Del Mar Babies for Thursday, Aug. 14

Race 1

Maiden claiming $30,000
2-year-old fillies
5 furlongs, Polytrack
Purse: $28,000

Key contenders

2) Nomas Home

At first glance her career debut was an unmitigated disaster, but if you go back and watch the replay you will see this daughter of Spankey Come Home needed to take up sharply toward the top of the lane to avoid a horse who had lost her rider. She was beginning to make up some ground turning for home, so that Beyer Speed Figure of 1 should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s not like there are any superstars in here, and I think she’s got a shot. She’s 20-1 on the morning line.

FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Sal Gonzalez is 13 for 94 over the past five years in mid-level claiming events in Southern California.

1) Feisty Swiss

This filly took some serious money in her debut at Los Alamitos last month and ran evenly around the racetrack. Although she hasn’t trained over the Del Mar Polytrack yet, it isn’t unfathomable that this gal could take a step forward off that 19 Beyer Speed Figure and be a prominent player here. Trainer Mike Harrington has had a decent start to this Del Mar meeting (10-2-1-1), and jockey Fernando Perez has been riding very well down here.

FORMULATOR FACT: Sire Lucky Pulpit’s 2-year-olds have gone 17 for 85 over the past five years in synthetic sprints.

The strategy

With the exception of Nomas Home, this race does absolutely nothing for me. I don’t have a great feel for this field, and accordingly I won’t be putting too much money into it. That being said, if Nomas Home goes off anywhere near her 20-1 morning line, I’m willing to put a few dollars on her across the board with the hope that she can blow up the toteboard. Here’s the play:

WIN, PLACE and SHOW wagers on 2) Nomas Home at odds of 15-1 or greater.