Goulding: Del Mar pick four for Friday, July 17
The pick four at Del Mar on Friday begins with a wide-open event in Race 5 but closes with a horse who looks like a standout in Race 8. I am going to build a ticket around (2) URLOVENEVERFAILS. The 3-year-old filly just missed when she debuted in a California-bred maiden special weight race at Santa Anita on June 19, and she figures to take a big step forward with a race behind her.
Adding to her appeal is the DRF Formulator Fact that over the past five years, her Hall of Fame trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, has a solid 19 percent strike rate with maidens making their second start.
Race 5
Hard to take a firm position in this $62,500 optional-claiming race on turf for 3-year-old fillies. The “all” button might be the way to go, but we are going to fine tune it a bit.
(2) NOT TOO SHINY won at this level three back, attracts one of the best turf riders around, and will appreciate the move back to a sprint. (3) MECHAYA should handle turf, figures to move forward in her second start back, and has enough speed to take advantage of her inside post. (4) HOOLIGAN has two wins on the lawn and may not have cared for the soft conditions in the Alywow at Woodbine in her latest. (7) XOXO romped on Polytrack here last year, might take to turf, and will appreciate the easier company after finishing third in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez. The runner-up returned to win the Grade 1 Las Virgenes. (8) DOODETTA looked good in winning coming down the hill and could move forward in her second start back. (10) PICA could be dangerous if she clears early.
Race 6
(1) SCHERZINGER hasn’t fired her best shots in her last two, but she is a Grade 2 winner and is reunited with Mike Smith, the only jockey who has won with her. (2) WASTED AT MIDNIGHT looks like the best speed and is coming off two solid efforts at Santa Anita. The horse who beat her two back received an 87 Beyer Speed Figure when she romped in the $150,000 Spring Fever for California-bred fillies and mares in her next start. (5) UZZIEL won both of her starts at the distance and won’t mind getting back on dirt after coming up empty in the Grade 3 Wilshire. (6) BARUTA has solid turf form and she win on dirt when she debuted over a wet track in Brazil.
Race 7
(3) CONQUEST CURLGIL is coming off a solid effort in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks, is by a Curlin, who is a decent turf sire, and comes out of a barn that knows what kind of a horse it takes to win on turf. (6) MAJESTIC HEAT was an impressive debut winner on the lawn, and as a full sister to Grade 1-placed Mensa Heat, she could have considerable upside potential. (7) ZIPESSA romped in her debut on Polytrack at Arlington Park and has the pedigree to handle the surface switch. She also comes out of a live barn, and it certainly is encouraging to see Rafael Bejarano accept the call.
Race 8
As mentioned above, we will be singling (2) URLOVENEVERFAILS.
The ticket
Race 5: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10
Race 6: 1, 2, 5, 6
Race 7: 3, 6, 7
Race 8: 2
The price for a 50-cent ticket is $36.