Goldfeder: How I'd play Del Mar on Friday, Aug. 28
I’m looking to take what they give me on this seven-race card that begins the weekend. The best place to start is with the early daily double.
Race 1
4-Keezheekoni (morning line 5-2): Six of her 14 races have been on turf, and she has a lone third-place finish to show for it. In her six races on dirt, she has one win, one second, two thirds and has run Beyer Speed Figures of 71 or better three times. The Beyer par for this race is 69, so she clearly fits. In her last dirt race two back at this level, she ran a game second, just getting outfinished after dueling through the stretch. Two horses came out of that race to win their next starts, posting Beyers of 78 and 75. She returned Aug. 1 in a turf race where she chased four wide and finished evenly. The last time she went turf to dirt, she won by six lengths. Now back on her preferred surface, I see her as the most likely winner on the card, and she will be my key.
The Play:
Bet to win at 2-1 or better.
DD 4/2
DD 4/1-4-7 for less
Race 2
2-Midnight Belle (ML 3-1): Working well for her second start off a long layoff, this well-bred filly should move forward. Out of graded stakes winner Queenie Belle and a half to graded stakes winner Unrivaled Belle, she is going to appreciate the added ground as she stretches out to a mile. In her last race, she rated early, made a nice move on the turn, and sustained her run through the stretch while finishing a respectable fifth. Three horses came out of that race to win their next starts, posting Beyers of 81, 83, and 94.
In the past four years, trainer Mark Glatt is 10 for 44 (23 percent) when going from sprints to routes on the Southern California circuit.
6-Entebbel (ML 4-1): Another entrant who is second off a layoff with a race over the surface. She made an impressive late run to finish second in her last start. She will need some pace, and if she does get it, her late run should get her a piece.
1-Madam Aamoura (ML 7-2): She has made three starts on dirt, and they were three of her better efforts. In addition, she showed speed in those three starts, which should prove an asset in a race that might be lacking in pace. Unable to win her maiden on the turf, perhaps running on the dirt in this spot will help change her fortune.
4-California Curl (ML 4-1): Raced four wide and closed well at 6 1/2 furlongs when finishing second Aug. 7. Will be helped by having a race over the surface, and pedigree suggests she’ll appreciate the stretch-out to one mile.
The Play:
No. 2 to win at 3-1 or better.
Exacta: 2/1-4-7 and reverse for half.