BEER $$ Anyone?

Friday August 16th

A 7 race card on this Friday evening at Del Mar.  Some opportunities to build our bankroll and make a nice score heading into the weekend.  Now on to my selections.

First Race
#3 Hey Yup  He is a 4 year old gelding who is 1 for 12 lifetime and it's kind of an oddity that he won his first lifetime race and has yet to find himself back in the winners circle.  Today could be that day and I think he is versatile enough to be sitting close to the lead or just a little bit off.  He has 3 lifetime races over this surface and although he is 0 for 3 his best career beyer comes here at Del Mar.  Should be right there at the end

#2 Hustlin Nu  Doug O'Neill claimed this horse at this same level last time out when he ran 5th as the beaten favorite.  O'Neill put a strong 4F work into him a week ago and this barn has started to roll as of late so you have to respect

#8 Salah Champ  This will most likely be your post time favorite.  Breaking from the outside post Talamo should be able to position this horse just off the pace and try and make a big move turning for home.

Second Race
#8 Great Friends Rule  All the also eligible horses looked like the best horses in this race but with none of them drawing in this one looks to be the one to beat with his speed from the outside.  If he clears could be tough to catch unless someone else goes with him

#5 Old Man Lake  He ran an eye popping best career effort and shocked over the grass at 18-1 last time out.  He'll be a shorter price today and if he runs back to the last effort he'll be right there with this group

#3 Field Report  Mike Smith knows this horse well as he has been on him in both his starts this year.  Unfortunately, he likes to settle for 2nd as he has 6 seconds in only 12 career starts.  Probably will be in the mix again at the line

Third Race
#4 Sky Forever  This was a difficult race for me with many new faces joining a group of horses that don't look like standouts.  This 2 year old filly is dropping out of Statebred MSW company and is adding the blinkers today.  I noted that the works seemed to get quicker after the addition of the blinkers and it wouldn't take much of an improvement to win today

#9 Yodel Up a Storm  I think this will be your heavy favorite.  Sadler claimed this one at this same level of 50k last time and was very patient with her after she lost by a nose.  He has since given her a few weeks off and then 5 nicely spaced works into her.  She is probably ready to run another nice race today.  Could be tough

#1 Warrens Lil Margie This is my hunch play and probably a price play in this situation.  Only 3 published works for this 2 year old filly debuting and they were all long works which tells me she was breezing privately before hitting the track.  Apprentice Sigala gets the mount and trainer Craig Lewis is good with firsters.  Sneaky

Fourth Race
#2 Iconic Spirit  This 0 for 8 maiden has 2 career starts over the synthetic surfaces and ran 2 of his best races on a synthetic surface.  The only draw back was that both of those efforts were at Hollywood Park where it's a cushion track, where Del Mar is a polytrack surface.  He has worked ok over this surface so I do think he'll handle it just fine.  Looking for him to graduate today probably as your second or third choice

#9 Sealington This one probably has the most upside of the group meaning he has the greatest shot of improvement in the field.  Only one career start which was a sprint where he was closing well and maybe just wants to go longer.  Trainer Leonard Powell has been lethal at this meet with a small group of starters.  Another encouraging sign that LeParoux stayed aboard for lifetime start #2.

#8 Humor Me  Bob Baffert saddles the probable favorite in this one.  Stretching out for the first time and probably finds himself on the lead.

Fifth Race
#7 Jim's No Preacher This one woke up last time against much easier but did so while winning in hand.  The addition of blinkers and getting this horse back to the synthetics where he is 4 for 5 lifetime was the key.  This one will be ultra tough in my opinion.  The only danger is if he gets caught in a speed duel

#4 Romance Is Sosa  
You must respect these connections and notice they lost this horse last year for $16,000 and dipped back in and got him for $5,000 earlier in the year and since them have kept moving him up the ladder. He is protected today which is a great sign

#6 Brown Boss  He has been moving in the right direction but must improve again today to beat this group. 

Sixth Race
#10 Pontchatrain
Love the direction this one is going.  Looking for him to improve again and looks mighty dangerous if he moves forward again on the turf today where he won convincingly last out

#1 Oscar Party  Mike Smith rides this one for the first time which you have to respect him as a money rider.  They had high hopes for this one at 2 when she ran at prestigious meets such as Saratoga, Keeneland, and then in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Filly Turf Mile.  She took a step forward in her last when she ran 3rd in a G3.

#3 Macha  She cuts back to a Mile today and Hollendorfer's go to guy Rafael Bejarano reunites with this filly where he won on her 3 back .  Can't rule this one out

Seventh Race
#2 I'm No Patsy  Trying to beat the heavy chalk with this Statebred MSW dropper.  Gutierrez stays aboard for this big time drop and if we get 8-1 like the ML that is more than a fair price

#1 Hair on Fire  Going to be a BIG favorite in this spot as she is the class of the field and the one who owns the biggest numbers.  This drop today simply looks like an attempt to win a race but you never really know.  Trainer Vladimir Cerin is 43% in these spots

#4 Magic Maya  Price Play in the last as this one is 15-1 on the Morning Line.  Stretches out today and has lasix for the second time.  Could have just needed a medication adjustment and is probably going to be pressing the pace today.  Sleeper who should run much better than her last.

Good Luck to everyone playing the races today and I hope you're able to make some money using my picks and analysis.  I'll be back later in the weekend with another blog.

All the Best,
JimmyQ

Questions or comments I can be reached at JimmyQRacing@yahoo.com