Free: Del Mar daily double play for Saturday, Aug. 1

DEL MAR, Calif. – A daily double that keys a longshot comebacker in race 1 is the extent of the strategy Saturday at Del Mar. Let’s take a look.

The card begins with a one-mile race, $16k claiming non-winners of three. The field is weak. Comebacker CHINA GIRL LOVER (2) is capable of an upset at 8-1 program odds.

China Girl Lover has not started in nearly a year, but he returns with a solid work pattern and a key trainer change to Dan Hendricks. The best race of the gelding’s career was his only dirt route. It was a runner-up finish in summer 2014.

Hendricks does not typically crank up comebackers. He is 1 for 39 the past five years with horses off six months or more. China Girl Lover, however, might be the exception.

The gelding is owned by Dr. Patrick Sheehy, who owned Carl O’Callaghan-trained Group 1 winner Kinsale King. China Girl Lover previously was trained by O’Callaghan. China Girl Lover is the first Hendricks-trained runner since Sheehy made a change.

China Girl Lover returns in a claiming race, ineligible to be claimed via CHRB rule 1634. The rule allows comebackers to run in a claiming race without being risked for a claim tag. It is a signal of optimism. The connections do not want the horse to be claimed away.

It is possible that China Girl Lover needs a prep race. It also is possible that Hendricks has found the ideal spot to spring an upset first start back for his new client Sheehy. At odds of 8-1, China Girl Lover is the key in the daily double.

Race 2, second half of the double, is nearly impossible. The $8k claiming route is filled with droppers that are in dubious form, the favorite is on the also-eligible list, and the mile race is void of legitimate pace.

This is the type race that is begging for an upset winner. Although using all is not usually a sensible strategy, exceptions occasionally are made. Eleven were entered, 10 will run; the daily double will use every starter in the field. Let chaos reign.

The bet, $2 double ($20 total)

Race 1: China Girl Lover (2)

Race 2: All 10 starters