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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019
by: Rich Bieglmeier
It's a light Sunday of stakes racing with just two races that have jackpots of at least $100,000.
Aqueduct Race 9 - $100,000 NOTEBOOK STAKES
Del Mar Race 7 - $100,000 BETTY GRABLE STAKES
The Southern California track continues with its nods to Hollywood icons. Last week it was Desi Arnaz, yesterday it was Bob Hope and today it's Betty Grable. The starlet was one Hollywood's most popular leading ladies. Her films grossed more than $100 million and the sex symbol's bathing suit poster was named one of the "100 Photographs that Changed the World."
Betty Grable's bathing suit poster
The actress was quoted saying that "You're better off betting on a horse than betting on a man." This author isn't so sure about that, but let's see if we can take the first half of her advice in the BETTY GRABLE STAKES.
A field of six fillies and mares will run 7 furlongs on Del Mar's main track. The first 10 races at the distance during the current meet have favored speed horses. Seven of the 10 winners were labeled early speed with two taking the tape wire-to-wire.
Pre-race favorite MO SEE CAL (PP: 5 ML 5/2) and CREATIVE INSTINCT (PP: 2 ML 6/1) appear to have the quickest first steps. In her last start, MO SEE CAL finished sixth, 14 lengths back in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Distaff. She tried to keep pace with the early leaders but faded against the top-quality field in the stretch.
In her start prior to the Distaff, she came off the bench following a short rest to blow away the field in a 5 length, wire-to-wire win. She typically rides shotgun and could improve in the classic third start after a layoff.
Creative Instinct winning at Del Mar
CREATIVE INSTINCT does her best work on the lead. Her last three wins posted 1s across her past performance lines. If she doesn't take and hold the lead, she doesn't find the winners' circle. Jockey Joseph Talamo should be able to get CREATIVE INSTINCT to the front as most of the rest of the field fall more into the stalker camp than speed type.
COCO KISSES (PP: 6 ML 15-1) and QUEEN BEE TO YOU (PP: 7 ML 3-1) have some back history of the pulling the cart at lower classes. However, both have struggled to keep the pace up the ladder. Other than that, there isn't a history of chasing the rabbit for the rest.
Rail runner, SHOW IT N MOE IT (ML 4-1) and STARR OF QUALITY (PP: 3 ML 7/2) round out the field with LOVE A HONEYBADGER (PP: 4) scratching before the race. SHOW IT N MOE IT recorded the highest, last race speed figure and has finished in the money in seven of her nine Del Mar starts. The last time the Gary Sherlock trainee had a similar speed figure jump, she won the following race.
STARR OF QUALITY came off the bench in her last to tie her personal best speed figure, finishing third behind MO SEE CAL. He history suggests she'll run a similar race in her second start following a layoff, which is a 15% winner for trainer William Spawr.
Our handicapper see's history repeating for SHOW IT N MOE IT in our Pro Subscribers' Bonus Commentary.
"SHOW IT N MOE IT owns the highest, last race speed figure and has hit the board in seven of nine Del Mar efforts. MO SEE CAL is dropping in class from the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff and has a win and second in two Del Mar races. CREATIVE INSTINCT is making her third start off the bench, a 24% winner for trainer Peter Miller. QUEEN BEE TO YOU is flipping from turf to dirt, a 35% angle for trainer Andrew Lerner."
Surely, we don't anticipate our BETTY GRABLE STAKES changing the world, but hopefully, our selections will change your bankroll for the better.
Good luck at the races!
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