Del Mar Vulnerable Favorites, Live Longshots, and Spot Plays: August 24
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SPOT PLAYS AND LIVE LONGSHOTS
LEGAL SEPARATION (#2, 5-2) finished with good energy to be 4th here July 17 despite a very wide trip. That was his first start in over 6 weeks so he can improve, and he also takes a critical drop for the meet's leading trainer. Four works since show he holds his edge, particularly that bullet 4f move (:47.60) here Wednesday. - Michael Hammersly
Del Mar Race 1, (5:05 ET) - LIVE LONGSHOT
LOVE THAT ACTION (#3, 10-1) Sure, there are some issues here, but the two works – including zippy recent 1/2 -- make one feel better about them. With trouble and way race set up, he had zero chance to win last out, & should get very favorable run into fast, contested pace this time. - Marcus Hersh
TAP IT IN (#7, 5-2) Saturday might finally be the day for a 6-year-old maiden who clearly has been compromised by physical problems thoughout a once-promising career for Jay Em Ess and Ellis. Surely can benefit from his last start, his first in 14-plus months, an effort that might've been good enough to win at this lower $20k level. Tote price won't be that great, but sometimes you just take what they'll give you. - Marty McGee
Back-class horse for course SHEDIAK (#2, 6-1 pre-scratch) won two routes on this track in 2011 including a $91k stakes. He stretches out with an upset chance in this $8k claiming route. - Brad Free
The favorites will be under-valued; the upset play is third pick VAVOOM (#7, 12-1 pre-scratch). Runner-up in his debut in a maiden-50 at BHP, he returns vs. special-weight foes for sharp trainer Mark Tsagalakis. - Brad Free
FIRE WITH FIRE (#6, 7-2) got a needed confidence booster with a win at Santa Rosa recently; unlike others in this race, he is a true distance turf horse, and his numbers suggest he can contend; may drift higher than his morning line. - Byron King
A sharp horse moving up three levels, YOUTHEPRIZEANDI (#10, 6-1 pre-scratch) crushed $12.5k claimers last time as if she can handle the jump to $25k. Her main rivals include INNER GROOVE and BROOKLYN ROSE. - Brad Free
VULNERABLE FAVORITE
Conspicuous knocks on $20k maiden-claimer TAP IT IN (#7, 5-2) include the fact he is a 6-year-old maiden, his stable is cold, and he never has raced on Polytrack. - Brad Free
TAP IT IN (#7, 5-2) 6yo gelding drops to lowest level yet in quest of maiden score; second race off a year layoff, which had been preceded by another year layoff. No thanks. - Chuck Kuehhas
VAGABOND SHOES (#7, 5-2) seems better suited as a late-running miler than a turf marathon; get the feeling his connections are in here largely to avoid facing Obviously in Sunday's Del Mar Mile. - Byron King
