Bernier: How I'd play Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 30

I’ll focus on the final Saturday late pick four of the 2014 Del Mar summer meet. The sequence consists of races 8-11.

RACE 8

Tappingintherain goes out first off the claim for trainer Mark Glatt, who has had success with this sort of move in the past, and attracts top rider Rafael Bejarano. The turnback from eight furlongs to six should work to her advantage, and she figures to work out a solid stalking trip.

Royal Temptress makes her North American debut for trainer Mike Puype, and it can’t go overlooked that Mike Smith takes the mount for her U.S. unveiling. The addition of Lasix is a major benefit, and she’s been training nicely over the Polytrack at Del Mar leading up to her debut.

A: 1 – Tappingintherain, 10 – Royal Temptress
B: 2 – Sweet Marini, 4 – Koukla
C: 6 – Belle of the Fleet, 7 – Mahalo Princess

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RACE 9

Starlet O’Hara’s Beyer Speed Figures are a bit light compared to some of the others in this field, but she continues to improve, and her running style is very likely to suit the race shape of the Del Mar Debutante; look for her to be rolling late.

Sunset Glow is strictly the horse to beat in this race. She’s proven herself at numerous tracks across the country (as well as abroad), and her victory in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes here at the beginning of the month sets her apart from the rest of these fillies.

Her Emmynency is another runner who will do her best running late, and there figures to be an honest pace toward the front end that she’ll be able to close into. Note the presence of Joe Talamo aboard this filly and not the outside runner, Windy Forecast.

A: 3 – Starlet O’Hara, 5 – Sunset Glow, 6 – Her Emmynency
B: 2 – Manahatta, 8 – Conquest Eclipse
C: 4 – Dad’s Princess

RACE 10

Conquest Hiosilver has been working like a machine prior to his debut, and I expect this Mark Casse trainee to fire big at first asking. Casse has sent out live runner after live runner, and after a bit of tough luck, it seems as though his horses have broken through toward the end of the meet.

Gem Twist sports a very steady work tab since the middle of June, and Jerry Hollendorfer is more than capable of having a 2-year-old ready to fire at first asking. The work over the Polytrack on Aug. 26 was upbeat and suggests this son of Mizzen Mast may have some gas coming from the gate.

A: 5 – Conquest Hiosilver, 9 – Gem Twist
B: 10 – Kenjisstorm
C: 1 – Stellar Act

RACE 11

Old Pueblo’s races on synthetic have been pretty poor, but I think Fernando Perez is going to send this son of Marino Marini hard from the gate and try to take the field gate-to-wire.

Tancred finished with great interest at Santa Rosa in his first start off a short layoff, and I’m expecting him to take a step forward here in the nightcap. If he takes to the Polytrack, he’ll be tough to hold off down the lane.

A: 5 – Old Pueblo, 9 – Tancred
B: NONE
C: NONE