ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, ANONYMITY

FIRST RACE

KIANA’S LOVE meets much easier in this turf sprint for $50k claiming 3yo fillies than the older fillies and mares she faced last out (finished ninth). Her debut victory three back at Santa Anita would probably be good enough, trainer Peter Miller and jockey Flavien Prat are tough to beat in Del Mar turf sprints. Since late 2017, they teamed in seven DMR turf sprints: 5 wins, 2 seconds. RESPECT MY CANDOR merits longshot consideration from off the pace. There is plenty of speed to run at, ‘CANDOR has been facing better company, she will roll late at a price. ANONYMOUSLY slips into the claiming ranks with a pressing style that should lead to a good trip just off the pace. Her starter allowance win two back at Santa Anita puts her close to the top choice. STEAL THE DIAMONDS and TIP TOP GAL are speed, but both are unproven on turf.

SECOND RACE

Messy group of maiden-32s racing a mile on dirt, DRINK gets the tepid call off back-to-back runnerup finishes in similar maiden-32 routes. He set or pressed fast fractions both, worn down both. It is uncertain how far he really wants to run, and the presence of stretch-out sprinter complicates the pace scenario, but DRINK nonetheless the one to beat with a forwardly placed trip. Trust him? Not really. SUITE ALONSO returns from an extended layoff while entered in this maiden-claiming race with the “no-claim waiver.” That typically signals optimism. This race did not come up that tough, ‘ALONSO showed route ability last fall finishing second vs. similar. TWISTED PLOT is the aforementioned stretch-out sprinter, quick enough to make the lead if he wants. OHTANI drops to a new low, BOYSON likewise. There are lots of reasonable choices in this race.

THIRD RACE

This N1X turf route came up short on speed, a scenario that benefits front-runner CAPTIVATE. He wired claiming horses twice in his last three starts, last out he could not make the lead in a fastpace, closers-dominated race and merely split the field. Looks like he could set an easy pace here, however. Come and catch him. SHINING THROUGH, a 3yo facing older, finished second in four straight vs. his age group. He gets a slight weight break, and will rally late. KAZAN, first or second in four of seven on this course, was claimed from a solid runner-up finish in a $40k claiming turf route. This N1X/optional claiming field might be a little easier. OVERDUE might be ranked too low by this handicapper. Recently compromised by outside posts and wide trips, he finally drew well. He finished in the money three straight at this level. SAVE GROUND has not raced since November, his races last summer and fall put him in the hunt, while BATTLE OF MEMPHIS finished second last out in a fast race. This field is deep.

FOURTH RACE

Interesting field of 2yo filly first-time starters go five and a half, led by INSPIRESSA. By the promising first-crop sire The Big Beast, she debuts with fast works for a trainer that can get this type ready to roll. The John Sadler-trained filly sold at a 2yo auction for $850k. BAST is an Uncle Mo first-time starter working well for Bob Baffert, while SUPERSTITION has shown promise in morning works for Richard Mandella. AMERICA’S SURPRISE, an American Pharoah filly that is a sibling to Songbird, is another with pedigree and sharp workouts. Plenty of choices in this field of promising juvenile fillies. Will be interesting to see if any deliver a performance worthy of a berth in the G1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31. This could be the final maiden race of the meet that might produce a Debutante starter.

FIFTH RACE

There is less speed in this seven-furlong maiden claiming race than the five and one-half-furlong race in which TESTIMONY finished third last out. The gelding can make the lead and be long gone at this longer trip. BLUE SKYE JADE shortens to a sprint after losing his punch four successive routes. Runner-up twice, he certainly is fit cutting back to a sprint, and might provide a stronger late kick at this distance. SINGLE ME OUT returns from a four-month layoff while switching from turf to dirt and dropping from maiden-50 to rock-bottom

maiden-20. WINDING might be ranked too low by this handicapper. Runner-up twice in similar races at Los Alamitos, he should be forwardly placed within striking range of the top choice.

SIXTH RACE

REAL MASTER can spring an upset over likely favorite NOLO CONTESTO. The U.S. debut by REAL MASTER was promising. Void of speed, trailed slow fractions, lost ground wide into and through the far turn, and finished fifth by only two lengths. He ran his final five-sixteenths in a quick 28.46 seconds. With more pace to run at here, the gelding can sit, wait and blast home for an upset. NOLO CONTESTO is taking a significant drop while trying turf for the first time. He was a top 3yo dirt prospect early this year, then tailed off. The move to turf was under consideration several weeks ago. On pedigree, the switch should not be a problem. Progeny of Pioneerof the Nile won 13 percent on turf; NOLO CONTESTO has a sibling that won on turf. However, the Aug. 4 turf work by NOLO CONTESTO was only okay. He needed urging to keep up with older workmate Declaration of peace. On the other hand, ‘CONTESTO did outwork N1X winner Foxtail July 21 on turf. Mixed signals, uncertain if this surface will benefit. MORE ICE, already a N1X winner on this course last fall and entered for the optional $80k claim tag, ran okay last time. He finished ninth, but ran faster each successive quarter-mile. Longshot consideration. CARNIVOROUS pressed slow fractions and finished third last out, the race was weird because closers finished one-two. He adds speed, along with stretch-out CAPTURE THE SEA.

SEVENTH RACE

ANONYMITY looks solid in this G3 sprint for fillies and mares, a race won by favorites six of the last 10 years. The runner-up comeback by ANONYMITY was sharp considering it was her first in eight months. She worked well since, likes the Del Mar track, and should be tough to beat at low odds. She finished second as the odds-on favorite in this race one year ago. BEST OF ME merits longshot consideration to complete the exacta. She has changed to a local trainer since a good spring campaign in Washington, she worked well over the Del Mar surface, and is drawn outside with a pressing style. She should be among the first to pounce if/when the likely pacesetter DANUSKA’S MY GIRL falters. The latter won four straight including two graded stakes prior to her recent misfire at Los Al. If that race can be disregarded, she has a shot to take this field gate to wire. LADY NINJA might be ranked too low by this handicapper. Both recent allowance wins were fast on speed figures. The challenge is repeating her most recent start while coming back in three weeks.

EIGHTH RACE

TACOCAT stretches out following an okay thirdplace debut in a dirt sprint won by G1 Debutante bound Immediate Impact. TACOCAT is dropping in class (MSW turf routes are easier than MSW dirt sprints), with a pedigree that okays the switch. GO BIG BLUE NATION faltered at low odds three starts this spring in abbreviated sprints at Santa Anita. She is bred to run long on turf (by Animal Kingdom, Point Given in her female family). The race in which she finished fifth last out produced at least two next-out winners. First-time starters PAIGE ANNE and OVERJOYED are worth consideration. PAIGE ANNE’s trainer is Simon Callaghan, whose two most-recent first-time starters in route races produced a runner-up finish (Antigone) and a 28-1 upset win (Maxim Rate). OVERJOYED is a sibling to graded winners Land Over Sea, and War Story.