Smart claim tries to keep momentum

The $20,000 spent to claim North County Guy in August has turned out to be a successful investment, and on Friday he runs in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at Del Mar.

A 3-year-old gelding, North County Guy was claimed from an eighth-place finish in a sixfurlong race at Del Mar with the hope a switch to turf would revive his career. North County Guy won an allowance race with a $16,000 claiming option for California-breds on the hillside turf course by 5 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita on Oct. 28, earning $30,600.

Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Nancy Messineo, and Bruce Sands and trained by Richard Baltas, North County Guy is a half-brother to Cordiality, who was claimed for $32,000 at Sacramento in the summer of 2016 and has since earned $342,280. Cordiality won two turf stakes for California-bred fillies and mares earlier this year for trainer Mark Glatt.

“That’s one of the reasons we claimed the horse, to see if he would like the grass,” Baltas said of North County Guy. “They were right. He was very impressive last time. Maybe we can get half as lucky as Mark.”

North County Guy is part of a field of 11 in Friday’s sixth race on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m., Pacific. The Del Mar autumn meeting concludes Sunday before the two-week Los Alamitos meeting begins on Dec. 6.

KEY CONTENDERS

North County Guy, by The Pamplemousse Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-50

◗ North County Guy has started twice on turf, both for his current owners and trainer. North County Guy was fourth in an optional claimer for Cal-breds at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 29 before his win on Oct. 28.

◗ Friday’s race is run at a mile and will be the longest start in North County Guy’s career.

◗ Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the prior turf races, has the mount on North County Guy, who is likely to be near the front.

“I think he’ll do fine,” Baltas said. “He can be anywhere.”

Magic Musketier, by Musketier Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-88

◗ Traffic issues may have kept Magic Musketier from winning a race at this level at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. Magic Musketier raced in traffic in the final strides and finished fourth, losing by a length to Ultimate Bango, who was disqualified from first and placed fourth. Magic Musketier was promoted to third.

Cupid’s Claws, by Kitten’s Joy Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-71

◗ Cupid’s Claws won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf on Nov. 12 in his fourth start. Aside from North County Guy, Cupid’s Claws is the only other runner in Friday’s race with a victory in his last start.

◗ Trained by Brian Koriner, Cupid’s Claws is likely to race as a stalker for jockey Joe Talamo, who was aboard for the recent win.