Goldfeder: Del Mar pick three play for Friday, Sept. 4

As we approach the final Friday of the Del Mar meet, the goal will be to try to get alive with a pick three into the fourth race. This maiden special weight turf event features a group of well-bred fillies who, based on their pedigrees, could make a significant impact on their division in the near future.

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Race 2

(4) Commander King (7-2 ML): Made good middle move in last and had a nice late rally to get up for 3rd. Should settle in good position with a better post today, and late run makes him dangerous.

(9) Gunslinger (5-2 ML): $625K purchase was put in for a tag last out and claimed by Doug O’Neill, who now enters him in a starter allowance on turf. If he takes to the new surface he will be a player.

(12) Follow Me Crev (3-1 ML): Wide trip two back may have cost him a win, and then he came back in a race that was probably longer than he wanted. Today he gets the right distance, but the outside post may cause him to be wide again. If he can break sharply and get loose, that would be his best chance. A contender but he needs to overcome the 12 hole.

(2) Shake Things Up (4-1 ML): Lightly raced 3-year-old makes his California debut off an impressive maiden score at Belmont in June. Has a good post and should get a good trip. The caveat is that trainer Peter Miller is only 3/38 (8%) first off the trainer switch on turf in the past 5 years.

A’s: 4

B’s: 9-12-2

Race 3

(1) Yana (5-2 ML): Returned off a layoff with a keen front-running effort only to be run down by the odds-on favorite late. Has shown that she can press the pace and may have to incorporate that tactic in order to avoid getting hooked in a speed duel. If she can do that she certainly has the talent to win.

(6) Enduring Erin (7-2 ML): Moves up in class but has the right running style to take advantage of the likely hot pace. Two of her three wins have come at this distance on dirt, so she appears to be have landed in the right spot.

A’s: 1-6

Race 4

(1) Yaffe (ML 10-1): Improved last out while getting a nice inside trip. Should sit pretty again today and has flashed enough late run to be a threat at a price

(4) Sweet Promises (12-1 ML): Well-bred daughter of stakes winner Life Is Sweet ran a good race while wide in her turf debut last out. Capable of improving on that effort, and she should offer value if she goes off at anything near her morning line.

(7) Nashoba’s Candy (7-2 ML): A half-sister to stakes winners Nashoba’s Key and Nashoba’s Gold, this filly is bred to win on turf. She broke a bit slowly in her debut but had good run late and should benefit from the experience along with the added distance today.

(8) Dreamologist (5-2 ML): Daughter of champion Dreaming of Anna, who excelled on turf after winning the Breeder Cup Juvenile Fillies. Working well for her turf debut.

A’s: 4-7-8