Free's preview: Big prices on turf winners

Friday, July 25, preview

DEL MAR, Calif. – The summer season has been good for price-shopping. Six days into the Del Mar meet, the win rate for favorites is 21 percent (12 for 58), and average field size is 9.40.

Will it be more of the same Friday? Now is a good time to take a look. First post is 4 p.m. Pacific.

TURF SHIPPER, race 3

The median win payoff this meet on turf is $11.80. That makes race 3 starter Contributor, 5-1 morning line, a candidate to win his California debut in the $40,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf.

He certainly fits on class. Contributor finished second in a claiming race at Arlington Park last out. Not just any claiming race. It was a race against older, won by a solid veteran (Mec Dancer, 6 for 33) who wheeled back and won again.

Contributor drops Friday into a race restricted to 3-year-olds and can give apprentice rider Drayden Van Dyke his first Del Mar turf win. Van Dyke entered Friday 0 for 11 on turf. The favorite is Hobbits Hero, who won three straight at Santa Anita. He breaks from post 10 under Tyler Baze, who is 0 for 15 on turf at this meet.

PEDIGREE PLAY, race 6

Antiquity disappointed in her comeback two months ago, her first start in eight months. She set a slow pace and faded in the final furlong. She finished fourth. Not good.

However, a surface switch from dirt to turf is reason to consider her an upset candidate Friday in race 6. Antiquity, trained by John Sadler, is bred to love grass.

Sired by Pulpit, Antiquity was produced by the good turf sprinter Stylish Wildcat. Her first eight starts for Sadler, all on turf, included five wins and three seconds. She won a $52,000 turf stakes at Bay Meadows, a $114,000 turf stakes at Keeneland, and finished second in two other turf stakes.

Perhaps Antiquity will take after her dam. A solid workout pattern since her comeback sets her up for a top effort in the fourth start of her career. She is another “live” turf mount for Van Dyke. Antiquity is listed at 9-2.

MARATHON, race 7

Sky Kingdom is a deserving 5-2 favorite in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap. One year ago, he finished second in this 1 1/2-mile Polytrack race, and he scored a sharp comeback win three weeks ago. No knocks on Sky Kingdom.

A less likely winner at a higher price is Big John B at 6-1. He scored a sharp win in a $25,000 claiming starter allowance last out and jumps up in class for his second start in California.

Trainer Phil D’Amato sprang a $43.60 turf upset Wednesday with class jumper Lil Bit O’Fun. He will try to replicate the feat Friday. Running a claiming horse in a marathon stakes is uncharted territory for D’Amato, according to trainer statistics, but not really.

D’Amato was the longtime assistant to Mike Mitchell, who developed several claiming horses into marathon stakes winners. It’s a good list.

Leprechaun Kid upset the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap first off the Mitchell claim in 2005, On the Acorn was a three-time graded stakes winner after being claimed for $40,000, and Tap it Light upset the Grade 3 Tokyo City Handicap first off the claim in 2010. Others include 2008 marathon specialist Big Booster and 2012-13 stakes winner Dhaamer.

Big John B might not be good enough to defeat Sky Kingdom. But he is a sharp horse moving up in class for a top stable with a history of success in marathon stakes.

MAIDEN FINALE, race 8

First-time starter Sam’s Sister is the 5-2 favorite in race 8, an apparently strong special-weight sprint for fillies and mares. Her works for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer have been outstanding. She was completely overlooked by the Daily Racing Form analyst (mea culpa). No knocks on Sam’s Sister other than price.

But second-time starter Summerofsixtythree had a valid excuse for her off-the-board finish as the favorite in her debut. She broke last from the rail, rushed inside to duel, and faded in the lane. Good works since, an outside post, and a race under her belt give her a license to improve.

She will have to improve. In addition to Sam’s Sister, first-time starter Kirov also has trained well.

Good card, good luck.