Del Mar internet plays for Friday

Friday, August 25

When you back a 7-1 longshot that makes the lead at the quarter pole in a Del Mar dirt sprint, you usually cannot complain about the final quarter-mile.

Flyer Mine had race 5 in his grasp Thursday, but ran out of gas at the eighth pole. Flyer Mine finished second, and the $25 win bet went down in flames. It was a good bet, on the second-best horse.

In race 6, odds-on favorite Entourage was the day's second botched turf ride by Norberto Arroyo. Entourage was buried on the rail at the quarter pole, blocked until the eighth pole, and flew late for third. Not that it would have mattered, because longshot Happyhour Atthebrig finished nowhere. The exacta would have lost anyway.

Arroyo's other botched ride was She's Noble in race 2. She also was trapped along the rail, got sawed off at the furlong pole when she was in a bad spot, and finished fourth. She was moved up to third on a disqualification.

On to Friday.

Race 7

The turf rails are scheduled to move to a 14-foot setting for the Friday card. The configuration narrows the course and sometimes gives front-runners an edge.

Can an "outclassed" front-runner such as Sunny Disposition steal the $85,000 CTT & TOC Handicap? She will get her chance.

Memorette is the 7-5 favorite and the class of the field, but Sunny Disposition is 8-1 and the lone speed. Chances are, Sunny Disposition will not stay the 11-furlong trip. But the price is right, and the circumstances are ripe. She is 8-1, and worth a gamble at 6-1.

The bet: $50 win Sunny Disposition (minimum odds 6-1).

Back on Saturday.

Total wagers previous day: $50.
Total return previous day: $0.
Total win/loss previous day: minus $50.

(corrected totals below)

Total wagers for meet: $1,310.
Total return for meet: $246.
Total win/loss for meet: minus $1,064.