BEST BET: RACE 2, CLEANUP HITTER

FIRST RACE

Post time Friday 4 p.m. The card begins with a competitive $8k claiming sprint for fillies and mares in which deep closer SIDEPOCKET RUN is the choice. Her blowout route two starts back would be good enough; there is sufficient speed to flatter her rally. This is her first since early last month; she runs well fresh and has won sprinting. She will have to catch sharp front-runner SOUTHERN TREASURE, who won six of her last eight in Northern California. She was claimed last out by Bill Morey, who is 10-for-33 at Del Mar the past two years. HERUNBRIDLEDPOWER was overmatched in two recent turf sprints vs. allowance rivals; she fits perfect at the lower claiming level on dirt. She will be involved early. NAZARETH looms an upset candidate first start since April with hot apprentice rider Evin Roman. BRIANA JEAN adds speed. Deep field.

SECOND RACE

CLEANUP HITTER is the most probable winner on the card, dropping to maiden-20 and shortening to a sprint after pressing a strong pace (surface was slow) and finishing a close third in a twoturn maiden-35/40. His running style suits this seven-furlong distance. COLONIAL POWER takes an even bigger drop, from maiden special-weight to rock bottom. He ran well over this surface two summers ago, has a comeback prep race under his belt, and at age 5 is realistically placed. BLOODLETTING improved second time out, finishing third in a fast-pace race that already produced two nextout winners.

THIRD RACE

After chasing undefeated Sircat Sally both recent starts, lightly raced PACIFIC WIND drops into a first-level turf allowance as the solid favorite. Three starts into her career, PACIFIC WIND has fired every time. Her dominating maiden win was followed by back-to-back in-the-money finishes in a G3 and G2. She had a tough trip last time, lost by only a length and a half, meets easier and switches to Flavien Prat. The only knock is price. Her odds are likely to be short. MEADOWSWEET followed her winning debut in a maiden turf sprint with a creditable fourth in a two-turn allowance. She had trouble negotiating the first turn (drifted wide), raced greenly into and through the lane, and missed by two lengths. Not bad. The well-bred, lightly raced daughter of Smart Strike is a sibling to G1 winners Courageous Cat and After Market. Bright future. HELEN HILLARY missed by only a nose in a N1X vs. older; she drops in class to face 3yos and will be rolling from the back. CYNTHIANA is a “must use,” stretching back to two turns and returning to the course on which she scored a sharp maiden win last fall.

FOURTH RACE

Both 2yo maiden races (4, 8) Friday are tough, including this maiden-50. ROYAL TRUMP is a shot. His workout pattern at San Luis Rey Downs is solid for trainer Cliff Sise, who has won with 3 of his last 11 first-time starters; the gelding is out of a dam that produced seven winners. The jockey assignment is interesting. Norberto Arroyo rides regularly for trainer Peter Miller, who entered a pair. But rather than ride for Miller, Arroyo picks up the first-timer for Sise. CANDYMAN GARRET posted a series of bullet workouts at Ruidoso Downs for trainer Henry Dominguez, the colt looks ready to roll. He is by the hot first-crop stallion Overanalyze, whose 2yos are firing. Overanalyze progeny already won eight races for 2yos. Overanalyze is the leading first-crop sire by wins, and second overall in 2yo winners (behind Scat Daddy). TEXAS WEDGE is one of the aforementioned Miller trainees, making his career debut. Miller is 6-for-24 at Del Mar (past five years) with 2yos that debut for a tag. BOLD DETERMINATION is the second Miller entrant, dropping from MSW and making his first start since he was gelded. Tough race.

FIFTH RACE

Turf sprints at Del Mar produced an inordinate amount of upset winners the past three years, and this Cal-bred N1X is another with chaos potential. Big field, lots of speed. JET SET MAN might be the one to beat, first since February. He has a solid recent workout tab, runs well fresh (debut runnerup) and gets a weight break under the apprentice rider Roman. EIGHT SPOKES has been stuck at this level seven successive races including three

runner-up finishes. The gelding’s closing style could play well in a race likely to unfold at a swift pace. This is his first since October, which is fine. Both wins were first start following a layoff. Look for him late. PLATE SIDE improved slightly to win his second career start vs. modest Cal-bred maidens. This is his first against winners. His trainer Doug O’Neill has had much success recently in Del Mar turf sprints, 11-for-34 the past five years and huge return on investment ($3.16 return per $2 win wager). TOMASINO is speed on the rail, first start since January. ELEGANT TANNER arrives from Northern California in top form; MIRACLE MARCH was sold privately since his flashy maiden win; he makes his first start for John Sadler. Lightly raced gelding with upside. Another deep race.

SIXTH RACE

Fast, older veteran DISTINCTIVE B and lightly raced 3yo AMERICAN PASTIME are the principals in this N2X sprint. DISTINCTIVE B gets the call, first since January. He has fired fresh in the past, copes with fast fractions, appears to have worked well at San Luis Rey Downs, and his trainer is on a roll. All systems go. But he is likely to be pressured by the promising AMERICAN PASTIME. The latter crushed maidens in his debut, finished a troubled second next out, and last out cruised by a length and a half over the good 3yo sprinter Kimbear. The speed figures earned by AMERICAN PASTIME are comparable to the top choice, and from the outside post he should get a comfortable trip pressing the pace in the clear. If the speed falls apart, deep closer CLEVER ROYAL could be along to upset. He won this N2X condition last year, was in tough spots afterward, and returns at the same level while entered for the optional $62.5k claim tag. Upset candidate from off the pace.

SEVENTH RACE

This restricted stakes for turf fillies and mares is the perfect spot for G2-G3 winner MRS MCDOUGAL, a 5-for-11 pro making her first start of the season and first for trainer Richard Mandella. Sharp workout pattern, history of firing fresh, class of the field, logical favorite. CORPS DE BALLET has an upset chance. The improving allowance filly has improved as the 2017 season has unfolded; she scored an 11-1 upset last out while able to ration her speed and rally from behind. Looks like she found her niche as a turf miler; big shot if she runs two alike. The filly she beat last out was MADAME

STRIPES, who returned with a solid runner-up finish in a Grade 2. WATCH THIS CAT stretches out from a sprint and will contest the pace along with stretch-out BELVOIR BAY. STREET SURRENDER is a multi-surface specialist in sharp current form. She won a $79k dirt stakes last out.

EIGHTH RACE

In a competitive race for Cal-bred 2yo maidens, SOUTHERN WARLORD might be worth a shot. Trainer Scott Rollins is 4-for-16 with juvenile first-time starters the past five years including three Southern California debut winners topped by $67.60 upsetter Just Google Me. SOUTHERN WARLORD, by Shackleford, is a sibling to 2yo stakes winner Repo. Decent-looking works, shot at a price. SUIT OF LIGHTS is likely to improve second time out; his debut was okay. He dueled, and finished third, while several lengths clear of the field. CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, an Animal Kingdom colt purchased for $245k, has shown promise in the morning but reportedly wants more ground. UNOBTAINABLE has worked fast for his debut. Another deep race on a very interesting card.