Free: Del Mar horses to watch for week of Aug. 26, 2019
MIND OUT
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Last race: Aug. 21, race 3
Finish: 1st by 3/4
Beyer: 57
A 2-year-old Tapit filly, she was tons best in turf a turf sprint. Broke slowly, trailed, rallied wide, stormed home, up. Excellent debut, better than speed figure indicates.
CANYON CREST
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Aug. 22, race 5
Finish: 4th by 1 3/4
Beyer: 57
Solid debut by 2-year-old colt in Cal-bred maiden turf mile. Void of speed, between foes into far turn, waited into lane, tentative, evenly late. Should move up a ton next time out.
STRIKE THAT
Trainer: Vann Belvoir
Last race: Aug. 23, race 1
Finish: 1st by 5 1/4
Beyer: 85
A 3-year-old gelding making his debut for a $50,000 claim tag, he powered to highly rated victory. Belvoir claimed him from Peter Miller, can repeat in starter allowance.
FIRST STAR
Trainer: Ron Ellis
Last race: Aug. 23, race 4
Finish: 1st by 1 3/4
Beyer: 88
Stretching out from debut sprint win, this lightly raced 3-year-old filly raced wide throughout in mile dirt race, won going away. First Dude filly has stakes potential.
PHAST PHAROAH
Trainer: Jeff Bonde
Last race: Aug. 23, race 7
Finish: 4th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 61
A second-start 2-year-old, American Pharoah colt not asked for speed (strategy change), then finished steadily in turf sprint. He is learning the game; his next should be his best.
SPEND SPEND SPEND
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Aug. 25, race 6
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 92
Class-drop filly ran super, set pace closest to rail on day outside lanes best, finished more than four lengths clear of third. Baltas claimed her for $40,000 from Brian Koriner.
BELLA FIGURA
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Last race: Aug. 25, race 9
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 69
This $50,000 maiden-claiming filly was making her California debut in turf route, blocked in deep stretch, had to wait for room, big finish, she might have been best.