75


Good luck!
Steve..