Brad Free's Del Mar Horses to Watch for Nov. 28-30

CONTRARY CHIEFTAIN
Trainer: Librado Barocio
Last race: Nov. 28, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 62
Favored in $5,000 claiming route, but stumbled and lost position. He rallied, missed, and was best. Re-claimed by Barocio from Tim McCanna, fits in low-level claiming route.

MONDEGO
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Nov. 28, 7th
Finish: 7th by 5 1/4
Beyer: 86
Outside post and wide trip foiled gelding in G2 turf marathon. Three- and four-wide start to finish, never had a chance. This race was much better than it looks on paper.

EL POTENTE
Trainer: Dan Blacker
Last race: Nov. 29, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 1/2
Beyer: 93
Off nearly 10 months, veteran set pace to deep stretch in Grade 2 turf at a mile and a sixteenth. Solid comeback, will be fitter next out, and should benefit by turnback to one mile.

TEST SCORE
Trainer: Graham Motion
Last race: Nov. 29, 9th
Finish: 3rd by 1/2
Beyer: 84
Odds-on in G1 Hollywood Derby, unable to find clear path in stretch, waited, kicked too late, possibly best. 'Score' on his way to becoming a top older turf horse in 2026.

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SPEEDY WILSON
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Nov. 29, 10th
Finish: 1st by 1 1/2
Beyer: 85
Slow start from rail no big deal in N1X sprint. Off last, lost ground rallying wide, won going away, his fourth straight win in dirt sprint. Cal-bred stakes winner never better.

LEFT HAND MAN
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Nov. 30, 1st
Finish: 7th by 5 1/2
Beyer: 66
Older gelding ran below par in Cal-bred turf allowance. Second straight turf misfire by the dirt specialist. He has won 4 of 11 on dirt, fits vs. Cal-bred long on dirt only.

TEAM PLAYER
Trainer: Ryan Hanson
Last race: Nov. 30, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 1 3/4
Beyer: 83
Second-start 2-year-old maiden shortened to sprint, improved speed, rallied wide, ran away. Proved he can route in runner-up debut, fits in upcoming Cal-bred route stakes.

INFINITUM
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Last race: Nov. 30, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 78
Debut 2-year-old not quick, two-wide, finished willingly, galloped out alongside the winner in promising debut. Gelding by Grazen is sibling to turf stakes winner Aligato.

SIMPLY JOKING
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Nov. 30, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 6 3/4
Beyer: 82
Improved second start back by 3-year-old filly in Grade 3 route. Set pace, tired, could be a contender in seven-furlong Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

RIO GRANDE
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Nov. 30, 9th
Finish: 2nd by 4 1/2
Beyer: 69
Stretch-out 2-year-old colt broke slow in maiden turf route, rationed speed while far back, finished willingly in race that was only an educational prep. He is getting better.

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