Brad Free's Del Mar Horses to Watch for week of Aug. 14-17, 2025
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BLUE FASHION
Trainer: Luis Mendez
Last race: Aug. 14, 2nd
Finish: 3rd by 6
Beyer: 61
Two turns too far for $10k claiming filly, favored in N2L dirt mile. Pressed inside, tired, claimed by Mendez from Marcelo Polanco. Follow vs. similar around one turn.
POKERKNIGHTATVEES
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Aug.14, 5th
Finish: 4th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 75
Cal-bred allowance colt outrun early in turf sprint, blocked on turn, hit more traffic into lane, finished well, galloped out well. He ran better than the margin suggests.
WINDS OF FREEDOM
Trainer: Bob Hess Jr.
Last race: Aug. 15, 4th
Finish: 5th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 51
Pace-press 3-year-old bobbled and away slowly, lagged wide, finished with little encouragement. This was an inconclusive effort by low-level claiming sprinter.
LITMUS TEST
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 16, 3rd
Finish: 1st by 3/4
Beyer: 78
Another promising 2-year-old from Baffert stable, Nyquist colt raced inside just off lead, ridden to keep pace, angled out, made lead, won as best. He wants more ground.
ARISAKA
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Last race: Aug. 16, 7th
Finish: 4th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 54
Debut 2-year-old lacked speed, trailed field, finished willingly, galloped out in front. Solid career launch for Jimmy Creed filly who wants more distance than six furlongs.
EXPLORA
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 17, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 4 3/4
Beyer: 88
Debut 2-year-old filly by Blame worked well, odds-on, ran accordingly. Sped to lead, won without being asked, third-highest fig of year by juvenile filly. Stakes-caliber.
PLEASE FOCUS
Trainer: George Lopez
Last race: Aug. 17, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 85
Comebacker set pace in $25k claiming turf sprint, shook off pace rivals, led to deep stretch, collared by late-runner. Sharp comeback by ’Focus, long gone next out?
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