Del Mar 7th Race – Post: 4:32 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 1-Mc Vay.
Other Contenders: 3-Muth.

Forecast: It may be a bit foolish to try to beat Muth – a certain odds-on favorite in this year’s edition of the Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds – but we’ve always suspected that Mc Vay has more ability than he’s been allowed to show and expect the son of Constitution to run a career top today, which quite frankly might not be good enough anyway to beat the Baffert colt. But we’ll try based on price, which at 9/2 on the morning line and likely to drift, offers a reasonable chance at a gamble. The J. Shirreffs-trained colt adds blinkers for the first time, lands the favorable rail, and should draft into a ground-saving, second flight trip and then have his shot to prove he can be this good. Recent morning drills have been spectacular, so let’s embrace the challenge.


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Del Mar 9th race – Post: 5:32 PT. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 2-Jarama.
Other Contenders: none.

Forecast: In his first start since November, Jarama ran a winning race when dropped to this maiden $50,000 state-bred level last month but had to settle for third. Considerable traffic on the turn stymied his progress and then he had too much to do when closing with interest but much too late. He gets an extra half furlong to work with today, so in his second start off a layoff the T. Yakteen-trained gelding should be along in time with better racing luck. Two easy breezes since raced is an encouraging sign, so at 5/2 on the time line let’s make this Danzing Candy sophomore a strong win play and a confident key in the various exotics.


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