November 17, 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: 4-Old Pal
Back-ups: 1-El Potente.
Forecast: Old Pal earned a career top speed figure when his late kick fell a nose short in a similar affair over nine furlongs on grass at Santa Anita last month. He was forced to rally into the teeth of moderate fractions, making his effort all the more impressive. This shortened trip to a mile guarantees help up front, so with the projected pace flow and good racing luck the son of Grazen should be capable of producing a winning late kick for the always powerful jockey/trainer combo of A. Fresu and M. Glatt.
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RACE 8: Post: 4:00 PT Grade: B+
Top Selection/Prime Play: 5-Bullard
Backups: none.
Forecast: Bullard hadn’t trained like a win early type but nevertheless graduated at first asking in a fast, highly rated maiden sprint that stamped him as a future star. Today, the stretch-running son of Gun Runner gets an extra furlong to work with and a race shape that should offer plenty of pace to compliment his late running style. A :58 and change breeze since his win indicates the M. McCarthy-trained juvenile exited his race in fine fettle, so we’re expecting an even better performance today. At 8/5 on the morning line he offers wagering value on the tote and as the main punch in the various rolling exotics.
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