Del Mar Babies for Wednesday, Aug. 27
Race 8
Generous Portion Stakes
2-year-old fillies
Six furlongs, Polytrack
Purse: $150,000
Key Contenders
No. 10 My Fiona
Here’s a filly that’s gotten the job done in the past, despite the fact that she’s still rather green. Her latest effort was her best yet, but she was still drifting about down the lane and changed leads very late in the running. Having said that, she kicked on powerfully once she did change to her right lead, and it’s more than reasonable to expect her to take a step forward here again. If she does, she’ll be motoring home late.
FORMULATOR FACT: Sire Ghostzapper’s juveniles have gone 15 for 87 over the past five years in synthetic races.
No. 4 Desert Steel
This filly won her maiden in the most impressive manner possible, and she appears to be the speed of the speed in this race. There are concerns here – other fillies have shown early foot in their prior efforts and the stretch out from five furlongs to six is no small task, but the way this daughter of Desert Code galloped out in her maiden score leads you to believe she’ll relish the added distance. She enters the Generous Portion as a legit gate-to-wire threat.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Simon Callaghan is 2 for 5 (3 ITM, $2.36 ROI) over the past year with 2-year-olds in non-graded stakes.
No. 9 Lost Bus
Lost Bus entered the CTBA Stakes as the odd-on favorite, and although she ran a very strong race, it was a bit disappointing not to see her run bigger than she did off the heels of her major maiden score. That being said, she possesses all-important tactical speed and figures to get the jump on the deep closers in this spot. She’s trained steadily after that last effort, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this daughter of Bring the Heat and Victor Espinoza turn the tables on their competition this time out.
FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Blake Heap is 2 for 11 (8 ITM, $1.56 ROI) over the past five years with 2-year-old fillies.
The Strategy
I think My Fiona will get another very nice setup in this spot, and I expect her to run the rest of these gals down late. If she can take another step forward as far as maturity is concerned, she’ll be very tough here. I’ll look to play her across the board as well as box her in exactas with both Desert Steel and Lost Bus. Here are the plays:
WIN, PLACE, and SHOW wagers on No. 10 My Fiona at odds of 4-1 or greater.
EXACTA BOX of 4,9,10 (depending on probable payoffs)