Del Mar Labor Day Racing Takes Backseat to Flightline Talk

There is rare Monday racing at Del Mar. However, most of the talk out of Southern California racing is about the 126 Beyer Speed Figure earned by Flightline in the Pacific Classic.

Generational Talent

Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed. These are the hallowed names of the great thoroughbreds of generations past. Every so often a horse comes along to add his or her name to the list of generational talents. Anyone who watched the Pacific Classic on Saturday saw such a horse.

No Triple Crown

Novice fans may not know Flightline. The highly touted son of Tapit has been nothing short of brilliant. However, due to several setbacks the horse never had the chance to participate in the Triple Crown which usually makes horses mainstream stories.

Pure Perfection

Heading into the TVG Pacific Classic the horse was 4 for 4 including grade 1 victories in the Met Mile and the Malibu. The former was the longest race he run at a one mile distance. He broke slow and still easily put away his competition by 6 lengths, the smallest margin of victory in his career.

Question at the Distance

Into the Pacific Classic Flightline was an overwhelming favorite. The only question was how he would handle to classic distance having never travelled more than one mile in a race. The sire Tapit put a lot of those fears to bed as he is an elite sire known for producing classic distance horses.

Total Annihilation

On Satruday Flightline lived up to the hype and put up one of the most sensational performances in recorded history. He earned a 126 Beyer Speed Figure which was the fastest since Ghostzapper in 2004. It is truly a performance that needs to be seen to be believed.

Making the result especially impressive is the fact that the 2nd place finisher who was nearly 20 lengths behind was the winner of the Dubai World Cup, Country Grammar.

Del Mar- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM PT; $50k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 TALL BOY (5-2) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection.
• #3 CROWNING GOLD (8-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #5 PAT'S PADDOCK PICK (9-5) posted a solid speed figure on debut.
• #4 SMOKEM HOWARD (50-1) has run against some decent competition and could make sense underneath.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 4

Del Mar- Race 2

Post: 1:30 PM PT; $82k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #7 KIRSTENBOSCH (5-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Sadler and Hernandez.
• #1 OLE SILVER (3-1) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #5 TROUVILLE (12-1) is a price horse and could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #2 KRISTI'S TIGER (7-2) has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 5 – 2

Del Mar- Race 3

Post: 2:00 PM PT; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 5 furlongs on turf; Entries: 14

• #7 PICOTA (3-1) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #2 TO SPEIGHT HER (6-1) should improve off the first start and should be competitive in this spot.
• #6 VIRAT (7-2) could get the right setup in this race.
• #9 SAI CON (6-1) looks to be the class of the field.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 6 – 9

Del Mar- Race 4

Post: 2:30 PM PT; $32k Claiming going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #2 LI'L GRAZEN (5-2) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 SEVEN SISTERS (5-1) could be in with a shot in this race. She has hit the board at the 7 furlong distance.
• #9 A BROKEN BREEZE (3-1) makes sense on speed figures.
• #7 BLAME IT ON ROSE (4-1) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 9 – 7

Del Mar- Race 5

Post: 3:05 PM PT; $36k Starter Allowance going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 9

• #9 TOM'S SURPRISE (8-5) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #8 ALVAARO (7-2) gets Rispoli on the turf which is always a good sign.
• #2 NILES CHANNEL (5-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #3 NOLONGERAHOBBY (10-1) is a price horse and has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 9 – 8 – 2 – 3

Del Mar- Race 6

Post: 3:40 PM PT; $42k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 14

• #2 DON'T JU FORGET (4-1) has been close in dirt sprints before. Maybe this one can get over the top here.
• #9 MISS BAYLEE (7-2) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #1 MINING CRYPTO (6-1) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #7 BLAZING BARDOT (12-1) is a price horse and should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 2 – 9 – 1 – 7

Del Mar- Race 7

Post: 4:10 PM PT; $100k Tranquility Lake S. going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 SAMURAI CHARM (2-1) may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #4 VELVET SLIPPERS (5-2) comes into the race in really good form.
• #3 TEDDY'S BARINO (5-2) seems to fit well enough here.
• #2 LISETTE (8-1) is an interesting price player for underneath use.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 3 – 2

Del Mar- Race 8

Post: 4:40 PM PT; $43k Starter Allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 14

• #4 PERFECTIBLE LADY (5-2)will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #8 WITCH MOON (7-2)has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #12 NOBLE HEARTED (5-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #11 ICE QUEEN (10-1) seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 4 – 8 – 12- 11

Del Mar- Race 9

Post: 5:10 PM PT; $125k Generous Portion S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 CHISMOSA (5-2) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #4 E Z PHARIS (8-1) looks to be the class of the field.
• #5 FUN MONEY (10-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #6 BIG HOPES (2-1) should improve off the first start and gets Hernandez in the saddle.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 5 – 6

Del Mar- Race 10

Post: 5:40 PM PT; $82k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 11

• #5 HANDY DANDY (5-2) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #11 SMUGGLER'S RUN (10-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 ANMER HALL (5-1) has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 BALLY'S CHARM (3-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 5 – 11- 2 – 1

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