by Jeff Siegel
July 24, 2019
Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “Daily Analysis and Wagering Strategies” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
It is recommended that Jeff’s selections be used to augment the reader’s own personal handicapping, though excellent results can be achieved by applying the rolling exotic strategy specified by Jeff’s analysis. Jeff’s recommended plays are intended for players with a moderate budget; however, readers are encouraged to adjust Jeff’s wagering strategy to fit their preferred investment level.
The selections are available every racing day after morning scratches. For updates, please follow us on Twitter @jsiegelracing.
Today’s Day Makers: Jeff Siegel's Two Bet Bets at Del Mar on July 24th, 2019/
Today’s Bullet Drill: Preview of Races 4, 5, 6 and 7 at Del Mar on July 24th, 2019 Based on Works
RACE 1: Post 2:00 PT. Grade: X
Single: 4-Eddie Haskell
Forecast: Eddie Haskell has never been sharper and returns to his favorite turf course, where he’s won five of six career starts. In what has to be one of the toughest three-other-than allowance races in memory, the Square Eddie gelding will be a very short price despite facing four other accomplished sprinters, each a stakes winner, including Declarationofpeace, successful over this course and distance in 2017 Juvenile Turf Sprint, and the comebacking Tribalist, winner of the 2017 Green Flash Handicap. It’s a nice race to watch, not necessarily to play.
RACE 2: Post 2:30 PT. Grade: B-
Use: 3-Twirling Tiger; 5-Sergio; 7-Jump the Tracks
Forecast: This $8,000 claiming sprint for older horses seems a bit stronger than par for the level. Twirling Tiger is a class dropper from Northern California with what looks on paper to be dull recent form, but he could wake up against this much softer field. A prior winner over this track and distance and arguably most comfortable as a late-running sprinter, he gets a huge break in the weights with the switch to talented bug boy Velez, and given the patient ride he requires the Twirling Candy gelding could produce the last run. Worth noting is that he was stuck on the dead rail at Pleasanton last time out against a much tougher group in a race that already has proven to be productive, and really wasn’t beaten all that badly under the circumstance. Jump the Tracks always has run well at Del Mar – he shows two wins and a second in four career starts here – and has the route-to-sprint angle that always catches our eye. Look for this Desert Code gelding to be running on late. Sergio got a confidence building win at Los Alamitos last time out with a nice speed figure and if he can transfer that form to Del Mar he should be competitive right back. We’ll include all three in our rolling exotics and then press with extra tickets keying Twirling Tiger on top.
RACE 3: Post 3:00 PT. Grade: B
Use: 4-Jen Go Unchained; 5-Anniversary Sale
Forecast: Anniversary Sale received plenty of action (4-1) but was well-beaten in much tougher straight maiden company in his only prior outing here last year and launches a comeback in a proper spot – a high-priced maiden claimer - for new trainer Wong following a strong, healthy series of workouts at Golden Gate Fields. With the barn’s go-to rider Cedillo taking the call, the homebred son of Boisterous looks extremely well-meant. Jen Go Unchained has steadily rising speed figures and is strictly the one to beat. A decent third at this level last time out at Santa Anita, the Puype-trained gelding should settle in the second flight to the head of the lane and then have every chance to grind away from there. We’ll use both in our rolling exotics but the main push goes to Anniversary Sale.
RACE 4: Post 3:30 PT. Grade: B
Use: 3-Leading Score; 5-Two Thirty Five
Forecast: Two Thirty Five may have been a tad short in his comeback at Santa Anita in late May but still earned a good number when a close third in a similar optional claimer over a mile on the main track. He’s worked steadily since then for Baltas, has won over the Del Mar strip in the past, retains Prat, and projects to settle in the second flight and then produce the last run. Leading Score, away since November of 2017, has been training like he’s fit and ready, and with Garcia taking the call we’ll assume that gate-to-wire tactics will be employed. If so, it will be no easy task against this group but the son of Midnight Lute may be tough if he can clear without pressure. These are the two we’ll be using in our rolling exotics with preference on top to Two Thirty Five.
RACE 5: Post 4:00 PT. Grade: A-
Single: 4-Raymundos Secret
Forecast: Raymundos Secret cruised in her debut in a maiden $32,000 two-turn affair last January over the Tampa Bay turf course – a productive, highly-rated race - and today shows up in the Baltas barn following a series of strong workouts at San Luis Rey Downs. She gets Prat and Lasix and is a fit on speed figures in this starter’s allowance grass miler, so let’s make the daughter of Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach a strong play both in the straight pool and in the rolling exotics.
RACE 6: Post 4:30 PT. Grade: B+
Use: 4-For the Top; 7-Campaign
Forecast: For the Top was the victim of an ill-advised ride in his U.S. debut last month, a race that was featured in a Black Book segment that showcased a costly premature move. A Group-1 winner in Argentina and a close third in South America’s most prestigious race, the Pellegrini in December of last year, the Baffert-trained colt can handle today’s 12-furlong distance and hopefully will get the patient ride he needs with the switch to Talamo. He still has plenty of improvement in him since he was foaled on Southern Hemisphere time (August) and isn’t even a true four-year-old just yet. Campaign, winner under these conditions in the Tokyo City Stakes-G3 at Santa Anita in April, was a respectable fourth (beaten less than a length) in the Brooklyn Invitational-G2 last month and is the likely favorite and one to beat. Both should be included in your rolling exotics; we’ll use For the Top in the straight pool as well.
RACE 7: Post 5:00 PT. Grade:
Use: 1-Distorted Win; 2-Magical Gray
Forecast: Distorted Win has trained like a quick filly for Mandella and finally makes it to the post at age four in a maiden turf sprint that came up fairly light. Assuming she leaves cleanly from the rail, the daughter of Distorted Humor should make short work of this field and then go on to better things. Magical Gray is a nine-race maiden but has run well over this course and distance in the past and seems like a logical exacta partner with our top pick. You can toss her in on a ticket or two as a saver in rolling exotic play.