September 5th, 2012 − Del Mar

Del Mar Futurity

$194,259 Pick 6 Carryover: Brad Free analysis | Use DRF TicketMaker

 


Pick 6 Carryover Analysis

Fifth Race

1. Shining Copper 2. Dry Summer 3. Power Broker
SHINING COPPER improved second out, a half-length maiden win in a mile turf race at the same surface/distance as this prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. No reason he cannot continue up the ladder. DRY SUMMER scored a solid maiden win on the main track, and initially was considered a Futurity prospect. However, he reportedly has not trained as well on Polytrack, hence the switch to turf. A well-regarded colt, he acts like two turns is the right trip and fits if he overcomes the outside draw. POWER BROKER set the pace and finished third as the favorite in the race won by the top choice. It was an improved effort over his debut, yet does not change the fact he finished behind the top pair both starts.

Sixth Race

1. Mensa Heat 2. Comma to the Top 3. Mobilized
MENSA HCOMMA TO THE TOPom a three-month layoff this summer as an improved older horse, and the veteran sprinter might be sharp enough to knock off this $85k stakes. He missed by a length last out in a good allowance, the horse that beat him (Coil) returned to finish second in a G2. COMMA TOP THE TOP finished a creditable third in a G1 last out, beaten only two and a quarter by champion Amazombie. MOBILIZED has been compromised by slow-pace circumstances lately. This sprint should unfold at a legitimate tempo. He will be running late.

Seventh Race

1. Floating Feather 2. Half Dome Dude 3. Magic Beam
FLOATING FEATHER earned the highest figure of his 22-start career last time in his first off the claim by the O'Neill/Mora stable. Up a notch to $32k claiming off that gate-to-wire win, there is no reason he cannot fire right back. HALF DOME DUDE drops a notch off a decent fourth-place comeback, while MAGIC BEAM rallied to finish a respectable third last time in a race won by the pacesetter. He will be rolling late, and has a shot if the speed backs up.

Eighth Race

1. Know More 2. Gabriel Charles 3. Rolling Fog
It is a wide-open G1 Futurity, and the validity of the G2 Best Pal won by juvenile first-time starter KNOW MORE remains in doubt. Good to win a stakes first out, but the two-three finishers were fillies that returned to finish unplaced in the G1 Debutante. Nonetheless, KNOW MORE was always billed as the top prospect from the O'Neill/Mora outfit, he earned a decent enough number in that debut stakes win, and enters as the fastest in the field. GABRIEL CHARLES won his debut in decent style; the runner-up returned to win. Good works since that July 21 effort suggest the Jeff Mullins trainee has more to offer. ROLLING FOG will set or press the pace as he tries to give trainer Bob Baffert another Futurity win. He won this stake 10 times in the last 16 years. 'FOG earned a modest speed figure in his debut, but worked well since and conceivably could make the lead in a sprint without a ton of speed. CAPO BASTONE will fly late; HEIR OF STORM has had trouble both starts (win, fourth) and finally gets off the rail.

Ninth Race

1. Stanwyck 2. Readyforhercloseup 3. Special Charm
STANWYCK is ready to win, third time out. She finished with run in her sprint debut, then got no help up front when she stretched out and went evenly for third in a slow-pace route. With a two-turn race under her belt, the well-regarded half-sister to Giacomo (Kentucky Derby) and Tiago (Santa Anita Derby) can mow them down. Looks like there will be pace to run at this time. READYFORHERCLOSEUP returns from a 10-month layoff with a good work pattern, while nine-start maiden SPECIAL CHARM has hit the board four times and will pick them up late.

Tenth Race

1. Quail Hill 2. Silentio 3. Veter
QUAIL HILL ends the 2012 summer as the controlling speed in this N1X turf route. Long gone. SILENTIO won his debut last year at 2, then was sidelined. He runs well fresh, and has a steady work pattern for his comeback. VETER improved each subsequent U.S. start. That is a wrap for summer racing. Next up, the fun and unique Los Angeles County Fair meet at Fairplex Park. Dirt racing on a five-eighths oval, first post Friday. 1 p.m.