DelMar Selections 7-29-17 by @Gio_Ponti24

Del Mar Summer Meet 2017
Saturday, July 29, 2017

Hopefully most of you followed along yesterday afternoon. We had 2 winners from the selections and a third-place finisher (exotics play). It wasn’t a life changing score, but it padded the bankroll and gave us some funds to play with today.
Del Mar has put together a 10-race card that features The California Dreaming Stakes (3rd race) and the Bing Crosby Stakes (9th race). Now the big race is definitely the 9th as it is a G1 event that also holds the distinguished “Win and You’re In” component to it. That event will determine who will hold a spot in the Sprint Division this fall when the BC makes its debut at Del Mar. It’s a big day across the nation as Saratoga will also be featuring some very important races this afternoon. Keep an eye out for the race selections from @SaratogaScotty1 as well as last minute selections from 1minutetopost. Make the right bet and subscribe!!
The races yesterday were fairly chalky as the highest paid winner was an $11.00 shot. I suspect that today’s results will be a bit more exciting. Speaking of excitement, today will also be the Premiere of “Zenyatta” the movie. We will be able to relive the illustrious career of the greatest mare of all time. Today is sure to be a day to remember full of racing excitement, outstanding racing coast to coast, and great food with the Truck Festival in full display today. Let’s go ahead and look into the standings to see how yesterday’s races shook things up and then dive right into the card.
The jockey standings look fairly similar after the races yesterday and did not change much other than Prat creating some separation from Bejerano for second. Evan Roman continues his hot streak as he has reached 10 wins after yesterday’s card. There hasn’t been a real defining moment where one of these jocks breaks through, but consistency appears to be the game currently. The trainer standings also did not change much after the card yesterday, but now there are 5 trainers fighting for second and only 1 win behind Doug O’Neill. On to what we all came here for!

Race 1:
#6: Jungle Warfare: The only horse with experience should have an advantage over its opponents. First race for this runner wasn’t all that bad as he finished a clear third at first asking in an event that produced a next out winner. The main threat to the Hollendorfer charge will be Tatters to Riches as that colt cost a whopping $1,000,000. From this outside post I think Jungle Warfare will be able to sit close to the pace as Tatters to Riches throws it down with the other first time starters and make a swooping run on the outside to nip them on the wire.
Race 2:
#2 Lady Cloud: This race appears to loaded with speed which would set it up nicely for a closer. This runner’s last 3 races have been horrible but now she returns to her preferred track. From 3 starts she has 1 win and 3 thirds. The winning rider returns for this contest. Aside from these positives it is also important to note that this runner is running her 3rd race of her form cycle and is working forwardly. I am expecting a peak performance this time around and at 12-1 on the morning line I will be interested to see if she turns her form around. (Longshot Play)
Race3: California Dreaming Stakes
#2: G.G. Ryder: This Northern California shipper has yet to run a bad race this year, but that 0 for 2 record at Del Mar jumps out. When there is negative you need a positive to counter that and this horse has it. #PratEffect. Flavian hops on board and will try to guide him to back to back victories. The field will be lacking speed as the only true front runner is Incredible Luck, who jumps up in class after having won 2 in a row so I project this runner to sit right off of Incredible Luck and get the jump on the deep closers.
Race 4:
#2 Another Girl Alma: Ricardo Gonzalez makes the trip down south to try and get the hattrick aboard this 3-year-old filly. Jumps up in class but this filly hasn’t been sharper than she is now and will get the pace she needs to make her patented run down the stretch. Will need to avoid being shuffled too far back as this track has not played kindly to deep closers but she seems enough tactical speed to stay within striking change. (Value Play)
Race 5: Skipping-
Race 6:
#9 Lake Time: This race was a toss up as there are two runners that I feel are equally capable of scoring in this event. Lake time and Delitefull Lady. I will side with Lake Time as she has a the advantage of a recent race under her belt. This runner has raced against Abel Tasman and Noted and Quoted, two runners who would be 1/9 in this spot. She will be coming from far back but with Stevens taking the call once again I feel she could make it a winning run. **#3 has equally as impressive credentials having run against Unique Bella and finishing 3rd against that runner**
Race 7:
#11: Sweet Connie: This lightly raced filly seems to have more upside that the expected favorite Scandal. Not on that runner- she has run 6 runner up finishes losing by no more than 1 length. Sweet Connie has been on the losing end against that runner several times but with visible excuses in each of those runs. She gets Brice Blanc, who I consider to be a superb turf rider for this event and gets a comfortable outside post. If she is able to avoid traffic trouble as she begins making her run on the far turn she could post a shocker in the 7th. Obviously, can’t leave #3 Scandal out of the picture, but I will key on Connie. (Value Play)

Race 8:
#11 Big League: Paco Lopez shows up in southern California for this race which is interesting. This runner was a solid sort last year finishing a clear second to Klimt on this very track. He put forth a solid campaign for his first 4 races and then Miller decided to put him on the grass. After that race he wasn’t the same, granted those last two efforts were against tougher, but now sees a drop-in class and a switch back to the surface where he was most successful. This gelding may wake up at a big price today.

Race 9: Bing Crosby (G1)
#4 Ransom the Moon: This will be the toughest race of his career, but if there was ever a time to try a G1 event it would be now. Drefong is coming off a long layoff and we saw what happened last time Baffert and Smith brought a horse back after a layoff on this track. St. Joe Bay is making his first start since Dubai so perhaps a Dubai bounce is in the cards. As you can see there are some vulnerabilities within the top contenders and the pace will be hot as well. For all these reasons, I end up on Ransom the Moon. This colt is a neck away from going 3-3 this year and with some help up front and a masterful ride from Prat he will be making a neck away from 4-4 this year. He holds a tactical advantage over the deep closers which makes him dangerous as he has a solid turn of foot and may be able to hold off those late closers if the speedsters fold. (Best Bet)
Pick 5 Play: ($54)
5,6
2,8,11
2
1,2,7
3,5,10

Late Pick 4: ($4.50)
3,5,11
4,9,11
4
3

As you can see my plays will be dependent on Flavian having a great day today. Let’s hope he does. As always play at your discretion. Best of luck to everyone!