No Rest for Valenzuela

With 13 days left in the Del Mar meet, Patrick Valenzuela leads Julie Krone, 35-31, in the jockeys’ race.

Looking to increase his advantage, Valenzuela will be busy this afternoon. He has mounts in seven of the eight races, including three horses who could be favored.

In the opener, a $12,500 claimer for 3-year-olds at six furlongs, Valenzuela will be aboard Sailinwithcaptain, a recent $16,000 claim by trainer Matt Chew.

The In Excess colt won his last start for trainer Bob Baffert by nine lengths in his Del Mar debut on July 31.

A race later, Valenzuela will be on the comebacking I’m Awesome Again for trainer Doug O’Neill. The 2-year-old chestnut was third in his debut on May 14 at Hollywood Park and could be the one to catch in the five-furlong turf sprint today.

In the finale, a $25,000 maiden claimer at 1 1/16 miles, Valenzuela will be on Crash McGoon, who was disqualified on Aug. 4 out of a 4 1/2-length win when cited for alleged interference on the first turn.

Valenzuela’s other mounts on the program are Afro Look for O’Neill in the third, Adios Meadowlake, who’s making her second start for trainer Dave Bernstein in the fourth, first-time starter Alternate Verse in the fifth and Woke Up Dreamin, who hasn’t run since Nov. 19 at Churchill Downs, in the sixth.

Race of the day: Montbretia, who was impressive breaking his maiden for trainer Eoin Harty on July 27, meets Smart Again, the comebacking Listen Indy and five others in today’s sixth, a $54,000 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs, at Del Mar.

One for the road: Anapest showed speed before weakening to third in a decent debut on July 24. The Storm Boot filly comes from a barn (Dennis Ebert) that has a good win percentage with second-time starters and she could get the money in today’s fourth at Arlington Park.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Thanks For Nothing, Alternate Verse and Well Involved in the fifth, Montbretia and Smart Again in the sixth, Allover, First Insight and Ibero Grace in the seventh and singling Crash McGoon in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/71. Money: Previous day/meet total: $13/$406.80. Total money bet: $514.