TRACK PHANTOM - Del Mar 2017

[Track Phantom]

7-17-17

DEL MAR
1ST CLM 16K, 1M DIRT (2:00 PT)

5 GETOFFMYBACK 5-2
6 PAPA ROYALE 7-2
7 WOODSTOCK MEMORY 8-1
4 OUR NATION 3-1

PICK: 5 GETOFFMYBACK (5-2)
Trainer Peter Miller has won a race on opening day at Del Mar 4 years in a row. This one broke his maiden at this track in 2015. Clearly has physical issues as he was off 17 months and then eased at 3-1 just four races back. Caught a strong field for the level two back and then ran well for 2nd in last. The winner three back won next out for 25,000 claiming. Rider E Roman has been on fire this year and is certainly looking to have a big Del Mar meet.

VALUE: 7 WOODSTOCK MEMORY (8-1)
After 5 good efforts in a row, the connections fed him to the wolves when in for straight 20,000 claiming in last. Not surprisingly, at 43-1, he beat nobody home but really wasn't disgraced beaten just 8 lengths. This is a legitimate class drop and should appreciate the class and move back to a route. Just one win but it did come at this distance. Most likely for underneath in the exotics.

A) 5,6 B) 4,7 C) 1,3

[Track Phantom]

7/20/17

DEL MAR
6TH MSW 60K, 5F DIRT (4:40 PT)

7 ADROIT 6-1
1 SUGARATSUNDOWN 5-1
5 HOLD THAT SMILE 5-2
8 WHATYOUCISWHATUGET 12-1

PICK: 7 ADROIT (6-1)
Full sis to the 2012 Graduation Stakes winner here, Strong Wind, who ended up winning 255k. Truman has had two firsters recently with Desormeaux up, both for this owner, a win at 9-5 and a 2nd place finisher at 9-1. Decent works.

VALUE: 1 SUGARATSUNDOWN (5-1)
Nice effort in her debut when beaten a nose on the wire at 13-1. She broke first again in her 2nd start but slowed quickly. The Lasix might be the reason as might have bled in that one. Look for her to be sent hard from inside. Nice DMR work.

A) 1,5,7 B) 8 C) 2,3,4

[Track Phantom]

7-22-17

DEL MAR
3RD MDN CLM 80K, 5.5F DIRT (3:03 PT)

1 NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY 7-2
7 ON THE RIGHT 3-1
9 BANK WALKER 8-1
3 GRAYCASTER 5-2

PICK: 1 NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY (7-2)
Flashed some speed from the rail in first start over at LRC. The top 3 finishers all first timers and the winner was a Baffert trained, well-meant debut runner. His female tree includes G1 type Funistrada. He is in for twice purchase price of 40k.

VALUE: 9 BANK WALKER (10-1)
Trainer normally a patient type and he’s got two runners in this race. He can win with a debut two-year old. His best races have come with his brother Kent aboard. Has a steady worktab at SLR. Breeding suggests win early and sprint leaning.

A) 1,7 B) 3,8,9 C) 5

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 7/23/17

1 MSW 60K, 6F DIRT (2:00 PT)

4 NEWPORT BREEZE 5-1
6 LADYBUG 3-1
3 DANCING BELLE 8-1
8 KRISSYS MANICURE 5-2

PICK: 4 NEWPORT BREEZE (5-1)
Broke from the rail at 21-1 and got away slow. Once she recovered, she finished with some interest. Eurton is normally not a trainer who has them cranked up for their first start. Moves to aggressive gate rider Arroyo. Should see more here.

VALUE: 3 DANCING BELLE (8-1)
This is definitely a filly who will improve with more ground. 9 time stakes router, Last Gunfighter, is a sibling to this one’s dam. Trainer normally has cheaper 2YO runners. This one cost 200k. They get serious when Kent D is added to the mix.

A) 4,6 B) 1,3,8 C) 2,5,7

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 7/29/17

4 CLM 32K, 6.5F DIRT (3:33)

3 GEMINI JOURNEY 4-1
5 MUNNY SPIRIT 5-2
1 TABLE FOR THREE 3-1
7 SLY HUMOR 7-2

PICK: 3 GEMINI JOURNEY (4-1)
Spawr is 3 for 12 (25%) with 8 in the top 3 (67%) 1st off claim and in 25-32k claim here at DMR. He is 2 for 3 claiming off of O’Neill and running at DMR next. Forget the turf races and she fits nicely. Expect her to be picking ‘em off in deep stretch.

