Del Mar Babies for Friday, July 25
Race 1
5 1/2 furlongs
Maiden Claiming $30,000
2-Year-Old Fillies
Field of 9
Purse: $28,000
Key Contenders
5) Wild Heart Run
This filly performed admirably in her debut before running into two nice fillies named Shh She’s Ours and Starlet O’Hara in her second career start. She will get Lasix in her third career start, so an improved effort should be expected. The dam did some nice work over the course of her career, earning $151,000.
FORMULATOR FACT: Sire After Market’s juveniles are 33 for 228 over the past five years overall.
1) Delaney’s Joy
Her sire Eskendereya won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and earned $725,000, but it remains to be seen what he’s capable of becoming as a stallion. Her debut effort routing on the grass seemed to be a bit of a peculiar spot for her, and now she will drop from maiden special weight into maiden claiming company. Many times an equipment change can do wonders for a 2-year-old, and trainer Doug O’Neill adds the shades for this filly’s second career effort.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Doug O’Neill is 5 for 16 (7 ITM, $2.88 ROI) over the past five years with horses dropping from maiden special weight to maiden claiming while also adding blinkers for the first time.
7) Patty’s Place
Patty’s Place is another filly who will receive an equipment change for this race; this daughter of Bushwacker drops from maiden claiming $50,000 in her debut to maiden claiming $30,000 here for trainer Walther Solis. While the debut effort was supremely dull, it needs to be noted that she took some money in that start – generally a good sign for any first- time starter. Jockey Fernando Perez is off to a pretty nice start here at Del Mar, and this filly warrants another chance.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Walther Solis is 2 for 10 (5 ITM, $4.32 ROI) over the past five years with horses making their second career starts while sporting blinkers for the first time.
The Strategy
I don’t love any of the fillies in this race, so I don’t want too short a price on any filly in here from the win side of things. I will box these three fillies in exactas, as well as make a minor win bet on 7) Patty’s Place at odds of 10-1 or higher. The plays look like this:
Exacta Box of 1, 5, 7
Small WIN wager on 7) Patty’s Place at odds of 10-1 or greater
Race 4
5 1/2 furlongs
Maiden Claiming $50,000
Statebred 2-Year-Old Colts & Geldings
Field of 10 (11 AE)
Purse: $38,000
Key Contenders
3) Papa G
Trainer Jeff Bonde hasn’t done particularly well over the past five years at Del Mar with first-time starters, but this colt’s workout pattern is very intriguing. Not only has this colt worked from the gate his past three workouts, but all three have come over different surfaces – Tapeta (synthetic) at Golden Gate, dirt at Oak Tree at Pleasanton, and Polytrack (synthetic) here at Del Mar. Sire Papa Clem has done very well as a sire of 2-year-olds, and I expect this horse to be ready to go at first asking.
FORMULATOR FACT: Sire Papa Clem ‘s 2-year-olds are 8 for 31 over the past five years on synthetic surfaces.
10) Mikes Lion
This colt outran his odds at Los Alamitos earlier this month, displaying good early speed and tiring late. If this son of Whatsthescript can take any kind of step forward from that performance, he figures to be a very difficult customer to pass down the lane. The drop from maiden special weight company to maiden claiming should only add to the credentials this horse brings to the table in this contest.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Steve Miyadi is 7 for 21 (14 ITM, $4.04 ROI) over the past five years with horses transitioning from synthetic to dirt and making their second career starts.
9) Eddie Could Go
Obviously the -0 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut doesn’t do much to instill confidence, but you could make the argument that effort should be completely forgiven. In his debut, Eddie Could Go hopped out of the gate pretty badly, was slow into stride and was eventually eased up on the far turn. He will receive Lasix for the first time in this spot, and he may be able to present some sort of value in the exotic wagers here.
FORMULATOR FACT: Sire Square Eddie’s juveniles have gone 5 for 27 over the past five years in synthetic sprints.
The Strategy
I like the Jeff Bonde trainee, Papa G, quite a bit in this spot. I will look to play this horse across the board, as well as key him in exactas with both Mikes Lion and Eddie Could Go. The plays look like this:
WPS on 3) Papa G at odds of 4-1 or greater
Exacta of 3 / 9,10
Exacta of 9,10 / 3
For information regarding all the runners in each of these fields, be sure to check out Closer Looks in DRF GamePlan.