Race Selection: Grade II San Diego Handicap

By Rick Francis —-

Del Mar

Race 7) Grade 2 San Diego Handicap 1&1/16th Miles Post Time 8pm EDT

Catalina Cruiser (1), Sadler/Van Dyke; fast, real fast; don’t think he can sustain .21 & change quarters, but if he can, they won’t catch him.

Dr. Dorr (2), Baffert/Talamo; after a game battle in the G1 Gold Cup, Lookin At Lucky gelding crossed the country to try the Suburban and he came up empty and tired. Now it’s back across the country 2 weeks later; he’ll have to beat me.

Sharp Samurai (3), Glatt/Stevens; something to look at here, multiple Graded Stakes winner on turf was caught two back in the Hollywood Derby to finish fourth, then connections drop him in a OC contest to get a win; now dirt; be careful.

Two Thirty Five (4), Baltas/Ceballos; has won 3-of-4, two straight, all at today’s distance; he’s ready for his class-test.

Curlin Rules (5), Sadler/Baze; returning to Del Mar, where he won and finished third a year ago are the only plusses for this one’s current form.

Prince of Arabia (6), Cassidy/Elliott; showed he doesn’t really fit with these yet based on his blow out loss in the Gold Cup.

Accelerate (7), Sadler/Espinoza; returning champion brings it each time out, only blemish in last four was a neck second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap; with Grade 1 wins in the Big ‘Cap and Gold Cup, Lookin At Lucky is garnering votes for Horse of the Year.

El Huerfano (8), Miller/Conner; hasn’t won in a year and was soundly beaten by the aforementioned in this contest a year ago.

Dabster (9), Baffert/Prat; pricey Curlin colt has struggled in his two graded attempts, so even with Baffert working him quickly, as he does all his stock, this one just doesn’t appear ready for this stage.

Harlan Punch (10), Jacobson/Pedroza; ships in from the East Coast where he won the G3 Iselin for owner/trainer David Jacobson, who is 22 percent with his shippers.

Selections: 7, 1, 10, 4