Free: Del Mar horses to watch for week of Aug. 1, 2022
BOLD CONNECTION
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Last race: July 30, race 3
Finish: 8th by 17
Beyer: 35
Second-start juvenile filly seemingly had run when she was steadied and eliminated at quarter pole of turf route. Call it inconclusive. Uncle Mo filly is better than she looks.
WEDDING GROOM
Trainer: Steve Miyadi
Last race: July 30, race 4
Finish: 4th by 4
Beyer: 74
Non-winners-of-two claiming sprinter sped to lead inside on racetrack conspicuously biased toward outside, hung tough to deep stretch, tired. Good try under circumstances.
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RIVERSIDE
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: July 30, race 6
Finish: 5th by 7
Beyer: 63
Juvenile colt was only prepping in sprint. Off slowly and steadied, trailed, finished well, galloped out super. Promising debut by well-regarded Bernardini colt. Wants two turns.
SHAAZ
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: July 30, race 8
Finish: 4th by 6 1/2
Beyer: 90
Inside post on outside-biased track compromised Grade 1 sprint favorite. Dueled inside multi-horse jam, dropped out, actually showed late run. He ran better than finish position.
GOLIAD
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Jul 30, race 9
Finish: 1st by 1 3/4
Beyer: 94
Second start since gelded, War Front 5-year-old set wicked pace in entry-level allowance turf mile (44.89 and 1:08.73) and was gone. Graded-placed at age 2. Can go up ladder.
LAUREL RIVER
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: July 31, race 2
Finish: 1st by 4 3/4
Beyer: 97
Bet like an odds-on cinch making first start since summer 2021, 4-year-old dominated second-level allowance on strong pace. Won both routes by open lengths. Stakes caliber.
ROENICK
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: July 31, race 3
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 48
Debut 2-year-old colt favored in maiden turf mile. Unrelaxed in traffic, buried behind runners, raced evenly in a promising start to his career. Should move up a ton next out.
JUSTIQUE
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: July 31, race 8
Finish: 1st by 2 1/2
Beyer: 72
Smashing debut by 2-year-old filly. Off slow, trailed, weaved through traffic, angled out, powered home under a hold. Potential star goes next Sept. 10 in G1 Del Mar Debutante.