We had some rain issues yesterday. Woodbine had to cancel after the fifth race on their card because of persistent storms that caused two weather delays. Then we have rain at Saratoga today, which leads us to a safe and dry place to race in Del Mar as we will take a look at today’s ninth race here as fillies and mares will go one mile on the turf in the Solana Beach Stakes. Post time is set for approximately 9:01 pm Eastern time.
Del Mar Race 9 – Solana Beach Stakes
Favored in tonight’s race is the 2 Stay and Scam (2/1 morning line) who cames into the race in her second race after a short layoff. She finished third in the Daisycutter in a five-furlong sprint race here at Del Mar. She needed that race, and I think she is best running a mile on the turf like today. She will be near the front trying to go gate to wire in this stakes race.
There is early speed in this race, so despite the rail being out 18 feet today, you could see horses closing into the pace despite a few less feet to work with from left to right. The 8 Worthy of Magic (15/1 ML) will go for the lead. She’s consistently running up front. The same could be said for the 9 Sneaker (15/1). Does this mean that the favorite may rate behind the two longshots here or are these two longshots not fast enough? Well, that’s why they run the races at the track and not on paper.
The 1 Tom’s Regret (4/1 ML) has run well in sprints in the California Fair circuit, but he also has run well on the turf. Not sure if he can get two turns but we will see this evening.
The 4 Rose Maddox (5/1 ML) returns after a two-month freshening and has held her own in California-bred and Golden State Series competition. She just missed in last year’s Solana Beach and could run very well here at Del Mar just like last year and her other races on the turf.
The 6 Court Snort (8/1 ML) looks like a filly with a great upset possibility here. We should have the front running speed you want when you are on a closer. She has consistently closed well in her last six races on both turf and dirt as well as different tracks like Santa Anita, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Los Alamitos (for thoroughbreds) and last time at Del Mar. If that scenario of a speed duel happens like I foresee, this may be who you want to play.
Sometimes you want to play a horse that is consistent. I will also tell you that horses are just like human athletes. They will have bad days and you just shake your head and move on to the next event. With this race tonight, I think that despite the rail being out 18 feet, I think we will still have some fillies and mares closing from mid-pack to the back of the pack.
If I am going with a filly or mare here that will close, I want consistency. Give me the 6 Court Snort, hopefully at a price near or higher than the 8/1 morning line. Let’s call this 6-4-2-1 with my play a $20 win bet on the 6. Good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, Woodbine cancelled their final eight races on their card, including the King’s Plate due to weather and track conditions. According to Ron Gierkink of the Daily Racing Form, the stakes races that we looked at on Also Eligible and in yesterday’s two articles will come back on Friday. I will give some thoughts as to what I think happened and what to look forward to come Friday.
- Power Squeeze got her nose down at the wire to win the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga.
- Grayosh held off the heavy favorite She Feels Pretty to win the Lake Placid yesterday on the Saratoga turf.
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