(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).

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DEL MAR SPOTLIGHT RACES:

Third Race – Post: 3:05 PT
Top Pick: 2-Roenick (6-1)

Here’s a promising juvenile colt making his debut over a distance of ground and has done everything in the morning like a true route performance, settling and then finishing and then galloping out strongly in all of his works. The son of Union Rags projects to the enjoy a ground-saving trip and then have every chance to turn it on from the quarter pole to the wire. He’s listed at 6-1 on the morning line and in a race that doesn’t appear too deep that price is worth taking in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics. The one he’ll have to worry about the most is 10-Excess English, outside draw and all. The Slam Dunk Racing homebred has been given a proper foundation by turf master Phil D’Amato to be fit and ready for a mile first time out and over a turf course he’s bred to love the son of English Channel should be especially dangerous.

Eighth Race: Post: 5:37 PT
Top Pick: 2-Home Cooking (5/2)

Has trained like the proverbial rocket ship for Bob Baffert and should come out firing in this maiden juvenile filly dash. Purchased for $260,000 OBS March Sale, where she sizzled a furlong in 9 4/5 seconds during the preview session, the daughter of Honor Code looks cranked up and ready to win right now and almost certainly will go lower on the tote than her morning line of 5/2. For added value, we’ll use her in the various rolling exotics and as an exacta key with another promising newcomer, 8-Kissed By Fire, who is listed at 12-1 on the morning like and based on what we’ve seen of her in the morning seems considerably better than that.

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DEL MAR RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:

(Races 1-5)
1st race: 6-Massino; 3-Jackstown
2nd race: 3-Laurel River
3rd race: 2-Roenick; 1-Excess English
4th race: V Bucks
5th race: 7-In Your Face; 5-The Ginger Queen; 10-Dear Beau

(Races 6-11)
6th race: 3-Stanford Man; 6-Merit Song; 7-Candy’s Wildcat
7th race: Ma France; 4-Buzz of New York; 9-Speed Lane; 11-Ellie Arroway
8th race: 2-Home Cooking; 8-Kissed By Fire
9th race: 3-Beyond Brilliant; 9-Hong Kong Harry
10th race: 2-Fenestra; 8-Octopus
11th race: 12-Emerald Lake; 5-Current Mood; 11-Youte


DEL MAR WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:

FIRST RACE:

Jackstown (July 22, Del Mar, 5f, :58.2hg). Grade: B+
See Massimo, below
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Massino (July 22, Del Mar, 5f, :58.2hg). Grade: B+
Worked outside Jackstown (same time) in quick gate drill for B. Baffert and was a tad the best, though it was really tough to separate them as they were stride-for-stride most of the way, splits of :23.2, :34.3, :46.3 and :58.4 on our watches, a couple of ticks slower than given, both under some urging late. Jackstown may be the quicker of the two, but Massimo might be a bit stronger late. Both are quite fit and should be formidable first time out.
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SECOND RACE:

Laurel River (July 17, Santa Anita, 6f, 1:11h). Grade: A-
Broke off inside Defunded (same time) and went fast throughout, splits of :23.2, :46.1 and 1:11.1 on our watches while being ridden through the lane but losing just a bit of steam late to be a half-length back at the wire (workmate went out an extra furlong). Returned to drill 1:10 2/5 from the gate six days later, so Baffert has really put the hammer to him for his first race in 11 months.
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Elector (July 23, Del Mar, 5f, 1:00.2h). Grade: B
Always a good worker and was breezing throughout in solo drill while traveling out to the 7/8 pole, splits of :23.4, :47.4 and 1:00.2 on our watches. Was eased in the Triple Bend S.-G2 last time out but looked none the worse for wear here. Questionable over a distance of ground unless he can establish the pace.
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THIRD RACE:

Telos (July 25, Del Mar, 3f, :36.3hg). Grade: B-
Actually went a full five furlongs from gate for Kitchingman while even but slightly best outside Artemis Star (same time), splits of :23.1, :34.4, :47.3 and 1:01.1 on our watches, okay early but slowing up late (not really asked much). Probably should watch one first.
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Roenick (July 24, Del Mar, 5f, 1:02h). Grade: B+
0Nice work by unraced son of Union Rags, breaking off a length behind Precision Strike (same time) and then drawing clear in the final stages to the wire before continuing out to 7/8 pole without being asked, slow early but nice late, splits of :24.3, :48.1 and 1:01 flat, a full second faster than given on our watches. Definitely a route type and appears to have a touch of quality for D. O’Neill. Looks fit enough, good prospect.
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Excess English (July 11, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:01.3h TT). Grade: B
In blinkers, broke off a couple of lengths behind Dazzlingdominika (5f, 1:01h TT) and Comanche Country (5f, 1:01.2h TT) and finished under the wire third best (but only a half-length back) while making steady progress under urging in the closing stages, decent enough for juvenile colt who is bred to run long on the lawn and is being trained to do just that. Intriguing for P. D’Amato.
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FOURTH RACE:

