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DEL MAR RACE COURSE
SATURDAY, August 15, 2026
Today’s Race Card/Horsecellany
There are ten races today, five on the turf.
The stakes races are The Solano Beach, Race 6 and The CTT and TOC, Race 8.
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Post Time today is 2:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM ET
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ULTIMATE PICK OF THE DAY: Miss Hellfire, Race 5
PENULTIMATE PICK OF THE DAY: not available in free analysis
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The big news: Umberto Rispoli is back after recovering from injury.
Other top jockeys include: Mike Smih, Juan Hernandez, Joel Rosario, Emisael Jaramillo, Hector Berrios, Antonio Fresu. Also, “Jersey Joe” Bravo joins the cadre and so does Julien Leparoux.
QUESTION: How important is “surface specialization” for optimization of a thoroughbred’s performance?
Answer: “Thoroughbred horses generally perform better and show more consistent form when they stick to the specific surface (dirt, turf, syn) that matches their biomechanics, pedigree and running style. Abruptly switching surfaces— like when a turf horse suddenly is called to run off-turf— affects grip, stride mechanics and energy output, often leading to a drop in performance.” (courtesy AI)
I have always presumed this. I knew for example that Irish horses trained on the turf are selected based on the size of their feet, bigger is better for turf. In any event when a horse is suddenly switching surfaces an alarm goes off in my handicapping suite.
A surface change based on poor performance on the current surface may be a shade less concerning.
*****
RACES 3-7
RACE 3
Five raced at RD and four won. Two entries never won a dirt sprint: Fuego Del Sol and Vancougar.
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Will Be he hit the board in four of seven dirt sprints, and won two of them, both wins at RD, he is both well-rested, and lightly raced
Vancougar class drop; he hit the board in two of three dirt sprints, he worked four furlongs at the magical/mystical 39 mph pace on the 19th, top rider Berrios takes over
B Grayson he hit the board in three of four sprints, and won two of three trips at RD, the rail may not be his friend
RACE 4
Five raced at RD and all hit the board. Altogether eight entries raced and no other entry hit the board in a turf sprint.
This is a match race among Sirnami, Our Grown Tomatoes and Fair Question and the latter as the show horse defeated the others at RD last time out.
Sirnami he had a less than ideal trip last time out, but Puype kills the turf sprint, the gelding placed at RD in his debut here, new rider
Fair Question he hit the board in both turf sprints, last time out at RD despite a crowded trip, Fresu produced that most recent success
Om Grown Tomatoes he hit the board at RD last time out, courtesy Payeras, Belvoir excels in the turf sprint and Belvoir/Payeras $$$$$ here
RA CE 5
Three raced at RD and two won: Miss Hellfire and Llamp. Nosox won a sprint at 5f. That’s it…
Three entries are unrested…
Miss Hellfire she walks; she won a real laugher at RD in her debut last May, she is rested/lightly raced, Kimura produced that laugher
Llamp she hit the board in three of five sprints, winning once at RD, a laugher, she turns back a furlong and draws the seasoned Frey today
Nosox she won at 5f in her debut, on a less than ideal track, she has extremely favorable lineage for the trip
RACE 6
The Solana Beach
One mile, turf course ($150000)
Nine raced at RD and eight of the nine won. Three entries never won any turf route: Liberation, Can’t Sleep and Clubhouse Cutie.
No entry has won a turf stakes, although five entries have hit the board in such a race.
There is a match race among four entries but it was a dirt sprint, irrelevant for my purposes.
Grand Slam Smile the top 2026 earner won three of six trips at RD, and she won two of her last five routes, hitting the board in all five, the elite Hernandez takes over
Take Another Card she hit the board in seven of her last eight routes and won one at RD, she vacationed at Equatic Spa in June, Turf Man Rispoli rides
Miso Phansy she hit the board in six of her last seven routes and won a heady three of them, she turns back 330 feet, Ayuso rides again
RACE 7
No entry raced, this is the difficult to “handicap” (there is NO past performance) “maiden of maidens” races.
Domenici he worked four furlongs at 39 mph in July, and he has favorable ancestry, Yakteen likes MSW level and Yakteen/Fresu $$$$$ here
Emancipate the Baffert entry starts his career at the rail; he has a very favorable pedigree and Baffert kills it with his entry’s first start, the elite Hernandez rides
Federation The Inimitable Mike Smith rides, the ancestry is positive, we shall see
*****
MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU!
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