Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer saddles Viviendo El Sueno (#2, ML 5-1) in Friday’s fifth race at Del Mar, the six-furlong I’m Smokin Stakes. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Hollendorfer is winning at a 26 percent clip in 2-year-old races, for a return on investment of $2.43.

Duke of Doom (#4, ML 5-1) returns in Friday's sixth race at Golden Gate, a 1 1/16-mile claiming race on the all-weather track. It will be his first start since finishing third by a half-length in a claiming race July 30 at Santa Rosa. The first-, second-, and fourth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.

Our Pix last week looked good for about a half mile and then Midnight Surfer got a bit wiped out by traffic and the greenies and Virga had nothing left.  Still, it was a good day for BreezeFigs 2-year-old maidens as three won and another 10 came through during the week.  There were four at Saratoga, including three BreezeFigs exactas (plus one stakes), three at Gulfstream, two at Del Mar and solos at Louisiana, Monmouth, Parx and Timonium.  Over on the 3-year-old cards, seven broke their maidens,

As we approach the final Friday of the Del Mar meet, the goal will be to try to get alive with a pick three into the fourth race. This maiden special weight turf event features a group of well-bred fillies who, based on their pedigrees, could make a significant impact on their division in the near future.

:: See Lonnie Goldfeder’s pick three play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets

Race 2

Beyond morning-line favorite Willow U, the turf form is murky in a $35,000 nonwinners-of-three lifetime event in Race 8. Trainer George Weaver is 0 for 6 with female claiming turf route runners like Willow U returning in less than three weeks, including a loss last time out. If you are willing to take a stand against this favorite, it could launch a very good pick three. So that’s what I’ll try to do.

Trainer Oscar M. Gonzalez saddles Sora (#5, ML 12-1) in Thursday's eighth race at Gulfstream Park, a 5 1/2-furlong claiming race. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Gonzalez is winning at a 31 percent clip when saddling a horse coming off a 31-60-day layoff, for a return on investment of $4.87.

Race 7: #8 MR. SEXY is 10-1 on the morning line, and he could prove the key to my day. He’s facing a field full of runners that may want to go farther than five furlongs (such as the second choice, #3 BOOZER) or may be better on dirt (#2 TURNOVER). #4 CITY OF VENGEANCE (6-1 ML) could be a player if he improves in his first start off the claim for John Sadler.

Trainer Kim Hammond saddles Limerick Lady (#1, ML 7-2) in Wednesday's ninth race at Indiana Grand, a five-furlong optional claimer on turf. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Hammond is winning at a 33 percent clip when saddling a horse switching from route to sprint, for a return on investment of $10.00.

Goldies Nugget (#3, ML 5-2) returns in Wednesday's fifth race at Presque Isle Downs, a one-mile allowance on the all-weather track. It will be his first start since finishing fourth by 1 1/2 lengths in a claiming race Aug. 17 at Presque Isle Downs. The first-, second-, and third-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.

The Saratoga meet has been a series of starts and stops for me. I started off slow, made a nice move to come back, and then was called out of town regarding a family matter. I returned home after a five-day layoff, and it took me about a week to get my rhythm back. Then I had to leave town again for business. This time upon my return, I did not find my mojo. I was handicapping and wagering based more on memory than from solid preparation. The breaks had broken my rhythm, and I began to press. Going into Travers weekend, I found myself on a mini losing streak. I had to get the mojo back.