ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, ZUZANNA

FIRST RACE

The Sunday program begins with a five-runner field of California-breds. FREDDIES DREAM won this condition three times already including his last start; he enters for the optional $20k claim tag. A sharp horse in good form, his challenge is to produce speed. Most main-track routes this summer have been won by forwardly placed runners. FREDDIES DREAM rallies from behind, but he is the “best” horse in this small field. PLAIN WRAP returns to the main track after faltering as a longshot in a turf route for state-breds. His career-best figure was earned the last time he ran long on dirt. QUE CHISTOSO was re-claimed last out by Bob Hess Jr. His turf numbers are good, his dirt numbers just average. OLD MAN LAKE is rounding back into form; SENATOR ROBERT is a sprinter likely to set the pace. Can he run long? He probably cannot, but this field is shallow so he has a chance.

SECOND RACE

ZUZANNA towers over these $40k claiming 3yo fillies, having defeated similar multiple times on the East Coast She was claimed two back from an odds-on victory at Belmont Park, overmatched last out in a N1X vs. older, and now returns to the claiming ranks for the ship-andwin bonus. She is a complete and total standout for the trainer-jockey duo of Bob Hess Jr. and Kent Desormeaux. SIMMY’S TEMPLE returns from Northern California in sharp form, a win and two seconds her last three starts at Golden Gate. She won a maiden race on this course last summer, has developed into a consistnely reliable closer, and will be rolling in the lane. GLORIOUS VENEZUELA defeated a dreadful field of Gulfstream Park maiden-claiming fillies in her debut; the runner-up returned to win a maiden-12.5k. The others were weak. But she was purchased privately since, makes her first start in California for a top stable, and has room to improve. MO’VETTE returns to the course on which she scored an electrifying maiden win last summer. She is reunited with the rider that rode her to her only win.

THIRD RACE

GAS STATION SUSHI, a $240k purchase at a 2yo sale in March, makes her career debut with a rocksolid training pattern for Richard Baltas. Her July 19 workout was impressive (viewed on XBTV. com), her rivals appear only okay. All systems go for the daughter of Into Mischief. WISH YOU WERE MINE is a first-time starter trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, with fast workouts at Los Alamitos capped by a solid five-furlong gate move over this track early this week. The inside post is a challenge for a first-time starter out of the chute, not sure how she can possibly work out a trip. MY PRINCESS TAYLOR adds blinkers after a spin-around-thetrack debut. Improvement is likely for her, and stablemate BROOME. Both are second-time starters with an experience edge over the rookies.

FOURTH RACE

ATOMIC RULE is a 10-for-37 pro perhaps claimed for the main purpose of firing at Del Mar for the local ownership group Great Friends Racing. The gelding defeated better multiple times; he won or placed on this turf course the past two summers, and his figures are far and away the highest in the field. On paper, he is a low-odds standout, first start since late May. BANZE NO OESTE has been primarily a downhill sprinter at Santa Anita, but he has been running well against good foes and might be able to squeeze out the extra furlong and a half in this mile turf race. In Brazil, he won at seven furlongs, and seven and a half. BUYMEABOND finished a disappointing third last out in a restricted claiming turf route; now he faces open company. ROARING RULE earned big numbers his two most recent starts, but those were on dirt. Sharp horse might be worth a longshot stab.

FIFTH RACE

DRIZZY did not beat much in his debut, but he looked good doing it and trained well since. Five rivals he beat ran back; none hit the board.

However, DRIZZY won by more than five lengths, has worked well since then for trainer Mike Machowsky, and has been aimed to this California-bred stakes since his only start in May. He has speed, and he can finish. Machowsky also entered

UTAH UTE, who pressed a strong pace and inched clear late in an improved effort second out. He adds speed, while SMOKEM is the deep threat. A California-bred sired by Union Rags, SMOKEM rallied to a decisive debut victory here opening week. The pace scenario of this speed-filled field flatters his closing style. A similar comment applies to maiden second-time starter CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, who rallied from last to second in a promising debut. He benefits by the longer distance. SIR VALENTINE drops from the Santa Anita Juvenile, but is stuck on the rail.

SIXTH RACE

A sharp runner-up comeback last month at Santa Anita, and a proven record over the Del Mar turf course, stamps GUTSY RULER the selection in this N1X turf sprint. He did all the dirty work last time setting the pace, only to get collared in deep stretch by a stretch-runner. ‘RULER finished second his last four starts on this course, he has speed for a pressing trip. The knock is his lopsided number of runner-up finishes. ALLABOUTMIKE pressed a hot pace going two turns opening day in the Oceanside Stakes, and tired the final eighth. He shortens from one mile to five furlongs, proved two back he does not require the lead, and might be tough to beat if able to reproduce that June 24 win on the Santa Anita hill. EL TOVAR will roll late, as he seeks his third straight. This race has speed to run at, this course has favored his running style. Four of the first six turf sprints were won by deep closers. DAVID’S MEMORY misfired last out; his runner-up finish two back puts him in the hunt.

SEVENTH RACE

TAKE THE ONE O ONE ran well in his debut. He set an honest pace and finished second behind Utah Ute, a contender in the Graduation Stakes (race 5). With a race under his belt, and a solid workout over this track since, the Acclamation colt is the obvious choice. BLACKHAWK BEAUTY debuts with a series of fast works, and a win-early pedigree. He was sired by top sprinter Smiling Tiger, and the first foal out of a dam (Greatest Escape) that won her debut. She was trained by Jeff Bonde; likewise BLACKHAWK BEAUTY. A pace collapse would benefit MASCO YODELER, who split the field last time out in the same race the top choice exits. He also benefits from a stretch-out to six furlongs. GENERAL INTEREST is a first-time starter from a stable that can get this type ready to roll.

EIGHTH RACE

Based on his sharp win two months ago in a minor turf stakes at Santa Anita, SHARP SAMURAI enters the La Jolla for 3yos as the one to beat. SHARP SAMURAI has targeted this for weeks; he is the “fastest” in the field based on his two-turn figures, he has a versatile running style and is working well. All systems go; he is 3-for-5 since he was gelded. The lightly raced PLACIDO looms an upset candidate. Each start has been better than the one before; his fifth-place route two starts back was better than it looks. He broke from an outside post and was wide most of the trip. He returned with a decisive turf sprint win that earned a good number. Originally scheduled to run in the Oceanside Stakes on opening day, he was scratched from that race but trained forwardly since then and will put in an honest late rally. COLONIST has been running well on dirt, against better. Fourth last out in the G3 Los Al Derby, he worked a solid half-mile on turf since then, adds blinkers and will roll late. MONSTER MAN will be among the pacesetters; FASHION BUSINESS looms an upset candidate after a good runner-up finish two weeks ago in a N1X.

NINTH RACE

WHISKEY GINGER has speed, drops from maiden75 to maiden-20 and makes his first start since he was gelded. Improvement likely. GATO DOLCE finished in the money six straight, including five as the beaten favorite. This time, he tries with blinkers. TRUE FORCE raced wide and finished nowhere in his debut at Woodbine. He can move up second time out, first time on dirt. REMESSES drops from maiden-50. This race is a scramble.