ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, SALSITA

FIRST RACE

The second week of the Del Mar summer meet begins with a competitive $25k claiming sprint in which STEALTH DRONE is the one to beat. She returns to claiming ranks after two good tries vs. first-level allowance foes, likes the racetrack (2-for-5 DMR dirt), gets a weight break, and has a versatile style that should lead to a good trip just off the speed. Freshened since early June, she should come back firing. PICA ran well last out finishing third in a turf sprint. Her last two wins were turf-to-dirt moves same as this, and she has won over this surface. KISS AT MIDNIGHT drops from N2X, and is another with established form on the Del Mar dirt. BROOKES ALL MINE and SHAKTI were claimed last out by Jack Carava, who is 6-for10 first off the claim since mid-April. It’s a deep race to kick off the Wednesday card.

SECOND RACE

Taking a shot at a price with HACKLETON, whose current form is undeniably sketchy. However, this $8k claiming sprint could set up well. He has a versatile style that could lead to a good trip just off the pace. In over his head last time for $20k, he returns to the bottom level and once was better than these. He is qualified to post an upset, though he got drilled two starts back by likely favorite ST. RENO. The latter is a fast veteran, 3-for-8, and possibly the speed of the speed. He was claimed his last two starts; both claims were voided after post-race examination. Win or lose, ST. RENO will mix it up early. GOLDEN MOON is an 8-for-30 pro making his first start in Southern California. The speed figures he earned early this year in the Midwest are fast enough to win this. BIG FINISH has speed; BROADWAY NIKA is a 12-for-59 veteran dropping from tougher races. This is an interesting bottom-level sprint.

THIRD RACE

The turf rails are moved to the outermost 30-foot setting for this card. This turf race is a $32k claiming mile for fillies and mares in which SALSITA is the most probable winner on the card. Freshened since early last month, returning to the course on which she is 3-for-6, competitive against better company, she can rally for the win despite the configuration of the course. Closers were effective last summer when the turf rails were at 30 feet; the configuration did not influence the course profile as much as perceived. TOP TIZZY is probably the best speed, in from Northern California where she finished one-two in 20 of 39 on turf. Although she is a front-runner, she is also effective with a pressing trip. Honest mare in good form for No Cal trainer Bill McLean, whose most recent turf-route shipper to So Cal was Moscato Girl, who paid $34.20 winning a turf mile at Santa Anita in January. SPEAK UP SAILOR is in from Belmont Park to take advantage of the Del Mar ship-andwin bonus program. Her form on the East Coast and Midwest is plenty good enough for this $32k claiming level. Also-eligible AN UNUSUAL GROUP wins more than her share.

FOURTH RACE

Another well-meant shipper from Northern California, LAYNEE is the call in this maiden sprint for Cal-bred fillies and mares. She ran well both starts on synthetic at Golden Gate, fourth after a slow start in her debut, followed by a pace-pressing runner-up finish in a race won by a filly that rallied from the rear of the field. That race already produced a next-out winner; LAYNEE has speed and is moving to dirt while facing a mishmash field of locals. Northern California trainer Andy Mathis and local rider Rafael Bejarano are 5-for11 the past three years. RULED BY GIRLS ran okay splitting the field in her debut, and should improve second time out. She had trained well going in, got some betting support, was not away well, lost ground and finished evenly. She ran like a filly that will improve with a race under her belt. BEAU SQUARE is speed, second start back, and among the likely pacesetters shortening from six furlongs to five and a half. LADY ACCLAMATION and HAILY RACHELE also have speed.

FIFTH RACE

Second-start maiden TWO TIMING LUCY had a rocky trip in her debut, and is likely to improve second time out dropping slightly to Cal-bred maiden-50. She showed speed in workouts prior to her debut, but raced inside and behind runners,

steadied at the head of the lane and again in midstretch, and then backed up. Call it inconclusive. She appears to have trained well since, including a sharp five-furlong gate work two weeks ago, and an easy half over this track last week. Expect a move-up second time out. First-time starter TIZ

WONDERFULLY is bred to win early. Sired by highpercent debut stallion Tiz Wonderful, she is the first foal from a stretch-runner dam that won her debut. Okay works, modest foes, price potential even though this trainer’s maidens typically run better as they gain experience. SAPPHIRE KID drops from the same race as the top choice, while first-time starter MYRCELLA is a Tribal Rule filly that is a sibling to three multiple winners.

SIXTH RACE

One more chance for UNAPOLOGETIC? The gelding has had his share of bad luck. He slipped and was eased three back, had a strange/compromising trip two back, and last out merely ran around the course. He might benefit from the stretch-out from a mile to a mile and three-eighths, Mike Smith back aboard; his rivals are modest. CHICAGO STYLE is a new shooter, in from the East Coast where he won three of four. IT’S THE ICE missed by a neck last time under similar circumstances, and should be among the favorites. He and blinkers-on BUSTER DOUGLAS both are proven at marathon distances.

SEVENTH RACE

This G3 main-track marathon has always been the target for HARD ACES, who won this race last year and returns at age 7 in solid current form. He finished third last out in the G1 Gold Cup, won a G3 marathon two back, and enters as the current “class” of the field. Trainer John Sadler is amazingly reliable with favorites in graded route stakes on dirt, 7-for-8 since spring 2015. The lightly raced FRENCH GETAWAY has taken his game to a new level since stretching to a mile and a half. He followed an improved third two back with a solid N1X win last out. Both races were on turf; he also handles dirt. The up-and-comer is unproven vs. graded winners, but his best races are still ahead. He has started only 10 times. BIG JOHN B finished a neck behind the top choice two back, and then beat only one in the Gold Cup. The 8yo pro (15 wins) is a “back-class” veteran repeatedly proven at this marathon trip. He won this race two years ago.

EIGHTH RACE

Another difficult race on a competitive card, LOOKING AT THELAKE is the one beat dropping to $50k starter allowance N2L after a good runner-up finish vs. allowance foes. The race was won by the pacesetter; ‘LAKE finished well for second to miss by only a length. It looks like she found her style as a closing miler. AURA ROSE stretches out for the first time, after three straight in-the-money finishes on the hill. She is quick enough to make the lead if she wants it. Two turns is the question. TAMMY’S WINDOW figures off her runner-up finish last out in a $50k claiming mile.