Sorrento Stakes

Analysis by Brad Free

Third Race 1. Smokey Lonesome 2. Atticus Jack 3. Megastar

This is the first leg of the pick six, it starts with a $257,477 carryover. SMOKEY LONESOME, a 5-for-17 veteran, won for a $40k tag last out and was claimed by Ron Ellis. 'LONESOME has won or been competitive at this $50k claiming level and generally is reliable to hold his form in successive races. His main foe is ATTICUS JACK, freshened nearly two months and dropping after being claimed from a fourth-place finish for $62.5k. 'JACK won on this course last summer and has enough tactical speed to establish position without losing much ground from post 9. MEGASTAR, stablemate of the top pick, returns from a short freshening while dropping to his lowest level. He will roll late. QUAIL HILL fits if he rations his speed more efficiently. He went too fast out front last and tired to seventh. Claimed by Doug O'Neill, he might be the one to catch.

Fourth Race 1. Suances Vixen 2. War Excess 3. Breathless

Second-start maidens trained by Darrell Vienna, such as SUANCES VIXEN, are always worth a closer look. Vienna is 6-for-10 with second-start maidens since fall 2010. 'VIXEN is a sibling to two-time winner Promiscuoussuances and the good older maiden Besame Suances. 'VIXEN broke slowly in her special-weight debut, and now drops to maiden-20 for her second start. She might be good enough to post an upset. WAR EXCESS pressed the pace and cracked in her comeback, but she has a history of improving second start back and she is facing easier. BREATHLESS is a first-time starter from a winning stable, while KVETCH finished a respectable third in her comeback and may improve second start back.

Fifth Race 1. Queen Mercury 2. Bila Shaka 3. My Diane

The drop from maiden-40 starter allowance to $16k claiming, non-winners of two lifetime is significant. That is the drop QUEEN MERCURY is taking. She pressed the pace while wide her first start of the meet, and finished a decent fourth. Now she drops into a winning spot. BILA SHAKA was claimed from a third-place finish in a fast race. Her new trainer puts on blinkers. MY DIANE, the beaten favorite four straight, drops again to an all-time low. HOUT BAY re-entered a race Thursday and is expected to scratch from this.

Sixth Race 1. Risky Reward 2. Unusual Jazz 3. Valley Cat

With two key rivals stuck on the also-eligible list, this Calbred N1X turf route is a good spot for lightly raced RISKY REWARD to knock off winners first start since a sharp maiden score in April. Well-drawn in post 2, working well for John Sadler, he is the likely favorite to mow them down. UNUSUAL JAZZ and VALLEY CAT are the aforementioned contenders stuck on the also-eligible list. Both already won this condition, they entered this for the optional $25k claim tag. However, even if they draw into the field they must start from the far outside. EXCESSIVE ASSAULT looms the upsetter while returning to turf after being foiled by a fast pace in his California debut on an unfamiliar surface. With the rails up at 14 feet, he has a shot to get brave. SWIFT EAGLE earned a good number last out wiring maidens.

Seventh Race 1. Executiveprivilege 2. Switch to the Lead 3. Speedinthruthecity

After only two starts, EXECUTIVEPRIVILEGE looks like something special. She followed her in-the-clear debut victory with a smashing Landaluce Stakes victory in which she won with a different trip. She raced behind runners, waited, rallied inside and powered away by more than three. Since arriving at Del Mar, her two sharp works include a bullet 58.80. Looks like Bob Baffert has a potential star, and pick six bettors have a potential "single." The odds-on favorite will be tough to beat. SWITCH TO THE LEAD scored a solid debut victory 10 days ago when she pressed a fast pace and rolled by a length and a half. It was a big win by a quick filly who enters with only one apparent knock. That is, she is wheeling back on short notice. SPEEDINTHRUTHECITY beat males first out, then finished second behind the top choice. 'CITY has trained particularly well over this track.

Eighth Race 1. Dance Team 2. Silverado Moon 3. Renee's Queen

Off a sharp runner-up debut and by long-distance turf stallion Dynaformer, DANCE TEAM is the deserving favorite to win this one-turf race for 2-year-old maiden fillies. DANCE TEAM finished more than two lengths clear of third in her sprint debut, and she had something left at the wire. She can improve with a race under her belt and a longer distance. A win here would make her one of the favorites in the $100k Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 3. SILVERADO MOON finished sixth in the same race as the top choice, running like a filly that will appreciate the longer distance. She was not quick enough to keep up with the quick tempo of that sprint, and might be more comfortable chasing slower splits in this mile race. RENEE'S QUEEN drops after a respectable fourth behind Executiveprivilege in the Landaluce Stakes. 'QUEEN is bred for turf (by After Market). This is her first start after a private sale and transfer to trainer Eric Guillot.