Del Mar Babies for Thursday, July 24
Race 1
5 furlongs
Maiden claiming $50,000
2-year-old colts and geldings
Field of seven
Purse: $38,000
Key contenders
Southeast Asia (#3) – Although this son of Orientate hasn’t been burning up the work tab, there are cases to be made for him being ready to go at first asking. First and foremost, his pedigree – Southeast Asia is a full brother to a filly named Miss Montreal, who won 3 of 12 starts in her career and banked $120,000. His sire, Orientate, does well with 2-year-olds as a whole, and he won the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. His dam, Unbridled’s Secret, has proven herself to be productive as a broodmare (offspring are combined 9 for 74 lifetime), and I don’t see why this Mark Glatt trainee can’t win in his debut. This hardly is a group filled with stars, and it’s not a stretch to think a Beyer Speed Figure in the mid-50s will be good enough to get the job done here.
FORMULATOR FACT: Sire Orientate’s 2-year-old runners have won 15 percent of their races (67 for 460) over the past five years.
Sacred Temple (#7) – This colt went off as the favorite in his debut at Santa Anita last month, and he ran pretty well when finishing second to a horse who repeated next out, winning a stakes race at Oak Tree at Pleasanton. Sacred Temple led throughout much of the running while setting honest splits before tiring late to hang on for second honors, an effort that surely can be built upon. It’s said very often, but it’s true – experience is invaluable when it comes to 2-year-old races. If this Adam Kitchingman trainee can take a marginal step forward, he’ll be the one to beat.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Adam Kitchingman is 8 for 30 (15 ITM) over the past five years with male maidens who are making their second career starts.
Bandido Too (#5) – Another colt who will be making his career debut in this spot, this son of Offlee Wild sports a nice work tab over the past few months, including his latest drill here over the Del Mar Polytrack. It also is nice to see the couple of speedy gate drills he registered at Santa Anita at the end of June, and rider Drayden Van Dyke knows how to get a horse out of the gate in good order. Offlee Wild has done well with juveniles on synthetic, and although his dam was nothing to write home about during her racing career, it is a bit of a positive that this guy’s full brother, Zoomzoomania, has gone 1 for 6 to date. Bandido Too is not without a chance here for trainer Tim Yakteen.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Tim Yakteen is 5 for 19 (9 ITM, $2.75 ROI) over the past two years with first-time starters in maiden-claiming events.
The strategy
Sacred Temple would appear to be the most likely winner in this spot, so he’ll be the key to my exacta plays. That being said, he’s likely to be a short price, and I’d like to take a shot with a win wager on the first-time starter for Mark Glatt, Southeast Asia. Here is how the plays appear: 7/3, 5; 3,5/7; WIN on Southeast Asia (#3) at 6-1 or higher
Race 9
5 1/2 furlongs
Maiden claiming $50,000
2-year-old statebred fillies
Field of 10 (11 AE)
Purse: $38,000
Key contenders
Brazilian Barbeque (#3) – After showing good early speed in her debut and fading, this daughter of Stormin Fever transitions to a surface that her pedigree suggests she may be better suited for here in her second start. She’ll also get Lasix for the first time in her career, and that’s just one of the many reasons to believe she’s ready to roll here today. Speed and fade in her debut; addition of Lasix today; drops from statebred maiden special-weight company to statebred maiden claiming; one of the only fillies with any racing experience – it appears as though it’s all systems go for Brazilian Barbeque in the nightcap at Del Mar.
FORMULATOR FACT: Sire Stormin Fever’s juveniles are winning at a 16 percent clip (12 for 74) over the past five years on synthetics.
Powerful Girl (#6) – Trainer Hector Palma isn’t necessarily known for the work he does with 2-year-olds, but it would appear as though Powerful Girl is live in this spot. This daughter of Marino Marini had a gap in works June 1-23, but since that hiatus, she’s been steady as they come on the work tab. Her latest three-furlong blowout at Del Mar was a nice way to get her used to the track’s surface, and it’s very intriguing to see Rafael Bejarano take the mount on this filly for her debut.
FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, the jockey-trainer combination of Rafael Bejarano and Hector Palma has gone 4 for 8 (5 ITM, $5.00 ROI) in statebred or restricted races only.
Hula Girl (#7) – Although the race she exits during the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet has come back relatively weak, the race that Hula Girl ran was awfully encouraging. This daughter of Tannersmyman was outrun early by the pacesetters, but she ran on late with interest and closed nicely down the lane; if nothing else, this should prove to be a tremendously educational experience for this filly. It’s also nice to note that the synthetic surfaces should be of little concern, as she’s previously trained over the Tapeta footing at Golden Gate Fields and her most recent workout came over the Polytrack at Del Mar.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Steve Sherman is 10 for 35 over the past five years with 2-year-old fillies making their second career starts.
The strategy
I prefer the #3 Brazilian Barbeque over the other two runners but not by much. I’ll use all three of the fillies in exactas and play Brazilian Barbeque across the board. The plays look like this: Exacta box of 3, 6, 7; WPS on #3 Brazilian Barbeque at win odds of 5-1 or higher.
For information regarding all the runners in each of these fields, be sure to check out Closer Looks in DRF GamePlan.