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DON PERICO

Trainer: Marty Jones

Last race: July 9, 6th

Finish: 3rd by 4

This first-time starter ran surprisingly well from the inside post in a fast-paced maiden sprint won by favored stablemate Blue Jay Attack. A 3-year-old gelding by In Excess, Don Perico set a lively pace (45.27-second half-mile) before weakening in the lane. He should be live next out for a trainer who does super with second-start maidens.

DONATO

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last race: July 10, 4th

Finish: 5th by 16 3/4

A 3-year-old first-time starter with fast works, this colt was bet to 5-2 second choice, but steadied on the turn, and then merely went through the motions in a race won by favored stablemate Z Z Warrior. With a clean trip and a prep race, Donato should move up a ton.

HAMMURABI

Trainer: Jack Carava

Last race; July 11, 4th

Finish: 4th by 7

A blistering half-mile in 45.05 seconds led to defeat in a $40,000 claiming race at one mile on turf. But the front-runner gelding was reclaimed by his original trainer Carava (from Mike Puype), and can drop back to a sprint this summer at Del Mar. Carava is always dangerous off the claim.

MENSA HEAT

Trainer: Jack Carava

Last race: July 11, 7th

Finish: 4th by 3 1/2

This honest gelding had a tough trip in a first-level allowance sprint. Unable to establish position early, he was steadied and shuffled back on the turn, then made minimal impact in a race dominated by front-runners. He likes Del Mar (maiden winner in 2008), and can show up in a similar allowance sprint or be aggressively spotted in an allowance/optional $25K claimer vs. statebreds.

– Brad Free