Saber’s Del Mar analysis for Saturday
Race 1
2-year-old maidens go a flat mile on the grass. No. 5 Big Talker is bred for the grass and Mike Smith says he will ride. No. 7 Flint Stroll ships from Kentucky and lands in the barn of Phil D’Amato. In his debut he went a mile on the grass. After that this is a real grab bag. 7-5
Race 2
The six furlong Smiling Tiger for 3-year-olds. No. 3 Ragtime Blues will be looking to take this group wire to wire. No. 5 Howbeit gets off the grass and back to a sprint. 3-5
Race 3
$62,500 optional claimers travel a flat mile. No. 1 Kershaw returns to his favorite track. No. 3 Dark Vader just missed by a neck the last time he ran at this level and distance. 1-3
Race 4
$40K optional fillies and mares go 6 1/2 furlongs. Trainer Bob Baffert sends out the main two runners with the likely short favorite No. 2 Merneith who was last seen running 3rd in the Grade 3 Santa Anita Oaks. Her last two works were sizzling. No. 3 Provocation just went wire to wire first out when sent off at .60 cents on the dollar. 2-3
Race 5
$40k optional fillies and mares travel 1 3/8 miles on the grass. No. 3 Woodfin ships in and gets the good grass jockey Umberto Rispoli in the irons. No. 5 Quinnie is on a win every other race pattern and this is her win race. No. 7 Pretty Point comes off a solid 3rd going 1 1/4 miles on the grass at Santa Anita and looks the one to beat. 7**-3-5
Race 6
California bred $50K 2-year-old maidens go 5 1/2 furlongs. We will use three runners exiting the same race. No. 3 Wedding Groom who will look to beat No. 4 Hot Box and No. 10 Dennis Celery. 3-4-10
Race 7
Maidens go five furlongs on the grass. No. 4 Absolute Unit missed by a nose last out at Santa Anita going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. No. 3 Twirling the Gold is the speed and exits the same race as Absolute Unit. No. 5 Mystery Man had the misfortune of hooking Cezanne in his debut race and that race has turned out to be a key race. No. 9 Much More Halo worked a big bullet here on July 17th and looks very tough in this spot. 5-9-4-3
Race 8
$45K 3-year-old claimers go seven furlongs. The one time jockey Mike Smith rode No. 2 Itsthattime he got the win. No. 3 Hidden Promise is in from Churchill Downs where he finished second by a head in both of his races there. No. 10 Zimba Warrior looks spotted for action with the move to dirt. 2-3-10
Race 9
The $150K Grade 2 San Clemente going a flat mile on the grass for 3-year-old fillies. No. 3 Laura’s Light comes off big win in the Grade 3 Honeymoon. No. 5 Croughavouke finished a half length behind Laura’s Light and owns a big last work. No. 10 Guilty also exits the race. No. 11 Applecross ran ok here last year as a 2-year-old. 5**-2-10-11
Race 10
The $150K Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. No. 1 Higher Power won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here last year. No. 5 Maximum Security reloads for trainer Bob Baffert. No. 6 Midcourt is a perfect 2 for 2 here at Del Mar. 1-5-6
Race 11
California bred $20K optional fillies and mares travel a flat mile on the grass. No. 8 Sassyserb gets jockey Flavien Prat riding for trainer Richard Baltas off a big last work. No. 11 Magnificent Q T looks like a live long shot. 8-11
*Denotes Best Bets
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