It’s a Card Worth Playing

There may not be much in the way of quality on today’s card at Del Mar, but at least there is quantity. In what has become a rarity on weekdays at California tracks, there are some full fields. In fact, half of the eight races have 10 or more entrants, one has nine and another has eight. The shortest lineup is seven in the second race, a $16,000 claimer for 3-year-old fillies. The most prominent horse running this afternoon is Crafty C.T. The 8-5 morning line choice in the seventh, an optional claimer at one mile on the dirt, the 3-year-old son of Crafty Prospector will be making his first start since finishing fourth of five at 3-10 on June 24 at Hollywood Park. Trained by Howard Zucker for Carl Grether, Crafty C.T. was second to Point Given in the Santa Anita Derby this spring and was also an easy winner of the San Rafael Stakes at today’s distance. Mike Smith will ride the $240,000 2-year-old purchase for the first time against a field that includes So Urgent, Sultry Substitute, Kaiser So Say and six others.

Race of the day: The sixth is a one-mile turf affair for 2-year-old maidens. Every member of the field will be trying two turns for the first time and only two (Weed Runner and First Mesa) have turf experience. This means just about anything could happen. The 7-2 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line is Daisyago, a filly taking on the boys bred to improve a bunch on the grass.

Who’s hot: Bobby Frankel. He won three races Sunday at Del Mar, including a second consecutive Pacific Classic with Skimming, then also got the money with Aptitude in the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap the same day. Heading into Del Mar’s sixth week, he had won with 13 of 37 starters, a much higher win percentage than leading trainer Bob Baffert.

Who’s not: Ron McAnally. The Hall of Fame trainer entered the final two weeks of the season with only one winner.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Four Cards Too in the third, using Chatting, Dunhill and Pizza N Beer in the fourth and Express Memo, Official Decision and Calcupbound in the fifth.