August 27, 2022
“WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW” – DEL MAR
By Jeff Siegel, 1stbet.com Handicapper & Analyst
(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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DEL MAR SPOTLIGHT RACES:
Third Race: Post: 3:00 PT
Top Pick: 1-Emerald Lake (2-1)
Lightly raced with solid speed figures, a good recent breeze over the course and a cozy inside draw, this daughter of Bluegrass Cat has much in her favor and should make amends today after finishing second in a similar affair as the favorite over the local lawn last month. She switches to Umberto Rispoli and projects to settle into a second flight, stalking position and then have every chance to seal the deal from the quarter pole home. At 2-1 on the morning line, the Peter Miller-trained sophomore filly looks solid as a win play and rolling exotic single.
Tenth Race – Post: 6:31 PT
Top Pick: 9-Sword Zorro (3-1)
Former stakes winner is being culled from the stable in this restricted (non-winners of a race this year) $32,000 seller and if he wins and gets claimed, that’s fine. The John Sadler-trained import has better than par speed recent speed figures but is out of conditions and just doesn’t seem to have the necessary turn of foot as a 4-year-old to be competitive at his former level. We’re expecting the son of Zoffany to settle off the pace and then produce enough of a late kick to beat of field compromised of runners who have fallen on hard times, and he’ll offer value at or near his morning line of 3-1 if you can get it.
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DEL MAR RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-5)
1st race: 6-Monlogue; 5-Wall Street Trader
2nd race: 5-King Zog; 8-Candy’s Wildcat
3rd race: 1-Emerald Lake
4th race: 2-Geezer; 7-Hondo Crouch; 1-Stanford Man; 4-Montana
5th race: 2-Darling Donna; 3-Back On the Street; 7-Warren’s Queen Bee
(Races 6-10)
6th race: 2-Always Litt; 9-Damazio; 11-Wegonahavagoodtime
7th race: 4-Lexington Humor; 2-Shes’a Perfectlady; 8-Woodbine Way
8th race: 6-Apprehend; 1-Desmond Doss; 4-Letsgetlucky
9th race: 4-American Theorem; 8-Speaker’s Corner; 7-Laurel River
10th race: 9-Sword Zorro
DEL MAR WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
THIRD RACE:
Emerald Lake (August 18, Del Mar, 5f, 1:02.4h TC DU). Grade: B+
Broke off two lengths in front of Castleknock (5f, 1:02.3h TC DU) and finished under a nice pull to be a length clear at the wire while noticeably best, never asked while appearing quite sharp. Ran well over the local lawn when second in a state-bred allowance race last month and seems to have improved since then.
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FOURTH RACE:
Geezer (August 22, Del Mar, 4f, :48.2hg). Grade: B-
In blinkers, nice gate work in company outside Night Party (4f, :48.3hg), under a hold early while stride-for-stride with ‘Party and then responding to urging to draw clear by a length in the final stages, splits of :23.3 and :48.1 on our watches. Certainly good enough to act with maiden claiming juveniles for H. Palma and seems fit enough.
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Cathedral Light (August 13, Del Mar, 5f, 1:01.4hg). Grade: C
Much slower than given and didn’t show a whole lot in gate work outside Hard Times (same time) for J. Hollendorfer, splits of :24.1, :49.4 and 1:04.2 after being carried out by ‘Times around the first time. Pass on both.
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Hondo Couch (August 14, Del Mar, 5f, 1:02.3hg). Grade: B-
Was off slowly in gate drill with Jerry Jeff Walker (same time) but moved up after the opening furlong to be stride-for-stride most of the way, mild coaxing only, :24.4, :36.4, :49.2 and 1:02.4 on our watches, not the worst. May be okay with soft maiden claimers for a barn whose maidens often run better than they work.
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SIXTH RACE:
Wegonahavagoodtime (August 20, Del Mar, 5f, 1:01hg). Grade: B-
Slightly second best in gate work inside Commander Carl (same time) for D. Blacker, :24.4, :37, :49.1 and 1:01.2 on our watches while under a strong hold most of the way and able to go quicker if permitted. Sneaky sort might be worth a look in a soft maiden claimer.
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NINTH RACE:
Laurel River (August 19, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00.3h). Grade: A-
Extremely sharp for Baffert, :12.1, :35.1 and :47.1 on our watches from the three furlong pole out to the seven furlong pole, mostly on his own while full of run. Really starting to get good and can be dangerous sprinting or routing. Don’t underestimate.
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