Brad Free's Del Mar Horses to Watch for Week of Nov. 22-24

HEADSTRONG WAYS
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Nov. 22, 6th
Finish: 7th by 11 1/2
Beyer: 37
Favored in nonwinners-of-two claiming sprint, filly broke through gate before start, pressed, and cracked. This race was a toss; she fits in similar N2L claiming sprint.

WINSTON AVE
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Nov. 22, 9th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 81
Debut 2-year-old raced four- and five-wide midpack in sprint, grinding rally outside, missed. Solid debut by Quality Road colt who probably wants a longer distance.

DARE TO FLY
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: Nov. 23, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 1
Beyer: 73
Five furlongs too short for entry-level allowance filly who has improved on turf. Lagged, rallied, finished well. Needs six furlongs or farther in winter at Santa Anita.

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LUBIE’S MUSIC
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Nov. 23, 6th
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 67
Debut 3-year-old filly by Maclean’s Music pressed pace while racing three-wide, went after leaders in stretch, missed by a nose in a promising career debut.

MISS WATERMELON
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas
Last race: Nov. 23, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 71
Second-start 2-year-old filly switched to dirt and moved up from her seventh-place debut on turf. Pressed pace, loomed, finished 10 clear. Next time for Miss Watermelon.

HAWKER
Trainer: Andy Mathis
Last race: Nov. 24, 8th
Finish: 1st by 5 1/4
Beyer: 89
Veteran gelding returned to dirt and crushed N3L claiming sprint. Pressed pace three-wide, ran away, claimed by Mathis from George Papaprodromou, up the ladder.

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