Bernier: How I'll play Del Mar for Sunday, Aug. 21
Here are a few horses to consider when constructing your wagers Sunday afternoon at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
RACE 4 – G2 Del Mar Mile
MIDNIGHT STORM (2) is clearly the horse to beat, as he enters the Del Mar Mile coming off two consecutive wins in graded stakes races. He does his best running when he’s outright on the lead, but that position may not come easy with the fresh OM (1) drawn to his inside. If those two hook-up early, things could set up nicely for OHIO (3), who projects to sit just off the pace and make a bid rounding the far turn. Ohio never appeared comfortable during the G2 Eddie Read here July 17, and a line can be drawn through that effort. His race 2 back was visually impressive, and a replica of that makes him a legit contender here.
RACE 5
STAND BY FOR NEWS (3) broke her maiden for $20,000 most recently, and while she’ll need to deal with winners for the first time in her career, it’s not as though she’s facing a group of world beaters. Peter Miller trains this filly, and she’ll be making her second start off the layoff against a field that consists of non-winners of two races lifetime. She figures to be forwardly placed throughout, and Miller has done quite well with these sorts over the past two years (FORMULATOR FACT: Past Two Years, Maiden Winner Last Out, 2nd After Layoff: 3 for 7 (4 ITM), $3.59 ROI).
RACE 8
CELEBRATED TALENT (5) has demonstrated in the past the ability to sit off the pace and pass runners, and that would appear to be the plan here today for Kent Desormeaux. Claimed from Linda Rice two starts back in New York, this son of Bernardini ran credibly in his Southern California debut most recently, fading late after prompting the pace. The slight cutback in distance from seven furlongs to six today should prove beneficial, and it seems as though there could be a nice pace battle in front of him that may develop. Look for him to sit and pounce as the field turns for home.
RACE 9
LOVE MY BUD (9) is a full brother to turf stakes-winning sprinter Ambitious Brew – which makes it even odder that this will be Love My Bud’s only second lifetime turf sprint. In his turf debut at Santa Anita on May 19 he was on a contested lead throughout and faded down the stretch. Today he’ll try the Del Mar turf course, and the sprint distance of five furlongs could work to his advantage. Rafael Bejarano takes the mount for trainer Martin Jones, and a breakthrough victory today wouldn’t be a shocker.
