FIFTH RACE

Northern California-based NO NAME FRED arrives in the best form of his career including a highly rated win last out over Big Buzz, who returned with a win and second at Del Mar. ‘FRED earned a sky-high speed figure last out first off the claim by Jonathon Wong, who wisely gave the colt two months since that 92-Beyer win. Proven on dirt, proven around two turns, with a closing style that suits the pace, the sharp 4yo appears to have these Cal-bred allowance foes over a barrel. CLAIM OF PASSION regressed last out in his second start back, but his highly rated runner-up two back in a restricted claiming route at Santa Anita puts him in the hunt. He has run well over the main track at Del Mar. KING EDDIE is a 7-for-30 pro entered for the optional $20k claim tag. Not sure if dirt is his preferred footing, but he has been good this year. He was foiled by a fast pace last out on turf; he won three previous starts at Golden Gate on synthetic and turf. TEJON is a fast sprinter, stretching out for the first time in his third start. Come catch him.

SIXTH RACE

This turf route for Cal-bred maidens is a good spot to take a shot with second-start comebacker LUVLUV. His debut in January was okay, fourth in a productive sprint. Off since (vet scratch July 12), apparently working well, and meeting a modest field, LUVLUV can come back running. Her trainerjockey combo entered the weekend 5-for-9 this year on turf. TROPICAL TERROR finished a disappointing fourth last out as the 3-2 favorite in a similar Cal-bred maiden turf route, but the race was strange. It was dominated by speed, closers such as ‘TERROR made no impact. He also lost ground, yet finished okay. An eight-start maiden with six in-the-money finishes, he is better than his last start suggests. KALINE switches to turf with a pedigree than okays the move. His third last out in a synthetic-surface maiden race was decent. The winner returned to win an allowance. TABLE FOR TEN will be one of the favorites off a pair of thirds. He squandered a rail-skimming trip last out, although it was only his second career start. He might be ranked too low by this handicapper. HAMMERING LEMON set the pace and finished second in the common race that several of these also exit. Not sure if he really wants to run this far, however.

SEVENTH RACE

Based on her highly rated maiden-50 victory second time out, WITH THIS VOW should be tough at low odds in this starter allowance. Drawn outside, with a pressing style and speed-figure advantage over most in the field, ‘VOW looks on paper like one of the most probable winners on the card. She should get a perfect trip positioned second behind the speed. SHEZA GIRLY GIRL, a Northern California-based late-runner, is the only entrant with recent figures close to the top choice. ‘GIRL will roll late. MUCHO MACHO WOMAN is quick and possibly the one to catch. She set a strong pace and finished second last out. The filly that beat her (Your Royal Coil), was one of the favorites in race 1 on Saturday.

EIGHTH RACE

At age 9, TRIBALIST is a cut below the circuit’s top turf sprinters, so the drop from graded stakes to N1X/optional $40k claiming makes sense. TRIBALIST shows up for a claim tag for the first time, returning to the Del Mar course on which he has three wins and two seconds from six starts. The best horse in the field should be tough at this level. PSYCHO DAR had a bad trip opening weekend in a similar race. He was blocked on the turn and into the lane, did not have a clear run, and probably should have finished second rather than fourth. The in-form gelding nd figures with a better trip. GINOBILI returns from a three-month layoff as a first-time gelding. His only turf start here late last summer was decent; he has run well fresh, STRONG CONSTITUTION, stakes-placed last year as a 2yo, makes his first start since November with a series of flashy workouts. He won his career debut in a turf sprint on this course last summer.

NINTH RACE

Taking a shot with potential overlay BOTERO, whose races this year in Kentucky and Arkansas are good enough to upset this California $20k claiming N3L sprint. Claimed in June, the gelding’s first local start was merely a prep. He was 43-1 and finished eighth of 10. Now he wheels back seven days later, drops from starter allowance to N3L, and if he runs back to his Midwest form can post a surprise. Inside post is a challenge, and he faces good rivals including CAMBY. The latter trounced N2L rivals two back, then misfired next out. The inconsistent gelding is fast enough when he fires. JEN GO UNCHAINED finished an okay third under similar conditions last out, the winner Julius returned to win again. ABUSIVE GARY shortened to his preferred sprint trip last time and scored a solid N2L win. Lots of ways to go in this deep field.

TENTH RACE

Two-time stakes winner SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT could be loose on the lead in this G3 turf route, as he returns to the Del Mar course on which he scored his first stakes victory last fall. The frontrunner has targeted this mile and a sixteenth race (farthest of his career) since a sharp stakes victory over a good field in late May in Kentucky. ‘STRAIT won both routes in which he established the lead setting a slow pace; his two route losses were fastpace races. Come and catch him. KANDAREL ran super in the Oceanside Stakes on opening day. He lost significant ground rallying six-wide into the lane, and ran his final quarter in 23 seconds. If the top choice does not stay, KANDEREL would be the likely beneficiary from off the pace. STORM THE COURT is trying to regain the form that produced his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory last fall. His 3yo campaign has been frustrating, but a switch to turf and easier company could turn things around. He has been working regularly on turf, and working well. Interestingly, though his sire Court Vision was a turf specialist that won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile, his progeny have won just 8 percent of turf starts. K P ALL SYSTEMS GO made a crazy wide move on the backstretch and into the far turn, then flattened out after losing ground in the Oceanside. Upset candidate with patient handling.

ELEVENTH RACE

Many contenders in this maiden-20 sprint including QAABIL, making his California debut at the bottom level for a top stable. Blinkers on, first start since November, Mark Glatt 4-for-11 since last fall with horses making their first start since changing trainers. NEXT REVOLT drops from a productive maiden-40 to maiden-20, also adds blinkers and goes route to sprint. The 1-2-3 finishers from his last race won their next starts. PRINCE RICKY is an eight-start maiden who went too fast on the lead and faded both recent starts. Rider switch to Prat hints at an off-the-pace strategy. LEPRINO drops from maiden-40, goes turf to dirt, and route to sprint. He is another contender in a deep field.

SCRATCH BOARD

Here are the horses entered today who have been scratched in the last 45 days and have not raced since the scratch. Definitions: Off the turf: Turf race switched to main track. Trainer: Any scratch made by a trainer, including ones for weather, medical issues, a decision not to run in a stakes race, a horse entered back the next racing day, or a conditional entry (i.e., main track only for a turf race). Vet: Injury or illness. Steward: Administrative issues like medication and eligibility.