ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, AMALFI SUNRISE

FIRST RACE

ECLAIR topped the 2yo sale at Santa Anita at $420k, and makes her debut for a trainer whose stock generally are ready to roll. Baffert-trained Bernardini filly the one to beat. GREG’S DIVA has racing experience, runner-up in a maiden race at Ellis Park. Couple of solid workouts over the Del Mar track, she looks well-meant in her California debut for Phil D’Amato. Not sure about the field she ran against, however. Early indications are it was not much. First-time starter LAZY DAISY appears to have worked well for a trainer who won five races on Wednesday.

SECOND RACE

CONQUEST SMARTEE won a maiden-20 last out by nine lengths in fast time. He was cut out to be a top runner (full to Square Eddie), finally found his best form at the lowest level. These type often win right back at the N2L bottom such as this $16k claiming race. WHATSITTOYA actually ran well opening week, setting a fast pace and tiring to third vs. 3yos. Claimed for $16k, shorter distance, and a track that recently has been kind to speed, WHATSITTOYA has a shot on the front end. CAPTAIN N. BARRON will be grinding away from just off the pace. He is 1-for-23 with 6 seconds and 4 thirds, so you know what are getting.

THIRD RACE

Good, competitive N1X turf sprint could go a number of ways; the call is 3yo LEGENDS OF WAR in his first try against older. His two best U.S. races were sprints, he set the pace into the stretch in the opening day one-mile Oceanside Stakes before tiring to finish off the board. Back at his preferred one-turn trip, could possibly tuck into a cozy trip just off the pace. There is plenty of speed in this field, which theoretically could set it up for NORTH COUNTY GUY. An underachiever around two turns, he does have ability and will be outrun early going just 5f. That is fine. He will blast home late, and if he gets the right trip has a legit chance to win from far back. SMILING ANGELO appears to have worked exceptionally well for his comeback. He was a top prospect early in his career, this is just his sixth start. Looks poised for a successful lae-summer campaign and possibly the speed of the speed. These horses also have speed: PSYCHO DAR, ESKIMO ROSES, STOP THE VIOLENCE.

FOURTH RACE

RIDING WITH DINO actually ran okay in his debut in MSW at Pleasanton. He chased the pace from second position, and only tired late. Good try. Class drop for his second start, has speed in a 2yo MCL sprint that surprisingly does not have much speed. The one to catch on the drop. FLY THE SKY drops to maiden-50 while making his first start since he was gelded. His runner-up two back puts him in the hunt. SWEET BOY, stablemate of the second selection, has a longshot look. Trainer Steve Miyadi is 3-for-9 with DMR first-time starters the past two summers. All three winners were longshots at $20 or higher.

FIFTH RACE

The debut win by AMALFI SUNRISE was fast and visually impressive, she trained super since, and should be tough to beat in this G2 for 2yo fillies. Her team workout on this track July 19 was impressive; she dusted her workmate. No telling how good this filly might be. She is trained by Simon Callaghan, who won this race last year with Bellafina. He also trains recent acquisition SHEDARESTHEDEVIL. Her debut victory at Chuchill Downs was impressive. Off slowly from rail, hard-held taking dirt, angled outside and powered home. Big win, solid works in California for Callaghan since, she will rally late. COMICAL is two-for-two: debut winner over dull maiden field May at Santa Anita, G3 win July at Saratoga. Back home now, trying to make it 3-for-3.

Tough turf sprint and an honest front-runner the one to catch. DOM THE BOMB won five straight vs. easier in Northern California, he is the speed of the speed. His “class” is uncertain, this is his first start in Southern California after going 16-for-39 all over the map. ‘BOMB gets the call to go gate to wire. CASTLE returns from a five-month layoff, spotted at the same claiming level he won at in winter off a layoff. He can sit just off the pace, and finish. That might be the right trip this spot. MIDNIGHT MING chased the top choice two back, and finished second. He cuts back to his preferred sprint trip and should be pressing the top choice from the outside. PURE COMEDY figures except that he might be less effective on turf. But he will finish, possibly at a price.