VALUE: 1 TABLE FOR THREE (3-1)
Last two dirt starts produced a win and a close 2nd place finish. She was getting to the winner last at 6-1 last time out. She got away poorly in her previous 2 starts for a trainer who is having a good meet.

A) 3 B) 1,5,7 C) 2,4,6

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 7/30/17

3 MDN CLM 20K, 7F DIRT (3:03)

10 BONA FIDE IMAGE 5-2
4 SEND IT 5-1
3 MAJESTIC DIVA 8-1
7 ALPHA PEGASUS 12-1

PICK: 10 BONA FIDE IMAGE (5-2)
This is a pretty miserable field and looks like one that is ripe for an upset. But not much in here at a price that looks very good. This one has been on the board 5x in last 6 starts. Only miss was a route on an off-track. Repeats any of those, wins.

VALUE: 4 SEND IT (5-1)
She went up hard into a very fast pace last time out and tired due to those early efforts. Blinkers are added and she’ll be quick early again. Front runners have a good chance in fields that are this weak.

A) 10 B) 3,4,7,9 C) 8

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/2/17

1 MDN CLM 20K, 6F DIRT (2:00 PT)

7 MALIBU D’ORO 3-1
1 INHIBITION 5-2
5 MY PERFECT GEM 2-1
3 ROCKIN MY MOJO 4-1

PICK: 7 MALIBU D’ORO (3-1)
Worth noting the 2 Ruff House was a vet scratch since last. This colt has just one way to go and has the right rider up with that style. Broke 1st from gate 3 straight. Drops 5 lbs. My Farmer was 5th two back and returned to beat a few of these here.

VALUE: 3 ROCKIN MY MOJO (4-1)
Good 3rd at 7-1 in last at LRC but beaten by the aforementioned My Farmer. He’s got some speed and if he can relax off of the outside runner, he could suck into a good trip. Gets in light w/ an apprentice.

A) 1,7 B) 5 C) 3

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/3/17

1 CLM 16K, 6F DIRT (2:00 PT)

3 BULLET EXPRESS 7-2
5 MYSTICAL IMAGE 5-2
4 MR. HALE 2-1
6 SUMMER BUDDHA 15-1

PICK: 3 BULLET EXPRESS (7-2)
Shipper from EMD where he was facing similar class and doing well there. Take note that Bejarano gets aboard a runner like this as it usually means he is meant to fire here. Has the right running style for this race and is honest for this level.

VALUE: 5 MYSTICAL IMAGE (5-2)
Don’t like playing vet scratch when the claim was voided but that alone gives the connections a free roll on the class drop. Gets the aggressive gate rider up today. Could forget to stop at this level.

A) 3,5 B) 4,6 C) 1,2

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/5/17

5 OPT CLM 40K, 1M TURF (4:03 PT)

10 MRS. NORRIS 10-1
5 MAI TAI 7-2
12 JEREMY’S LEGACY 6-1
11 CODIALITY 6-1

PICK: 10 MRS. NORRIS (10-1)
Pace of this race should be fast. She’ll be lagging off of it trying to make one run. She’s been on this turf three times and fired in all of them at 16-1, 7-1 and 6-1. Clockers say she is working nicely for comebacker. Run well fresh before.

VALUE: 12 JEREMY’S LEGACY (6-1)
Another that will be closing into a fast early pace. She had blinkers on in the last two but they come off here. Picked up place money in the G3 Megahertz at Santa Anita. Stevens gets up today.

A) 10 B) 4,5,7,11,12 C) 1,3,6,8

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/6/17

5 GRADUATION STAKES 100K, 5.5F DIRT (4:03 PT)

1 SIR VALENTINE 8-1
11 CONTINENTAL DIVIDE 8-1
2 SMOKEM 7-2
4 SCHULACE 9-2

PICK: 1 SIR VALENTINE (8-1)
Deep in the female tree is a superstar from 1987, Lost Code, who was head and head with the likes of Alysheba and Bet Twice. Drew the rail in the sharp debut. Broke 1st in the 100k stakes last out but bobbled, then went flat. Blinkers on and gets the rail. Expect Pedroza to get busy right from the start in here.

