Bernier: Del Mar pick three play for Saturday, Nov. 15

Let’s take a look at the late pick three from Del Mar on Saturday.

RACE 7

Although Toledo Eddie has yet to cross the line first on grass in eight career tries, it looks as though he’s coming into this optional claiming event in career form. If he moves forward off that strong seven- furlongs dirt performance at Santa Anita last out he will be tough here. Macho Sox hasn’t done much wrong in his five lifetime starts, and a move forward second off the layoff for this son of Macho Uno wouldn’t be a surprise. Gary Stevens takes the mount for Leandro Mora, and I think he’s very live in this spot. Ideally, Stevens will have him slightly closer to the pace than he was in his return effort on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

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A: 2 – Toledo Eddie, 10 – Macho Sox

B: 11 – Play Hard to Get

C: 6 – Husband’s Folly

RACE 8

Prime Engine is the “It” horse in the Bob Hope, but I’m going to try to beat him for a few reasons – most notably the fact that he will be trying synthetic for the first time. I will use him defensively as a “B”, but ideally I would like one of my two “A”s to get the job done. Story to Tell comes into this stakes off what appears to be a dull effort on paper, but if you go back and watch the replay, this son of Bluegrass Cat was really picking his feet up nicely toward the end down on the rail. The Polytrack has to be a bit of a concern off that dreadful effort in the Best Pal Stakes here in August, but I’m willing to give him another chance based on race shape and a forward move second off the layoff for Talamo/Hendricks. No Problem exits a maiden score in a $75,000 claiming event, but it was the way in which he did so that really impressed me. This Munnings colt was striding out beautifully through the wire, and if he takes to the Del Mar Polytrack he could upset the apple cart at a very juicy price. Expect Victor Espinoza to sit just off some of the speeds drawn to his inside and try to get first run on the deep closers.

A: 2 – Story to Tell, 8 – No Problem

B: 4 – Prime Engine, 6 – Alright Alright

C: NONE

RACE 9

Hadfunlastnight is strictly the horse to beat in the nightcap – he’s making his second start off the layoff and returns to his surface of choice, Polytrack. He should be sitting just off the leaders and looms as a logical contender here. Endless Cruise is another horse who will be making his second start off the layoff…but this is his second start off a layoff of roughly 18 months. There’s no question he likely needed a start for fitness, and now he returns to the surface in which he has produced two solid efforts. Bejarano sees fit to take the mount here for Bill Spawr and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see this son of Easing Along emerge victorious here.

A: 4 – Hadfunlastnight, 5 – Endless Cruise

B: NONE

C: 10 – Passing Game