V Bucks (July 6, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:01.4h TT). Grade: B+
Broke off about a length in front of Don’t Ju Forget (5f, 1:01.2h TT) and held sway to the wire while under a tight hold (workmate going fairly easily, too), final three furlongs in :12 flat and :36.4 never asked at any stage, rather sharp for P. Miller. Been away since last October but is coming back in fine fettle and looks ready to roll.
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FIFTH RACE:

Trojan Way (July 16, Santa Anita, 6f, 1:16.2h TT). Grade: C+
Was ridden most of the way outside Glorious Spring (6f, 1:16.1h TT) but despite strong late urging weakened in the final stages while failing to change leads, more than a length back at the wire, splits of :25 flat, :37 flat, 1:02 flat on our watches for the final five furlongs. Let’s see one first.
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SIXTH RACE:

Stanford Man (July 24, 5f, 1:00hg). Grade: C+
In blinkers, second best inside Kissed by Fire (4f, :47.1hg) while hustled along for J. Wong. Has bit of early speed and should fit well with moderate maiden claimers.
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SEVENTH RACE:

Dendera (July 25, Del Mar, 5f, 1:01.4h). Grade: B-
Caught her from the three furlong pole out to the seven furlong pole while mostly in hand, splits of :12.1, :36.3 and :49.1 on our watches, decent move on the comeback trail for J. Sadler. Wants to run long on the lawn and won over this course last year. Cal-bred filly appears in good shape.
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Ma France (July 16, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:01.2h TT). Grade: B
Breezing through the lane while finishing a short heart behind Fort Moultrie (same time) while maintaining her edge for P. D’Amato, final three furlongs in :36.1. Liked the way she graduated in her U.S. debut and should have further improvement in her.
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Speed Lane (July 24, Del Mar, 4f, :49.3h TC DU). Grade: B
In blinkers in solo turf breeze around dogs, finished in good rhythm without ever being asked, striding out smoothly in the final stages. Been away for more than a year but appears to be returning in good style, hard to say how she’ll fit on this circuit.
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EIGHTH RACE:

Home Cooking (July 24, Del Mar, 4f, :46hg). Grade: B+
Impressive display of speed from gate while two lengths clear over Fast and Shiny (4f, :46.2hg) for B. Baffert, a couple of ticks slower than given for the opening half (:23 flat, :34.2, :46.2 on our watches) but then continuing out strongly (:59 flat, out in 1:12.4 for a full six furlongs). Definitely a win-early type; daughter of Honor Code brought $260,00 at the OBS March sale smoking a furlong in the preview session in 9 4/5 seconds.
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Tea N Conversation (July 9, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:01.2h). Grade: B-
Slightly second best under urging thru the lane with Right Reasons (same time), final three furlongs in :38 flat. Getting fit, needs more work for M. McCarthy.
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Kissed by Fire (July 24, Del Mar, 4f, :47.1hg). Grade: B+
Good-sized Friesan Fire filly breezed outside Stanford Man (5f, 1:00hg) and was clearly best, in hand early, light coaxing midway and then finishing in strong fashion with a ton left. Hard to say how quick she is but definitely can run and shouldn’t be underestimated,
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NINTH RACE:

Cash Equity (July 24, Del Mar, 5f, 1:02.2h TC DU). Grade: B
Broke off a couple of lengths behind Cathkin Peak (5f, 1:02.4h TC DU) and finished a short head behind outside at the wire, mild coaxing only. Decent work but was expecting him to go on by but ‘Peak was able to hold him at bay. Gets tested for class in the Eddie Read S.
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Beyond Brilliant (June 29, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:01.1h). Grade: B
Very light coaxing in smooth main track drill, plenty left, final half in :48 and small change. Freshened and doing very well, most effective as the controlling speed.
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Hong Kong Harry (July 17, Santa Anita, 5f, 1:01.4h TT). Grade: B
Broke off behind Cash Equity (5f, 1:02.1h TT) and finished head-and-head at the wire, never asked a drop, quite nice for P. D’Amato, 1:01.3 on our watches. Continues to improve with racing and acclimation, have to give him a look in the Eddie Read.
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ELEVENTH RACE:

Emerald Lake (July 22, Del Mar, 6f, 1:12.4h). Grade: B+
Broke off a couple of lengths in front of She’s Bulletproof (6f, 1:12.2h) and was always breezing through the lane and continuing out to the 7/8 pole looking extremely sharp for P. Miller, splits of :11.4, :35.4 and :48.2 for the final half mile, head-and-head at the end. Freshened since April and looks fit and ready for her return and may be a better type this time around.
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