VALUE: 11 CONTINENTAL DIVIDE (8-1)
Cassidy not known for prowess with a 2YO debut runner. So the runner-up in the 1st start is meaningful. He went for 245k three months ago. Like the slow 3F work since debut. There is something here.

A) 1,2,11 B) 4,7 C) 3,6,10

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/9/17

1 MDN CLM 40K, 1M DIRT (2:00)

2 TIKI BAR LOGIC 5-2
3 WARRIOR VIXEN 4-1
4 OF NOTE 8-1
7 CHRISTMAS CAROL 3-1

PICK: 2 TIKI BAR LOGIC (5-2)
Logical player who is exiting key race 5th and 7th came back to win and 4th a nose back from a win next out. Trainer is 22% sprints to routes with mdn clm company including two wins here. Bit concerned that Pereira off to another.

VALUE: 3 WARRIOR VIXEN (4-1)
Beaten a neck as the favorite last time out while wide. Has a few that would win this. Trainer has two wins at the meet (one with Van Dyke who has won 8 of 33 for Hanson). She can win this.

A) 2,3 B) 4,5,7 C) 1,6

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/11/17

1 MDN CLM 50K, 1M DIRT

6 BABY GRONK 6-1
2 SOUTHERN WARLORD 6-1
4 MINISTER’S GLORY 5-1
8 NEHEMIAH 9-2

PICK: 6 BABY GRONK (6-1)
3 years ago, trainer had debut md clm 50k here w/ works similar to this one. She won at 7-1. Trainer had five 1sters in mdn clm at DMR and 3 outran their odds. Time for the work on 8/5 was actually 3rd fastest of the day, at 47.1.

VALUE: 2 SOUTHERN WARLORD (6-1)
Only beat two home in the debut but it came in MSW company and the top 2 in there came back to run 1st and 2nd in a 100k stakes. Others from there came back do well. Doesn’t have to be much.

A) 6 B) 2,4,8,9 C) 3,5,7

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/12/17

5 CLM 25K, 6F DIRT

1 LOGAN’S MOON 5-1
4 FOREST BLUE 5-2
6 LOS BORRACHOS 3-1
2 MASTERFUL STRIDE 15-1

PICK: 1 LOGAN’S MOON (5-1)
Trainer has had three claims. One won at 11-1, one ran 2nd at 13-1 and other ran out of the money. Adds Bejarano to the mix, a rider he’s never had on a horse of his. He was making up major ground in last. He’ll get a perfect trip.

VALUE: 2 MASTERFUL STRIDE (15-1)
He fits with this group. Was a good 2nd at a distance that was likely too short last out. 2nd two back has since won a 50k stakes at CBY. Will be blistering a pace up front with addition of blinkers.

A) 1,4 B) 2,5,6 C) 3,7,8

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/13/17

3 CLM 40K, 5F TURF

1 SECRETO PRIMERO 4-1
8 ERIC THE TROJAN 5-1
4 BOTTLE ROCKET 3-1
9 PRAIRIE PRAIRIE 12-1

PICK: 1 SECRETO PRIMERO (4-1)
If he breaks well, he can’t help but get a perfect trip. There are many closers and a few need-the-lead types which leaves him tracking third on the inside with little trouble. Won here at 5F on this turf 6 starts ago. Solid drills here.

VALUE: 9 PAYNES PRAIRIE (12-1)
Think he has physical problems but is stakes placed and can be good when he feels ready. Clockers say he’s been sharp in the morning. Has been able to show speed in the past. Might trip out.

A) 1,4,8 B) 7,9 C) 2,5,6

[Track Phantom]

DEL MAR 8/18/17

1 CLM 40K, 6F DIRT

5 MR. OPPORTUNIST 2-1
1 IRON ROB 4-1
3 BLUE ANCHOR 3-1
4 KARMA KING 7-2

PICK: 5 MR. OPPORTUNIST (2-1)
Makes his first start on the DMR main track. Ran 3rd to G1 winning sprinter 3 back. Only poor start in last 7 was two back on the grass. Winner in last came back to run 2nd in a 150k stakes. Sadler 4 for 9 on the drop to 40k clm at DMR.

VALUE: 1 IRON ROB (4-1)
The win three back was peculiar. Was bet down from 12-1 morning line and won easily. 5th two back in key race (4 next winners, other 3 ran back for 3rd). Huge effort winning here last time out.

A) 1,5 B) 3,4 C) 2,7