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The Horses to Watch feature from DRF Simulcast Weekly will be posted every Thursday during the Del Mar meet. Horses from the last three weeks of the Hollywood Park meet are also below.
September 11 Horses to Watch
Bing
Trainer: Adam Kitchingman
Last race: Sept. 3, race 6
Finish: 7th by 12
Another in a summer-long series of troubled-trip victims of the slumping jockey Tyler Baze, this first-time starter was further compromised by the inside post. Sure to improve in his second start.
Montana Ridge
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: Sept. 3, race 10
Finish: 9th by 9
This older maiden was gelded sometime before his Sept. 3 turf route try, and then had an impossible trip from post 10. He raced five-wide on first turn, pressed the pace four-wide on the backstretch, stayed wide and then weakened. He fits versus older maidens on turf or dirt.
- Brad Free
September 4 Horses to Watch
Carson Wild
TRAINER: Dan Hendricks
LAST RACE: Aug. 27, 6th
FINISH: 7th by 9
First-time starter by win-early sire Carson City broke a half-step slow, then was given zero encouragement by jockey Kent Desormeaux, who merely steered her around without asking for any run. Showed much promise in morning works, and can improve next time with clean start and aggressive strategy.
Bedugul
TRAINER: Bobby Frankel
LAST RACE: Aug. 28, 3rd
FINISH: 4th by 2 1/2
Rallied into contention and was moving as well as the eventual winner, but got stopped cold into the lane and was unable to recover. Looks like a short-price standout next time.
- Brad Free
August 28 Horses to Watch
Bob and John
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 21, race 3
Finish: Fourth by 2 1/2
Two-year-old first-time starter found six furlongs too short in slow-pace race dominated by speed. Made a looping move into the stretch, raced greenly, leveled off late and finished with run. Wants longer distances. Appears to have much potential.
Gotaghostofachance
Trainer: Roger Stein
Last race: Aug. 21, race 4
Finish: Second by 3/4
Ran one of the most impressive sprints of season in Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Handicap. In first start since September, he chased a blistering pace while inside and behind runners, made the lead in midstretch, and was collared by a closer. He fits in any graded stakes off that effort.
- Brad Free
August 21 Horses to Watch
One Union
TRAINER: Richard Mandella
LAST RACE: Aug. 13, 7th
FINISH: 1st by 1 1/4
First-time starter ran like a stakes colt despite compromising circumstances. Dueled inside through fast pace, was headed into the stretch, then re-rallied inside and won going away. Looms a top contender Sept. 7 in Grade 2 Del Mar Futurity.
Point Dume
TRAINER: Ahmad Salih
LAST RACE: Aug. 13, 9th
FINISH: 2nd by 1 1/4
Claiming router was victimized by a passive ride from Kent Desormeaux. Claimed from Bob Hess, he fits in similar $25,000 to $32,000 claimer with aggressive ride.
- Brad Free
August 14 Horses to Watch
Chelcee's Hope
Trainer: Paddy Gallagher
Last race: Aug. 3, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 7
Second-time starter ran well stretching out off single sprint and can handle Cal-bred maiden fillies in upcoming turf route. Allowed to settle early near the back of field, rallied wide far turn and into lane, and finished evenly behind front-running winner.
Jelly Bean King
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Aug. 6, 10th
Finish: 6th by 4 1/2
Older maiden finally got a ground-saving trip, but was compromised by race-shape in turf route (rails 14 feet). Front-runners ran 1-2-3-4-5 all the way around, but he rallied from last to sixth and galloped out in front of the field.
- Brad Free
August 7 Horses to Watch
KLASSY KATLYN
Trainer: Caesar Dominguez
Last race: July 17, 2nd (Hollywood)
Finish: 2nd by a head
Lacking room in early stretch, this maiden 2-year-old was switched to the outside and just fell short of catching the favorite. She will reappear in a maiden special weight at Del Mar.
FRUITION'S JASMINE
Trainer: Jenine Sahadi
Last race: July 18, 3rd (Hollywood)
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Making her first start in a route, this filly was in trouble on the backstretch, took the lead on the final turn, and fought through the stretch, losing the lead late. She is one to follow in maiden claimers.
ICE-GIRL
Trainer: James Chapman
Last race: July 18, 6th (Hollywood)
Finish: 4th by 1
After a slow start, this filly had to wait behind rivals in early stretch and did not have a clear path until the race was essentially over. With better luck she could have won. She remains one to follow in the newly created five-furlong turf races at Del Mar.
BOLD AMERICAN
Trainer: Bobby Frankel
Last race: July 19, 6th (Hollywood)
Finish: 4th by 3 1/2
After a poor start and a wide run on the turn, this filly finished well in a turf sprint despite having to alter course in midstretch. By Quiet American, she is a candidate to stretch out to two-turn races.
- Steve Andersen
July 31 Horses to Watch
Aspiring Summer
Trainer: Bill Spawr
Last race: July 22, 4th
Finish: 8th by 14
First-time starter was hopelessly left when he hopped as the gates opened and broke dead last in six-furlong sprint for older maidens. He finished steadily and galloped out in front of the field. Colt by Siberian Summer will improve with experience and distance. Not necessarily a next-out winner, but tab for later.
- Brad Free
July 24 Horses to Watch
De La Costa
TRAINER: John Sadler
LAST RACE: July 16, 5th
FINISH: 4th by 5 1/4
This turf sprinter lost all chance, but still rallied to finish fourth after a poor start. He could reappear in turf sprints at Del Mar and can be effective in races with significant pace.
Iza Big Star
TRAINER: Jose Silva
LAST RACE: July 17, 6th
FINISH: 2nd by 3 1/2
A little luck may have given this turf sprinter an allowance race win. He was stuck in traffic on the turn and waited before getting clear late.
- Steve Andersen
July 17 Horses to Watch
Northern Mischief
Trainer: Ron McAnally
Last Race: July 4, 9th
Finish: 9th by 11
Racing in a one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, this 10-1 shot was blocked in early stretch when she was starting to close ground. She could be a nice price when she reappears at Del Mar.
Gathering Storm
Trainer: Jenine Sahadi
Last Race: July 8, 3rd
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/2
Making her first start in this country and first outing since March 2004, this filly ran well, closing from fifth. She is eligible for a first-condition allowance race.
- Steve Andersen
July 10 Horses to Watch
Nottoworry
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Last Race: July 2, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 1 3/4
This $25,000 claimer was held up in traffic briefly and made up some ground in the final furlong. He fits with mid-level claimers.
Ticker Tape
Trainer: Jim Cassidy
Last Race: July 3, 10th
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/4
She might have even been closer with a clean trip on the final turn. Look for her in major stakes for turf fillies and mares.
- Steve Andersen
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