"Psychologically, you have to have confidence in yourself and this confidence should be based on fact." - Bobby Fischer
It's Pacific Classic Day in Southern California, and there are five, yes five, Graded Stakes on the Del Mar card. Saturday is also a mandatory payout date for the Jackpot Pick Six, which means that I'll be taking a look at all five of those Graded Stakes below, as I take a run at The Rainbow Pick Six at the place Where The Turf Meets The Surf.
RACE 6 - (F) The Torrey Pines (Grade 3) - Eight Furlongs Dirt
A's
# 4 Forest Caraway (Morning Line 5-2)
B's
# 1 Lady Mystify (ML 7-2)
# 7 Private Mission (ML 9-5)
C's
# 2 Lisette (ML 6-1)
# 3 Jeanne B (ML 30-1)
# 5 Day Plan (ML 15-1)
# 6 I'm So Anna (ML 4-1)
Forest Caraway, trained by Peter Miller, has finished in the Quinella in all three of her prior Del Mar starts. Forest Caraway will be trying two turns for the first time, but it's fair to presume that this daughter of Bodemeister should do well with the stretch out.
Lady Mystify, trained by Peter Eurton, has won both of her last two starts at today's distance, and Lady Mystify should be well served with Saturday's rail draw. Private Mission, trained by Bob Baffert, may be the most talented runner in this field. But it's worth noting that Private Mission's only loss in three starts was also her only prior try over this main track, when Private Mission disappointed as the 1-2 Post Time Favorite. The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.
RACE 7 - The Del Mar Mile (Grade 2) - Eight Furlongs Turf
A's
# 6 Mo Forza (ML 8-5)
B's
None
C's
# 1 Neptune's Storm (ML 6-1)
# 2 Hit the Road (ML 5-2)
# 3 Smooth Like Strait (ML 9-5)
# 5 Count Again (ML 12-1)
Scratch # 4 Next Shares (ML 15-1)
Mo Forza, trained by Peter Miller, is the defending champ for this event, having won the 2020 running of this contest while returning from an extended layoff. If Mo Forza can repeat that effort Saturday, he wins. If Mo Forza can repeat his effort from last time out, when he won the City of Hope Mile, he wins.
So is all that enough to justify making Mo Forza a big ticket single? I believe so. But even more than that, if Mo Forza doesn't run his race, then this is a wide open contest, where any one of the remaining four entrants can win.
So, for me, the choice was to either go four deep, or single. I elected to single. So it's Mo Forza solo on the main ticket, with all others being used as backup "C" Selections.
RACE 8 - OC 40k/N1X - Seven Furlongs Dirt
A’s
# 7 Positivity (ML 4-1)
B’s
# 1 Risk and Reward (ML 5-1)
# 2 Dream Shake (ML 7-2)
# 3 Established (ML 4-1)
# 4 Adare (ML 12-1)
# 5 Gray Magician (ML 20-1)
# 6 Scary Fast Smile (ML 6-1)
# 8 Littlebitamedal (ML 6-1)
# 9 Family Biz (ML 8-1)
C's
None
Scratch # 10 Tizhotndusty (ML 20-1)
Yeah, I couldn't figure this one out at all. You've got a Bob Baffert runner coming off a nice Maiden victory; you've got a runner going second off the the claim for Trainer Peter Miller; you've got a Peter Eurton entrant who is facing non-stakes competition for the first time since he won an MSW in his debut; you've got two runners going first off the claim for Trainer Doug O'Neill; you've got a Neil Drysdale runner who took the Show at this class level over this main track last time out; etc., etc., etc. Mostly etc.
So it's everybody into the pool for this leg, as I cop out and punch the "ALL" button. Positivity gets the top spot due to his big win last time out, coupled with being one of the two going first off the claim for Trainer Doug O'Neill.
RACE 9 - (F) The Del Mar Oaks (Grade 1) - Nine Furlongs Turf
A's
# 3 Going Global (Ire) (ML 9-5)
B's
# 2 Javanica (ML 10-1)
# 4 Madone (ML 5-2)
# 7 Fluffy Socks (ML 4-1)
C's
# 1 Closing Remarks (ML 6-1)
# 5 Feathers (Ire) (ML 20-1)
# 6 Ivy League (ML 20-1)
# 8 Tetragonal (Ire) (ML 12-1)
# 9 Soaring Sky (Ire) (ML 12-1)
Madone and Going Global (Ire) filled out the Exacta in the Grade 2 San Clemente last time out. I think that Going Global can reverse that order of finish with the added distance today.
Javanica projects to be the front runner in a field that seems to lack a lot of early speed. Fluffy Socks is the Chad Brown shipper who took the Place in the Grade 3 Lake George last time out. Note that Fluffy Socks shipped in here last Fall to grab the Win in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante. The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.
RACE 10 - The Pacific Classic (Grade 1) - Ten Furlongs Dirt
A's
# 1 Tripoli (ML 5-1)
B's
None
C's
# 2 Tizamagician (ML 5-1)
# 3 Dr Post (ML 4-1)
# 4 Royal Ship (Brz) (ML 7-2)
# 5 Express Train (ML 3-1)
# 6 Magic On Tap (ML 20-1) # 7 Independence Hall (ML 5-1)
# 8 Sherriff Brown (ML 30-1)
# 9 Cupid's Claws (ML 15-1)
Tripoli has looked superb since getting off the grass, and it's fair to presume that Tripoli will take another step forward with the added distance today. Do I think Tripoli is far and away the best runner in this field? Not really. But, as with my other single, Mo Forza in Del Mar Mile, I think that Tripoli wins if he runs his race; and if Tripoli doesn't run his race, then there are at least four other entrants in this field that are capable of winning. So it's Tripoli all alone on the main ticket, with all others being used as backup "C" Selections.
RACE 11 - The Del Mar Handicap (Grade 2) - Eleven Furlongs Turf
A's
# 4 United (ML 2-1)
B's
# 3 Red King (ML 8-1)
# 5 Masteroffoxhounds (ML 8-1)
# 7 Acclimate (ML 10-1)
# 8 Arklow (ML 5-2)
C's
# 1 Media Blitz (ML 30-1)
# 2 Crossfirehurricane (ML 30-1)
# 6 Master Piece (Chi) (ML 15-1)
# 9 Award Winner (ML 15-1)
# 10 Astronaut (ML 20-1) # 11 Say the Word (ML 6-1)
United looks classiest here, and United appears to be in top form. Red King and Acclimate are both prior winners of this event. Masteroffoxhounds has run well in the past over this turf course.
Arklow may have needed that last race, and Arklow has a prior Graded Stakes victory over this turf course. The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.
OK, that's the analysis. Playing my tickets in modified Crist fashion, I get:
All A Entries
$1.00 P6: 4 with 6 with 7 with 3 with 1 with 4 $1.00
All A Entries with All B Entries
$0.20 P6: ,1,4,7 with 6 with ALL with 2,3,4,7 with 1 with 3,4,5,7,8 $108.00
A's with One C
$0.20 P6: 2,3,5,6 with 6 with 7 with 3 with 1 with 4 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 4 with 1,2,3,5 with 7 with 3 with 1 with 4 $0.80
$0.20 P6: 4 with 6 with 7 with 1,5,6,8,9 with 1 with 4 $1.00
$0.20 P6: 4 with 6 with 7 with 3 with 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 with 4 $1.60
$0.20 P6: 4 with 6 with 7 with 3 with 1 with 1,2,6,9,10,11 $1.20
Total: $114.40
Post Time for Race 6 is 7:34 EDT / 4:34 PDT. Good luck to all.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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