Moonie faces familiar cast in turf sprint
DEL MAR, Calif. – Moonie has settled for second far more often in her career than she’s won, but she has the best last-out performance of the runners in Thursday’s featured seventh race, making her a top contender in one of the more challenging races on the card.
Ten are entered in the five-furlong turf sprint, a first-level allowance for California-bred females that has a $65,000 purse. But the turf rails are positioned at their outermost setting, 30 feet, so only eight will be allowed to run.
Of the eight in the main body of the race, four are coming out of a similar turf sprint July 22 in which Moonie was second, Run Like the Boss was fourth, Silver Mojave finished fifth, and Missionelle was last of nine. In addition, that race’s third-place finisher, Trust Ur Intuition, is the first of the two also-eligibles.
New faces with chances include Easy Grader, who is returning from a nine-month layoff, and Star of Munster, who is making her turf debut but owns six wins in 13 starts on dirt.
It’s a typical turf-sprint raffle.
KEY CONTENDERS
Moonie, by Square Eddie
Last 3 Beyers: 77-49-77
◗ She owns two wins and seven seconds in 18 starts, giving her top-two finishes in half her starts.
Run Like the Boss, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 74-52-47
◗ She was stuck on the rail last time out and didn’t have the cleanest of trips but ran on well late.
◗ That was her first time in a turf sprint, so she may have found her calling.
◗ Norberto Arroyo Jr., who has impressed with his grass-riding skills this meet, is back aboard.
Easy Grader, by Tribal Rule
Last 2 Beyers: 67-36
◗ She raced just twice last year at age 2, and never on grass, but it’s notable that she lands Rafael Bejarano for her return, and her owner – Larry Samavar, a professor at San Diego State University who races as Academic Farms – would dearly love to win at his home track.
Star of Munster, by Tribal Rule
Last 3 Beyers: 72-73-46
◗ Though this is her first try on turf, she has a Tomlinson figure of 351, and her best quality is her will to win.
◗ She also has sharp early speed, which usually is paramount when the rails are set so far out.
◗ This, however, will be her first start against elders.
Trust Ur Intuition, by Vronsky
Last 3 Beyers: 75-69-59
◗ She definitely merits a long look if she scratches in, and it’s notable that at entry time, jockey Martin Pedroza made this mare his first choice over Matter of Luck, whom Pedroza will ride if Trust Ur Intuition does not get in.