HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

FAIRPLEX-DEL MAR

 

BLINGBOY: Got hooked and cooked in a three-length-gap speed duel but fought hard until deep stretch before fading. Looms a threat to shake loose.

CEE’S CLOSING TIME: Battled for the lead and outlasted his early challenger for second. Improving and ready to win.

COST OF FREEDOM: Got cooked in a speed duel after back-to-back blazing quarter miles of :21.4 and :22 seconds. Finished fourth, but beat his early challenger and lost the race by only a half-length, so don’t overlook him next time.

GENUINE MAGIC: Ducked in sharply from the rail draw and got off to a slow start which damaged her chances on 8/21. Finished third, only a nose out of second, and can win next if able to get away from the rail post.

GIBSON HOME RUN: Got KO’d in a 3 ½-length-gap duel for the lead. Can rebound next time.

GOT AN ITCH: Was part of a fast pace that collapsed in a race that set up for closers, but held on the best of the front-runners for fourth after pressing :22.1 and :46 two-turn fractions. Worth another shot before action moves across town.

GRAND MANAUVER: Started near the rear and got bumped back to last early in the race before getting back on track and rallying strongly for third, losing by only a length while a head out of second in a good 5 ½-furlong effort.  Ready to graduate.

IRRIDESCENT RED: Broke poorly but was the only horse to close ground in a race otherwise ruled by front-runners in a big, clear second-place finish. Can win off the claim by O’Neill.

JAX EL: Set a completely unrealistic pace and beat the other front-runners in a race dominated by closers despite an incompetent ride by Sutherland. Front-running threat to graduate and could use a rider change.

JAYCITO: Drew the tricky rail post and then broke slowly and then had to rush up to the lead in career debut. Settled for second beaten only by the even-money favorite and was nearly six lengths clear of the rest of the field.

THREE POINTER: Pressed the pace in difficult 6 ½-furlong maiden claiming fractions and finished the best of the front-runners for third in a race where the two deepest closers ran 1-2.

ULTRA BLEND: Pressed the pace and held on well for second, beaten only a neck. Looks good back here, or at the highest levels at Fairplex.

YOU LIFT ME UP: Stumbled to her nose at the start and lost her best chance at the break, yet still ran a creditable fourth, beaten only 1 ½ lengths despite traffic going into the turn.

BEST BET: CANTONA: Steadied off heels, was in tight traffic on the turn and caught in traffic into the stretch, and then steadied again in mid-stretch before getting on track too late once clear. Just needs a clean trip to improve upon that third-place finish.

LONGSHOT: DILEMMA: Got off to a horrible start and lost all chance in difficult stakes spot in return from a year-and-a-half layoff. Finished last, yet was embarrassed against the strong competition despite the gate troubles, indicating that he might return with a bang next time out.

 

ARLINGTON

 

ANOTHEROTHERWOMAN: Broke poorly at the back of an 11-horse field and then tried to rush back into contention while at an immediate disadvantage en route to an eighth-place finish. Better luck next time.

CAPTAIN JACK: Closed well for third in a turf sprint despite never really being able to get rolling due to traffic troubles and tight quarters. Can win with clear sailing.

GRAN ESTRENO: Needed a race off nearly a three-month layoff and had too much ground to make up behind a wire-to-wire winner after getting bumped around at the break and starting last. Can make amends in second off the layoff.

GRAZIE: Got shuffled back out of traffic to near the back of a 12-horse field to lose his best chance in a turf sprint. Can improve upon mid-pack finish.

HART OF A COWBOY: Was steadied back when shut off in the stretch after he’d worked his way into striking range. Can rebound from that seventh-place finish.

INEXCESSIVE SUE: Finished fourth behind a loose runaway winner, but was only two necks out of second in what will be an underrated effort off a year layoff. Looks good back vs. maiden claimers in second off the layoff.

NIC THE QUICK: Finished third, just a nose out of second behind a winning even-month favorite after stumbling and spotting the front-runners a few lengths at the start.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Well-bet first starter got bumped and shut off at the start but then immediately shrugged that off and rushed to the lead and then just kept on going to roll to victory. Likely to repeat up at the next level or two.

SWEET RELISH: Got caught in a three-length-gap battle for the lead and paid the price late despite outlasting her early challenger. Try again.

BEST BET: RULER OF THE COURT: Set a pressured pace and held on well for second beaten only by the perfect stalking trip 6-5 favorite while clear of the rest of the field.

LONGSHOT: DEE’S ROSE: Raced too close up to a pace that collapsed and set the race up for the closers, and might have been closer at the finish if not boxed in and blocked around the turn.