Free: Del Mar horses to watch for week of Sept. 5, 2022
DARK MARCUS
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Sept. 1, race 1
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 67
Tough trip for maiden-claiming route gelding. Trailed, blocked on far turn, made a wide rally, narrowed gap. Claimed for $40K by Miller from Brian Koriner. Can beat similar.
WEEGEE
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Sept. 1, race 5
Finish: 4th by 2 3/4
Beyer: 71
Turf miler saved ground, blocked at top of lane, tried to slip inside, got stopped. Nightmare trip. Claimed for $32K by Mullins from Rolando Quinonez. Fits vs. similar with better trip.
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SEE THROUGH IT
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Sept. 2, race 6
Finish: 1st by 1 3/4
Beyer: 90
Sprinter dropped to $25K claiming pressed pace and blitzed turf sprint. Claimed by O’Neill from Brian Koriner. Options include dirt at Los Alamitos. Sharp gelding in peak form.
BIG CELEBRATION
Trainer: Luis Mendez
Last race: Sept. 3, race 3
Finish: 4th by 3 3/4
Beyer: 53
Debut 2-year-old filly in Cal-bred maiden sprint ran like she needed a start. Raced three wide in midpack and finished evenly. Respectable debut by full sibling to stakes winner Big Sweep.
NATIONAL TREASURE
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Sept. 3, race 6
Finish: 1st by 1 1/2
Beyer: 82
Debut 2-year-old by Quality Road sped to lead in six and a half-furlong sprint, took heat, kept running. Track favored inside running lanes, but this was a solid debut nonetheless.
MIXTO
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: Sept. 3, race 6
Finish: 4th by 3 3/4
Beyer: 74
Debut colt ignored in betting at 61-1 broke slowly from rail, trailed field, angled out for drive and finishing willingly in race won by National Treasure. Solid debut by Mixto.
AIR FORCE RED
Trainer: Leonard Powell
Last race: Sept. 3, race 7
Finish: 4th by 3 1/2
Beyer: 95
Turf sprinter stretched to mile and up in class to Grade 2. Pressed hot pace (45.00, 1:08.29), opened up in lane, hit wall. Worth following when shortens to turf sprint at Santa Anita.
PEARL GLORY
Trainer: Leonard Powell
Last race: Sept. 4, race 7
Finish: 7th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 67
European import making U.S. debut in allowance turf mile was keen early, blocked in traffic into lane, coasted to wire. Inconclusive effort by Group 3-placed filly who can improve.