"In The Spotlight" with Dr. SwineSmeller

[Dr.SwineSmeller]

8/10/08 Racing Coast to Coast with Dr. SwineSmeller
Del Mar Race 6, post 4:30 p.m. Pacific time.

When D & E Racing LLC turned the reins of two year old Diamond Tags over to top notch trainer Bob Baffert, the plan was to keep her tuned and shiney for a snapshot in the winner's circle at first asking. Afterall, D & E had just forked out a cool half a million for the promising yearling filly at the 2007 Keenland September sale, so expectations for this lovely grey Kentucky bred baby are no doubt exceedingly high. Should Diamond Tags pass her first test at Del Mar today, she will likely be sent to the gate for a stakes race in September, and a win there likely lands her in the "big gate" at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile for fillies come late October.

Baffert has called top USA cowboy Garrett Gomez to climb aboard, which is always a plus. Diamond Tags is listed as the third choice in the morning line at 4/1, but she may indeed go favoured at near 2/1, as she goes to post in what appears to be a fairly soft spot. Diamond Tags is sired by Seeking The Gold, and she sports a 3x4x5 Buckpasser influence, which gives her a strong War Admiral/Man O' War lineage. Buckpasser proved to be probably the best racing grandson of War Admiral, posting a 25-4-1 record in 31 lifetime starts. Once off the tote in 31 starts is incredible. Buckpasser must have had a really bad belly ache on that particular day.

Breaking maiden as a two year old at first asking in California and New York is always a formidable task, but Diamond Tags has all the right credentials to do just that. In this a 6 1/2 furlong sprint, her pedigree says she should be able to pour it on from gate to wire, and she may indeed prove to be a runaway winner with little urging from Kid Gomez. The National Weather Service in California has already posted a flying dirt clod watch for this race, and it may be upgraded to a warning when Diamond Tags turns for home!

I have to make a power play to try to pull my bankroll even today. So I'll play the half a million dollar fancy pants, Diamond Tags, for $50 WIN. Go Baby Go!!

Dr. SwineSmeller