It’s a Day for the Claimers

Enthusiasts of claiming races will be in their glory today at Del Mar. Seven of the eight races are for claimers, and better yet, four of the events are for maidens. It’s becoming clear that the Monday cards by the beach will be the weakest of the week. The only allowance race on the program is the seventh, a $57,000 affair for fillies and mares who never have won two races. Trainer Alexis Barba looks to have the 1 1/16-mile race surrounded with Red Hot And Blue, the 7-5 favorite, and 7-2 second choice Moon’s Tune. A Canadian-bred, Red Hot And Blue finished second behind stakes winner Above Perfection in her first start of the year on June 15 at Hollywood Park and she broke her maiden at 22-1 over this track last summer. Moon’s Tune, who will be adding blinkers, won for the first time in her third start on May 31, then was second in her first against winners on July 5, losing by less than a length.

Race of the day: The sixth is the only turf race and it appears to be a wide-open scramble for $50,000 claimers going 1 3/8 miles. Prairieton is the 7-2 choice on the line and it’s a race where you will get paid off if you happen to be right. Prairieton was compromised by a slow pace in his latest at Hollywood Park and had trouble the time before. He has won two of his previous three turf races at Del Mar, but this is a different course now. It looks like a spread race for those playing any Pick Threes or the Pick Six and Pick Four.

Who’s hot: Alex Solis. The rider, who missed sharing the title at the Hollywood Park meet when Laffit Pincay won the final race on closing day, hasn’t missed a beat since coming to the beach. He is battling for the top spot in the standings and already has annexed four stakes victories.

Who’s not: Dynatrol. An 8-1 shot in the second race, the 5-year-old Dynaformer mare is one for 25 since the start of 2000 and is only two for 40 in her career. Her five opponents in the 1 1/16-mile race have combined to win 23 times.

Exotically speaking: An exacta box in the sixth using Prairieton, Azure Ciel and Credit Call.