Brad Free's Del Mar horses to watch for week of Sept. 2, 2019

EXPRESS TRAIN
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: Aug. 28, 6th\
Finish: 1st by 14 1/4
Beyer: 83
A second-start juvenile stretching out, he won this mile maiden race by a pole to emerge as a potential favorite in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

GINGHAM
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 29, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/4
Making her career debut at one mile, this juvenile filly ran well. Rail trip on track that favored outside, rallied wide into lane, big finish. Tough next time versus two-turn maidens.

PAPA TURF
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Aug. 29, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 6
Beyer: 66
This $12,500 claiming sprinter dueled on slower rail and tired while compromised by track profile. Can drop in class at Santa Anita, where he scored all six career wins.

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT
Trainer: Dan Blacker
Last race: Aug. 30, 3rd
Finish: 3rd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 75
Five furlongs was too short for this California-bred allowance filly returning from a long layoff. Raced evenly, one-paced, solid prep for turf route during autumn meet at Santa Anita.

LIGHTNING FAST
Trainer: Bill Spawr
Last race: Aug. 30, 4th
Finish: 3rd by 3 3/4
Debut juvenile broke slowly, shuffled, mid-race move losing ground on turn, evenly in fine debut. California-bred colt by Violence is a contender in upcoming statebred maiden race.

JUSTINIAN
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 31, 2nd
Finish: 7th by 12 3/4
Humongous 3-year-old favored in debut, broke slow, zoomed four-wide, dueled on turn, weakened. Despite finish position, he showed run, fits in upcoming maiden sprint.

PAVED
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Aug. 31, 7th
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 94
Del Mar turf not her favorite, yet ran well in Grade 2 won by Vasilika. With two prep races and change in scenery, Paved can improve Sept. 28 in Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita.

THUNDER CODE
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: Aug. 31, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 4
Beyer: 73
Solid debut by juvenile colt. Rated next to last in sprint, picked up steam on turf and into lane, steadied deep stretch (cost him second), and finished evenly in a very solid debut.

MEDIA BLITZ
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Last race: Sept. 1, 5th
Finish: 2nd by nose
A juvenile first-time starter at one mile on turf, this Medaglia d’Oro colt was best. Broke slowly, lost ground four-wide on far turn, made lead in lane, and was nailed in outstanding debut.