Mo See Cal well spotted in optional claimer

DEL MAR, Calif. – One of the best plays at Del Mar for years has been a horse turning back from a two-turn race to seven furlongs, and that’s among the numerous reasons Mo See Cal stands a strong chance to take down Thursday’s feature race, a seven-furlong optional claimer for older females.

Mo See Cal came off a six-month layoff Aug. 9 and turned in a terrific effort in the one-mile Solana Beach Stakes on the turf. She set a sharp pace in that stakes for California-breds and only got caught in the waning strides, finishing fourth while beaten just a half-length for it all.

On Thursday, she cuts back in distance off that prep and moves back to a main track over which she won a first-level allowance last fall.

In addition, Flavien Prat – the meet’s leading rider – who was aboard for her comeback is sticking with her for trainer Peter Miller. All systems go.

Five entered the race, all using their second-level allowance condition. There were no takers for the optional $62,500 claiming tag. The race is the sixth on a seven-race program that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.

Show It N Moe It, who has been facing graded stakes company in her last four starts, gets some class relief over a track at which she’s finished in the money five times in eight starts. She won a pair of statebred sprints earlier in the year at Santa Anita, races that don’t count against her eligibility for this open allowance. A winner six times in 23 starts, Show It N Moe It has earned more than $471,000.

“She’s best against Cal-breds, but there wasn’t anything for her. Fortunately, this came up,” her trainer, Gary Sherlock, said Monday. “I’d like to win it, because that would put her over $500,000.”

Show It N Moe It drew the outside post. Rafael Bejarano has the call.

“She drew perfect, 5 of 5,” Sherlock said. “That’s Bejarano’s favorite spot.”

Qahira steps up one level after romping in a first-level allowance July 7 at Los Alamitos when making her first start in four months for trainer Bob Baffert. Joe Talamo, aboard for the win last time, has the return call.

Tiz Wild Wind is in from Colorado, where she won a statebred sprint stakes on June 22 before finishing third in a two-turn race last time out July 27. She is eligible for the lucrative Ship and Win bonus.

Watch Me Burn, who drew the rail, is seeking to raise her game to her 2018 levels, when she won three times in seven starts. She is winless in three starts this year, but she did win twice last summer at Del Mar.