monday at del mar

[mazeltrick]

going to play as we go here as i should be free most of the afternoon. before i get started on the del mar card, i am looking at the saratoga tote and with 10 minutes to post in race 7, #1 country star is 7/5 on the board. i have no idea how this gal is not 1/2 in this miserable field. if she stays north of 6/5, i'm playing her.

r1: queen of victory. this gal's lat race was much better than looked as she didn't have a very clean trip, despite being drawn mid-field. my hope is bejarano gets her out clean because i think she has a lot more speed than she showed in her useful debut.

 

[mazeltrick]

r2: you're supposed to play against a horse like smoocher- hes' dropping off a decent race against better, has no early speed and is going to be virtually odds-on. you are supposed to take a shot with class ascender driven by excess, who should be the controlling pace if he can avoid a suicide duel with sidepocket cat. 'excess is first off the lcaim, hasn't run a bad race in months, likes the track and should get the distance. so, today, i'm going to do what i should and play 'xcess.

 

[mazeltrick]

2 races, 2 seconds. not good.

r3: ok, i think you're supposed to play hidden trail, who was not expected to do any running in his debut (17.5:1 for a frankel-juddmonte production?) and made a nice middle move before flattening out in the drive. he gets blinkers, sheds valdivia for bejarano and is probably well meant here despite not taking much action again (4:1 w/ 10 minutes to post).

oh, anyone else notice that frankel is not only winless, but hasn't had anyone even run 2nd at this meeting.

 

[mazeltrick]

2 seconds and now a third. i'm heading in the wrong direction.

r4: tap it light. my second best play of the day as this gelding goes off the claim from the dorfer and should get a very nice stalking trip between what looks like a 3 way speed duel on paper.

 

[mazeltrick]

did anyone watch the 4th. i'm not saying tap it light would have finished any better than 3rd, but he absolutely would have been closer at the finish line. what a mindless ride by bejarano, getting pinned in, forced to steady and then try to re-rally 5 wide. meanwhile, alex solis on gold trim, hemmed him in, got the jump on him and still was outfinisheed by 'light. that ride will not go in the bejarano personal highlight reel.

 

[mazeltrick]

2nds, 2 3rds.

r5: vulcan looks like an absolute cinch in this one and i am not going to try and beat him but use magnific and tension mounts underneath at big prices.

 

[mazeltrick]

looks like the regression continues- ran 4th in the 5th race

r6: dashwood. atlantra's tantrum would have been a cinch in here and with her scratch will take the benchmark second timer, who showed a lot of grittiness winner her debut.

 

[mazeltrick]

back to seconditis again, at least this last one for a price.

r7: my city by the bay. POD for me as i'm going to take the rubber band off the bankroll (or virtual rubberband on the bankroll through youbet.com). all the early money is on delta storm who outran my guy last time, but 'strom had absolutely no excuse as he was sitting off a hot pace and just got outrun to the wire. if he wins, i lose. 'bay on the other hand got a sneaky bad trip last time as he lost a little momentum around the turn and didn't really look comfortable rallying on the rail. if garcia can swing him out for the drive and avoid trouble, i like my chances.

 

[mazeltrick]

well that was annoying. another 2nd. and did not fully recoup my sizable investment in the 'bay.

r8: desert siren. 2nd time starters for bell is almost an automatic play for me and while this one has to deal with the layoff, he also doesn't meet the strongest maiden 32 in the world.

let's try to end the day with a winner.