Brad Free: Del Mar horses to watch for week of Nov. 18, 2024

TAMARA
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Nov. 15, 7th
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 82
Grade 1 winner ran well making first in a year. Off slow from rail, zoomed inside, in tight, battled, missed. Can improve Dec. 26 in loaded Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita.

CENTRAL DISPATCH
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Nov. 16, 5th
Finish: 1st by head
Beyer: 95
Front-runner seemingly lost chance when breaking slowly in N2X turf sprint. Settled, rallied wide, somehow was up late. Better than looked win by Arrogate gelding.

AMERICAN PRIVILEGE
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: Nov. 16, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 58
Debut 2-year-old filly lacked speed in turf sprint, three wide, unresponsive to urging, angled outside, finished well. She’s no sprinter but this was a promising career debut.

HEADSTRONG WAYS
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Nov. 16, 7th
Finish: 8th by 5 3/4
Beyer: 52
Debut 2-year-old filly had tough trip in turf sprint. Fifth on rail, steadied and shuffled into turn, blocked briefly, rallied inside in promising debut. Her stablemate won the race.

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DETTORI
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Nov. 17, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 3
Beyer: 58
Debut 2-year-old not quick in turf sprint, three wide mid-pack and into lane, finished steadily. Solid debut over unfamiliar footing. Likely to improve second out on dirt.

SPRINGS
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: Nov. 17, 5th
Finish: 4th by 3 3/4
Beyer: 56
Brutal trip for debut 2-year-old in turf sprint. Broke slowly, ran into traffic at three-eighths and was steadied and shuffled. Evenly late in better than looked effort.

JOURNALISM
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Nov. 17, 6th
Finish: 1st b 2 1/2
Beyer: 82
Second-start 2-year-old by Curlin stretched to mile, saved ground in fifth, put under a ride on far turn, angled out, switched leads, powered home. Big win. The longer the better.

MADAKET ROAD
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Nov. 17, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 4 3/4
Beyer: 80
Debut 2-year-old ran well in Grade 3 sprint. Tucked in fourth behind pace, challenged briefly in lane, second best behind impressive winner Bullard. Solid debut.

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