Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know”
Del Mar
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RACE 8: Post: 4:00 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 2-Ultra Power
Back-ups:: none.
Forecast: Ultra Power returns to Del Mar, where two races back he crushed a two-turn allowance field with a Grade-1 type speed figure. Unfortunately, he didn’t run quite that well in his next outing at Santa Anita when he appeared to struggle with the surface and wound up third, beaten a neck, while lacking the acceleration through the lane that he had displayed in his previous outing. Today, over the Del Mar main surface for this year’s renewal of the Native Diver Stakes-G2, the Bob Baffert-trained son of Curlin should be set to show his best stuff, so at 2-1 on the morning line he’ll offer reasonable wagering value in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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RACE 9: Post: 4:30 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 2-Mysterious Husband
Back-ups: none.
Forecast: In his first start following a $62,500 claim back by trainer M. Glatt, Mysterious Husband not unexpectedly produced a serious forward move when finishing a game second over this course at 34-1 facing straight maidens while earning by far a career top speed figure. The son of Audible is drawn nicely inside, shortens to a flat mile, retains A. Fresu, and looks ready to graduate with nothing more than a repeat of his last race. The pace flow should allow him to draft into a second flight, ground-saving position and have every chance to seal the deal. At or near his morning line at 5/2, he represents a strong win play on the tote and a major push in rolling exotic play.
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