7/19-20 (DMR): San Diego H. (Gr. II)/Eddie Read (Gr. I)
 

SAT. 6th (4:30) San Diego H. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Mostacolli Mort Baze T C 114 L
2 Surf Cat Flores D R 120 L
3 Rebellion (GB) Bejarano R 119 L
4 Magnum (ARG) Pedroza M A 115 L
5 Racketeer Nakatani C S 113 L
6 Well Armed Gryder A T 117
7 Global Hunter (ARG) Smith M E 114 L
8 Tall Texan Espinoza V 112 L
9 You Got Me Rocking Rosario J 112 Blk-Off
10 Mr Napper Tandy (GB) Talamo J 112 L



SUN. 8th (5:30) Eddie Read H. (G1)

1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $400,000

1 Lava Man Baze T C 120 L
2 Whatsthescript (IRE) Enriquez I D 116 L
3 Ferneley (IRE) Espinoza V 114
4 Monzante Bejarano R 114 L
5 Global Hunter (ARG) Smith M E 113 L
6 Storm Military (ARG) Flores D R 115 L
7 Spring House Gomez G K 117

I miss Giacomo.

If Magnum ever cuts back to 7f (Pat O'Brien perhaps) he might be an interesting longshot. Seems like a horse to key in the 4th spot of the superfecta at this distance, though, based on his races this year.

San Diego to go off at 4:45 Pacific, Live On ESPN2

Mass projectile vomiting to go off at 4:47 Pacific, Live around the country.

Why? You gonna post a link to "Two Girls, One Cup" again at that time?

No, I was thinking of debuting my new website, "Two jocks, one horse".

The SD Handicap isn't that bad all things considered, at the very least it looks like a good betting race. Look at the Eddie Read....Where is Daytona, he would destroy that field

It's a freaking fine race. I don't understand the complaints. I think people are just used to complaining about every graded race, so it becomes a reflex. I'd say this is a decent field for a G2.

In regards to Surf Cat though, has Headley just conceded that his horse isn't as good as he used to be? From looking at his PP's, it seems like he might have a case of the Notionals.. Why not ship him to try real dirt again?

My main complaint isn't about the 'quality' of the San Diego, it's that Del Mar's track sucks.

They went from being the best in California to being worse than AQU.

Kinda like what happened at Keeneland. It's just hard to get overly excited about a bunch of mediocre to decent horses running over that surface.

I agree, while yesterday was just the first day, horses still didn't look comfortable on it.

I also don't think the quality of stock is available out there. Look at Saturday/Sunday race cards, pretty weak overall. I was hoping for a lot better.

Top that off with alot of these guys having to actually learn how to train with drug prevention being pushed out there and you have all sorts of comedy happening.

I don't know what it is but it seems like the only synthetic to actually work out has been Arlington. Horses get over it fine, there has been minimal breakdowns (I actually don't know of one this year yet, but I probably missed one)

Headley points to Del Mar so him showing up here makes a little sense.

Mostacolli Mort is interesting as he has found a home on synthetic, Rebellion is decent although trying 8.5 this time and Tall Texas should be fitter going 8.5f this time. I am not sold on Well Armed.

I understand, but he's run about six or seven mediocre races in a row on synthetics. Either he's not the same horse that he was at four (very plausible) or he wants to get back on real dirt. I would think it would be worth a shot if you weren't sold that the horse was over the hill.

good to see Well Armed back, hard to get a beat on the track.

Knee-jerk reaction is to question why he isn't getting a turf route with a chute or shipping to run on dirt while the Del Mar meet is taking place, but one try on the main-track can only help & condition right?

Great to see Lava Man staying on the Turf.

Just for the record, I wasn't complaining.
I really do miss Giacomo.

shoot?
 

the Eddie Read is outta that chute
Baze on Lava Man is the key player here.
You have Flores outside, and he is kind of a turf route wire-to-wire specialist, and that is what Frankel wants to get done. Then you can't leave MIke Smith out of the equation with Global Hunter.

You gotta figure that Smith will at least entertain the option getting the pace coming out of the chute. He is just to the inside of Storm Milititary and Flores in the 5/6 posts with no speed inside and Lava Man in the 1 post.

Would like to see Tyler Baze ride aggressively, break alertly, take those two WIDE , and let Flores force his way outside of Mike Smith.
If all goes well He hangs them both wide on the chute turn and the 1st turn.
IF they want to kill their horse and go to fast, let em go...

About the worst thing Baze can do is pull back and be scared to set the early dynamics...

Rebellion will be tough to beat in the San Diego. I'm not a guy who says 'Won't lose' or 'Shouldn't lose' too often, but am mighty tempted here.

have you seen the sheets yet? Surf Cat is actually playable in this spot with Rebellion. They both should run a zero and SC might get a better trip being right behind the speed.....Shortening up for Headley who points for Del Mar

There are two interesting sheet horses. While slow, both Tall Texan and Morty have positives. Morty got back to his top, gets in light and has really taken to these synthetics. Tall Texan paired his top first time stretching out, an angle I am a huge fan of and another that gets in light. He could explode 2nd time stretchout....

Not an opinion based on the figs... Rebellion is forward going, and despite being 5, looks like a horse that is getting it all together now... form, fitness, maturity, et al.. Since coming to America, he has moved back once: on the quagmire 'soft' in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Motion has been patient with him, and he now appears poised for some next level performances.

You can probably toss that BC Mile too and he has progressed real well. He answers two turns, I am sold. Index says he should

One note that I just noticed, Surf Cat's career number (neg 2) came at Del Mar last year. Difference circumstances and most likely a different track but just food for thought.