SEVENTH RACE

First-time starter GODDESS APHRODITE shows up in an apparently modest Cal-bred maiden-50. The Peter Miller stable is rolling, and wins with firsttime starters. Weight break, outside post, apparently good works. DUNBOW ROAD showed speed and tried in her debut at this level. Reasonable to expect improvement second time out. SECOND AVENUE finished a close third last out, the runnerup returned to win.

EIGHTH RACE

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is back in action at Del Mar, with an outstanding turf mare favored to win her eighth graded stakes race. VASILIKA won 12 of her last 13 starts including seven graded, and she enters as the class of the field on a turf course she won twice over last year. She carries top weight of 125 pounds; she carried weight in the past (125 last fall G2 win, 129 win last summer). Julien Leparoux substitutes for regular rider Flavien Prat, who rides Saturday at Saratoga. VASILIKA should be tough to beat, as usual. STORM THE HILL ran well in her recent comeback, third in a G3 turf mile that was her first start this year. Her effort was flattered when the filly that beat her by a neck for second (Ollie’s Candy) returned to win a G1 last weekend on dirt The slow final quarter (:24.89) by ‘HILL last out is partly due to the Santa Anita turf course on closing weekend. The course was slow. BEAU RECALL returns to California; her form since transferring to Midwest trainer Brad Cox has been outstanding, three wins and two seconds in five starts. Runner-up by a nose in the G1 Del Mar Oaks here in 2017, runner-up last out in a G1 at Belmont. Her closing fractions were ridiculous over the fast Belmont turf. BEAU RECALL will fly late here, a contender to knock off the favorite. VALEDICTORIAN will try to take advantage of the pace scenario. There is not much speed in this field. She is Grade 3 caliber in the East. LEMOONA is interesting off a fast-finish stakes win last out, she came home in :22.81 at Santa Anita.

NINTH RACE

MESSAGE has plenty to overcome breaking from the rail in this N1X sprint, but her comeback maiden was outstanding and fast. Not sure about the field she beat (one ran back, odds-on third), but the win was dominant and she is a lightly raced 3yo making just third career start. Plenty of upside for Bob Baffert. It will be up to jockey Martin Garcia to work out a trip from the rail. TIJORI was a top 2yo filly last year, debut winner and fourth in a stakes. Last year, she was thought to be close in ability with subsequent G1 winner Bellafina, who returns Saturday at Saratoga in the Grade 1 Test. TIJROI runs fresh, was fast year, and training as if she can fire first start in more than a year. BOUJIE GIRL, third in a pair of Grade 1’s last year, also returns from a layoff. The Peter Miller stable is hot, ‘GIRL is good enough. DANCIN IN PARADISE arrives for the ship-and-win program for red-hot trainer Doug O’Neill (5 wins Wednesday). She won big at Indiana Downs, tired in a route. Upset chance back to one turn? She is lightly raced (2 starts) with room to improve.

TENTH RACE

This turf route, $62.5k maiden claiming, looks competitive. Not a trong field of fillies and mares, but evenly matched with many contenders including “pace play” BUSY PAYNTER. She stretches out from two sprints, is quick enough to make the lead, and could take these gate to wire. On pedigree, she should stay a mile. Win or lose, ‘PAYNTER is the one to catch. Rationed speed has been holding at a mile on turf (different configurations than this 12-foot setting). EQUAL MEASURE finished second in a maiden-75 two back, a similar level as this. That race however, turned out to be a negative key race. EQUAL MEASURE has finished second in 5 of 7 starts, so logic has it she will find a field she can beat eventually. COLDWATER would have been ranked higher by this handicapper from a better post. She is good enough based on her winter form at Santa Anita. But from post 12, it will be tough to work out a trip. Still would use her if the price is right. CALENTITA returns to maidenclaiming, her fourth-place finish two back puts her in the hunt from off the pace. DULVERTON DARLING goes first off the claim for a trainer that won with his last four first-off-the-claim starters. She finished close enough in her first couple of starts. She might be ranked too low by this handicapper.