Del Mar Vulnerable Favorites, Live Longshots, and Spot Plays: August 9
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SPOT PLAYS AND LIVE LONGSHOTS
Del Mar Race 1, (7:00 ET) - LIVE LONGSHOT
GREAT FRIENDS RULE (#3, 8-1) took a leap forward on turf last time out, finishing third against 25K claimers and running a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure. That followed a smart victory against 25K N2L claimers on the Cushion Track at Hollywood in June. – Byron King
Vulnerable favorites OLYMPIC BLUE (#3, 5-2) (facing older), MATTO MONDO (#9, 7-2) (from Lone Star) inflate odds for HUSBAND’S FOLLY (#1, 6-1) and BIPARTISAN (#10, 6-1). The former has top figures; the latter was compromised last time by pace. Both playable at 6-1 or higher. - Brad Free
CASA DE CAMBIO (#8, 6-1) looked super blasting $12,500 foes on this main track as he powered home. There's always been a touch of quality here and it's great to see new trainer Miller move him up to where he can't be claimed away. It's first time turf but he's by a superb turf sire (Exchange Rate). - Michael Hammersly
CASA DE CAMBIO (#8, 6-1) hustled into starter-allowance competition after solid win in debut for new barn. 1st turf but dam was 6-time grass winner. Should get great setup. - Marcus Hersh
NEXTDOORNEIGHBOR (#3, 5-2) It's not all that often that Ellis goes out of his way to claim a horse, especially one at this mid-lower level, but when he does, it's usually for good reason, as evidenced by his high (44 pct.) strike rate with first-off-claim runners. This gelding has been regrouped with 5 HollyPark works since he ran OK as the 2-1 favorite for this same $16k tag in late May; seems like new connections are very serious about extracting some value from this winnable spot. – Marty McGee
First-time starter FULL OF SPICE (#1, 6-1) is one of 11 horses purchased at OBS 2-year-olds in training sale in 2012 by trainer Peter. Six of the nine that have started won first time out. ’SPICE could add to the total if she knocks off JEANNE MARINI (#8, 9-2). - Brad Free
SHUMOOS (#5, 5-1) has flashed top ability at times including scaring the Dickens out of top-class Include Me Out in a stakes at BHP June 16. She came back to post a clunker on this main track July 18 but that was a brutally tough spot and she dueled and gave way. That type of effort may help buoy your price and the move to turf is no concern – she handled grass wonderfully in England. A bullet :35.40 move here July 28 shows she’s doing well despite that last dud. - Michael Hammersly
VULNERABLE FAVORITES
HAGIBIS (#2, 7-2) won her only turf start easily but hasn't raced since April of 2011, and there are no assurances he is the horse he once was. Even if fit for his return – and there's no guarantee of that – an injury may have slowed him down. - Byron King
OLYMPIC BLUE (#3, 5-2)
Often times the drop from a stakes race into what seems to be a far less demanding category will lead to a horse being over-bet, which might well occur here with a gelding who was a surprisingly good 3rd at 47-1 in a division of the Oceanside during opening week. All it will take is slight regression off that life's-best Beyer (81) effort, and this guy will be coming back to the others, a handful of whom appear highly capable at this level. – Marty McGee
