November 15, 2024
Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know”
Del Mar
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RACE 7: Post: 3:30 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 6-Sandy Bottom
Back-ups: none.
Forecast: The classy comebacker Tamara is clearly the one to beat as the 4/5 morning line favorite in this allowance dash for fillies and mares, but she might be vulnerable from her rail post, so let’s try to beat her with another talented layoff runner at a better price from a better draw. Sandy Bottom, herself a graded stakes winner and undefeated in two starts, returns for trainer Michael McCarthy with a series of San Luis Rey Downs workouts that should have her fit and ready, and this first time Lasix user may be able to control the race from her cozy outside draw. She’s probably a bit quicker than her chief rival and may be able to gain control early and never look back. She’s worth a good gamble in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics at or near her published priced of 5/2.
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RACE 8: Post: 4:00 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 2-Gracelund Gray
Backups: 5-Yerwanthere (Ire)
Forecast: Freshened since April, exiting a series of fast sprints, and returning at a distance we know she can handle, Gracelund Gray appears primed to wire this field if gate-to-wire tactics are employed. The P. Eurton-trained mare has won over this course in the past, is fast on numbers, and seems certain to enjoy the class relief, so with a healthy, steady series of workouts to have her fit and ready the daughter of Goldencents offers enticing value on the tote at anything near her morning line of 7-2.
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