Free's preview: Tread carefully with Soul Flyer

DEL MAR, Calif. – It has been a grim week at Del Mar – four horse fatalities in races, another fatality after a training accident.

Races 5 and 9 Sunday, originally scheduled for turf, will be moved to the main track. Three fatalities occurred after breakdowns on turf.

This will be short.

STATEBRED FILLIES, race 2

Soul Flyer ran so well in her debut on June 26 at Santa Anita that many looked forward to backing her when she made her second start at Del Mar. Soul Flyer is the 5-2 favorite.

But since her runner-up debut, two things have happened. Or rather, not happened. The filly that defeated Soul Flyer, Singing Kitty, returned to lose a stakes. Not just lose. She got trounced. Maybe the race in which Soul Flyer finished second was not good, after all.

Secondly, trainer Julio Canani continues to be foiled. Long one of the top trainers in California, Canani this year is 3 for 59 and has not won a race since March 21. His losing streak is up to 33 races.

Soul Flyer might be a good filly. Sired by Bertrando, she is the first foal from multiple stakes winner Free Flying Soul. But 5-2 is a short price on a filly that exits a possibly subpar race, for a stable stuck in an uncharacteristic slump.

OFF TURF, race 5

Rock Me Baby is rounding into form, third start back from a layoff. He runs on any surface, and would have been worth backing at 5-1 in the California Dreamin’ Handicap on turf.

But the switch to the main track is likely to reduce the field from 10. Rock Me Baby remains the top choice by this handicapper. He is sitting on a top effort. But his odds will be far less attractive assuming wholesale scratches.

The third-place comeback by morning-line favorite Ethnic Dance left much to be desired, even if it was his first start in nine months. Looks like a pass race.

JUVENILE FILLIES

Mark Casse shipped a string of good horses to Del Mar this summer. He still has not won a race, but his runners are firing – six starts, four seconds and one third.

His lack of a win should change in this six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old maiden fillies. Make the Sun Shine, a $700,000 daughter of Malibu Moon, ran well in her debut. She finished second at Churchill Downs.

With a race under her belt and a sketchy group of rivals (the good ones ran last Sunday against Luminance and Tara’s Tango), Make the Sun Shine should win at low odds.

She is the 3-1 favorite.

BING CROSBY, race 8

Goldencents is supposed to win, right? After all, he tussled with Palace Malice in the Met Mile and finished second. The question is distance.

Goldencents seems to prefer farther than six furlongs. He is the horse to beat, and has trained super. Maybe this year he emerges as a premier world-class sprinter. Hope so.

Because after this long week, Del Mar could use something to cheer about.