Brad Free: Del Mar horses to watch for week of Sept. 9, 2024

NENE DIAMOND
Trainer: Francisco Garcia
Last race: Sept. 5, 6th
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 77
Allowance filly bobbled at start of Cal-bred turf sprint. Hard-held and keen third on rail, angled out, finished well, missed. Solid comeback, she fits in Cal-bred N1X sprint on either surface.

TOP GUN TOMMY
Trainer: George Papaprodomou
Last race: Sept. 6, 6th
Finish: 1st by 4
Beyer: 90
Veteran returned to form with decisive win in $12.5k claiming sprint. Pressed pace outside, kicked away, sharp. Has won at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita, can repeat moving up in class.

STEAK FRIES
Trainer: Craig Lewis
Last race: Sept. 7, 1st
Finish: 1st by 4
Beyer: None
Second-start Cal-bred 2-year-old maiden added blinkers and crushed turf sprint. Pressed pace three wide, strong late, ran away. Modest foes, but Sir Prancealot colt was visually impressive.

INTO MIDNIGHT
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Sept. 7, 6th
Finish: 2nd by three-quarters
Beyer: 89
Debut 2-year-old colt ran super. Keen early inside, went three wide to press on turn and through lane, kept fighting and finished six lengths clear of third. Will be tough in maiden race next out.

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PILOT COMMANDER
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Sept. 7, 10th
Finish: 2nd by three-quarters
Beyer: 93
Lightly raced 3-year-old sprinter was forwardly placed while wide, no match for winner, finished clear of third in promising comeback. Likely favorite next out in entry-level allowance sprint.

RESPECT THE CROWN
Trainer: Gary Stute
Last race: Sept. 8, 1st
Finish: 5th by 4 1/2
Beyer: 50
Uneasy trip for nonwinners-of-two claiming sprinter. Hard-held on rail, shuffled back on turn, mild re-rally in stretch. Better-than-looked effort, upset chance next out in N2L claiming sprint.

AUNT MO
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Last race: Sept. 8, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 61
Debut 2-year-old filly ran well. Broke slowly, settled midpack, uncorked middle move on turn and into lane, flattened out. Promising debut by a filly who may have more speed than shown.

CITIZEN BULL
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Sept. 8, 10th
Finish: 3rd by 5 3/4
Beyer: 70
Wide trip sealed his fate in Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Not quick, four wide through turn, loomed a threat, did not follow through in stretch. He ran faster in his debut, can rebound with better trip.

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