Look | Closer | Selections
Del Mar Race 3
5 - Bitzka
This first time starter is primed to make her debut a winning one. Bitzka has posted the quickest works in the field, including those who have already run. The two-year old has three straight solid 5F works, and one at :59 says she can run. The respected connections of jockey Chantal Sutherland and trainer Blake Heap round out the positives that make Bitzka Thursday's best bet.
Del Mar Race 5
5 - Soi Phet
This 8-year-old gelding can dominate this field with his recent form. Soi Phet's stakes performances in May and June at Santa Anita standout over the competition. No one in this race matches those speed figures posted and regular rider Kent Desormeaux should get first run on the deep closers. The figures, rider and trip make Soi Phet the best bet on Wednesday's card.
Del Mar Race 9
1 - California Chrome
California Chrome has never been better and no one is beating him right now. The 5-year-old is improving with age and ran his fastest career race over the last 17 months just last time out in the San Diego. Chrome has the speed to take control of this race from the start and escape the rail position. He also has shown this year he simply cannot be overtaken in the lane once he hits his stride. Trainer Art Sherman put two solid works in from that last start and his horse has four wins out of six career starts at the 1 1/4 mile distance. California Chrome is the top play in the Pacific Classic, as he has the numbers and is simply too strong for any contenders at this point.
Del Mar Race 2
1 - Ninety Nine Proof
This 2-year-old colt was visually impressive breaking his maiden in his first career start and now faces a pretty easy group of winners. Trainer Andy Mathis put in a nice 4F work between races and like jockey Iggy Puglisi getting back aboard. The maiden victory produced one of top speed figures in the field and Ninety Nine Proof still has room to improve making just his second career start. Pedigree, sire Idiot Proof, suggests the 5.5F distance is perfect and look for Ninety Nine Proof to get a speedy victory Friday night with a great speed rider in Puglisi.
Del Mar Race 2
4 - Balandeen
This 2-year-old colt is an under the radar top selection. Jockey Stewart Elliott and trainer Chris Hartman are not household names on the circuit, which means a better price on a solid runner. Balandeen has a great pedigree with sire Bernardini and drops into this maiden claiming event after running twice in the special weight ranks, producing the field's top speed figure. The colt has three solid workouts leading up to this race, including a sharp 5F :59 move just on Aug. 10. Look for Balandeen to break his maiden with ease in a fairly easy race.
Del Mar Race 7
8 - American Gal
First-time starter, connections of jockey Rafael Bejarano with trainer Bob Baffert, and the quickest works in the field are normally the winning formula for a Del Mar maiden race. American Gal has all the above. Baffert works his horses fast, but a 3F :34 move is something that cannot be ignored, and that is what this filly worked back in July at Los Alamitos. Expect a short price, but also a clear winner once the real running starts in this race. American Gal is the best bet on Sunday's card.
Arlington Park Race 9
9 - Mondialiste
The 34th running of the Arlington Million brings a full field to the table and Mondialiste has shown he has the class and the attitude to work his way to the front through a crowd. The 6-year-old from Ireland came back to life last time out, finishing a solid second in the United Kingdom, after three uninspiring efforts. The Irish-bred showed the same pattern before coming here to the states just last year, and ended up second in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Jockey Daniel Tudhope is one of the regular riders and more importantly was aboard for that most recent run. Look for Mondialiste to return to his U.S. form of last year and take the Arlington Million with another strong performance.
Del Mar Race 8
10 - Golden Light
In a pretty weak maiden special weight group Golden Light stands out. The four-your-old filly enters this race on a nice two month freshening after running her best lifetime race. She ran a soild second at this same level, and the speed rating came back as the best of the field. Great jockey change to Santiago Gonzalez says this filly is ready to break her maiden today. Golden Light is the best bet on Wednesday's card.
Del Mar Race 8
8 - Dis Smart Cat
Big jockey change to Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens for this optional claiming event. Dis Smart Cat has speed and so does most of the field, which means look for Stevens to get this filly to settle early. The three-year-old enters with the highest numbers in the field, and should be able to suprise the other runners by rallying into to the pace, with a change in tactics. Dis Smart Cat has proven she can handle this competition with a huge maiden victory (10+ lengths) and now the addition of Stevens pushes her over the top. The Matthew Chew trained filly is the best horse in the race and should make amends for losing last time out as the favorite. Dis Smart Cat is the smartest bet on Sunday's card.
Saratoga Race 10
4 - Frosted
The Grade I Whitney handicap is all Frosted. The four-year-old colt has turned into something really special. He has returned with three victories by a combined 21 lengths since competing in the Triple Crown last year, including a performance in the Met Mile (biggest winning margin in race history) last time out that jumps off the page. Regular rider Joel Rosario knows the colt and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has his horse working perfectly (5F 1:00 breeze) in preparation for this event. Frosted has the top speed figures in the Whitney field and is simply too much for these runners to handle.