$200,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) – Del Mar

Race 7 (Saturday, July 21, 2018: 8:00 p.m./ET; 5:00 p.m./PT)

Mile and a sixteenth on the main track (three-year-olds and upward)

Trainer John Sadler and owner Hronis Racing campaign a third of the nine-horse San Diego Handicap (G2) field (up and coming talent #1 CATALINA CRUISER, stakes placed gelding #5 CURLIN RULES and Grade I Gold Cup winner #7 ACCELERATE). Let’s begin our in-depth analysis with the rail runner:

#1 CATALINA CRUISER is the most lightly raced runner in the field with only two starts to his name. Both runs came sprinting and resulted in impressive, run-away easy wins while earning high Beyer Speed Figures (89 and 107). His sire UNION RAGS won the Belmont Stakes (G1), his dam SEA GULL was best routing on the turf, and his half brother EAGLE was a graded stakes winner routing. Pedigree says he’ll be fine going longer and trainer John Sadler has the confidence to enter this talented guy in a race like this? Hmm…

#2 DR. DORR wheels back in just two weeks after losing by a dozen lengths in the Suburban (G2) at Belmont. His biggest career win came in a run-away romp three starts ago, defeating #6 PRINCE OF ARABIA in the Californian (G2). Keep in mind he lost by over 4 lengths to likely favorite #7 ACCELERATE in the Gold Cup (G1), so he’ll need to make up quite a bit of ground on that rival, not to mention he just took a cross country trip. One has to wonder how much the traveling and poor recent effort took out of him. Siding with others.

#3 SHARP SAMURAI is a hard knocking turf horse, with six wins from eight starts on the lawn. However, he is one for three on dirt, his lone dirt triumph coming against maidens. Whether he can be as effective on dirt as he is on turf remains to be seen. Playing against.

#4 TWO THIRTY FIVE comes off a four-length allowance win while earning a high Beyer Speed Figure (104). Trainer Richard Baltas clearly made a good claim when taking this guy back in January for just $25,000. Whether he possesses the class to compete against the best in here is a major question mark, but he’s got good form and continues to progress. Exotics player at a price?

#5 CURLIN RULES makes his first start of 2018 while also competing for the first time as a gelding. His best career race came when running second to multiple graded stakes winner CUPID over this track last summer and he also scored an impressive allowance win here too. Likes the track, yes, but this is a tough field to run against off a layoff. Pass.

#6 PRINCE OF ARABIA freshens up after finishing 14 lengths behind ACCELETATE in the Gold Cup (G1). Two starts ago, he finished second, but seven lengths behind DR. DORR in the Californian (G2). Would need a complete form reversal to win this race.

#7 ACCELERATE, the 125 lb. highweight, oozes class. Son of LOOKIN AT LUCKY has made $1.7 million in his 19-race career, with in-the-money finishes in all but two of those lifetime starts. Won this race last year when defeating odds-on favorite ARROGATE. All signs indicate he’ll be tough to run down in this spot if he puts forth his usual good effort for trainer John Sadler.

#8 EL HUERFANO has failed to be competitive against stakes company throughout his career. IAn in-the-money finish is probably his ceiling.

#9 DABSTER stretches back out to a route of ground after a six-length defeat in the seven furlong San Carlos (G2) on June 23. His last route try came in February, a race that resulted in a length-and-three-quarter victory against second level allowance company. This is his second start off a four-month layoff for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

#10 HARLAN PUNCH was a dominant winner of the Phillip Iselin (G3) at Monmouth Park on June 30 and now ships cross-country for trainer David Jacobson. If he can repeat that effort, he has a big shot to at least hit the board, but he’ll need to run the race of his life to beat #7 ACCELERATE.

SELECTIONS

1. #7 ACCELERATE – He’s at a higher level than the rest.
2. #10 HARLAN PUNCH – His Grade 3 victory at Monmouth was a beauty.
3. #4 TWO THIRTY FIVE – Form is peaking right now.

LONGSHOT VALUE PLAY- #1 CATALINA CRUISER – Up and comer has a lot of talent.

WAGERING STRATEGY

I’ll key my top pick over my longshot value play and second choice in exactas and key my top pick again in trifectas over five other runners.

BANKROLL PLAY ($50 Budget)

$5 Exacta: #7 ACCELERATE over #1 CATALINA CRUISER and #10 HARLAN PUNCH ($10).

$2 Trifecta: #7 ACCELERATE over #1 CATALINA CRUISER and #4 TWO THIRTY FIVE and #8 EL HUERFANO and #9 DABSTER and #10 HARLAN PUNCH ($40).

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