Fity Cent Pick 4 at Del Mar with Marc Doche: Thursday in Paradise

Back in the red after yesterday’s single, Aggie Engineer, ran a winning race but had to settle for second to Blue Chagall, who reverted to previous form and got the best trip possible under David Flores.

Six days into the meet and the sun has yet to show up. Aside from the pale-skinned fans in attendance, the implications of warmer days and how the track plays are significant and will need to be monitored.

The first half of today’s card leaves a lot to be desired, but I'll be rooting for the old man Shadow of Illinois in the second race. The last four races provide a challenging sequence where a nice payout is possible.

We’re off to the races!

Leg 1 – Race 5 (5,9) – A couple of speedballs that have shown a penchant for tiring late should set up this Cal-bred $40K maiden claiming race for fillies and mares going six furlongs to be won from off the pace.

No. 5 Warren’s Moon has finished second in four of her five starts and there is a concern that she might be afraid of winning. She’s been favored in her last three; however we’ll give her one more chance to win from just off the pace.

No. 9 Marino’s Promise missed by just half a length last time in a productive heat. She shows a pair of works over this track and can give Cho his second winner of the meet.

It’s interesting to note that the horse that breaks inside of her is out of the same sire and sold for over $30K more than she did at the Barrett’s October 2008 sale. But, Winning Valentine has been away for almost a year since running a clunker in her debut here last summer.

Leg 2 – Race 6 (1,3,5,8) – With the scratch of No. 4 Royal Applause, we’re left with a field of eight bottom level claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Four can win and four can’t. We’ll use the four that have a shot.

Leg 3 - Race 7 (1,2,5,7) – Some nice fillies and mares sprint six furlongs in this featured optional claiming event.

We’ll play against morning line favorite Heartless Vixen based off sub-par efforts in her last two and uninspiring reports from her morning works.

No. 4 Holding Her Ground has no chance facing these kind of horses, so we’ll use the other four.

Leg 4 – Race 8 (1,5,8,9,10) – Another $40K Cal-bred maiden claiming race; this one for two-year old fillies going five and a half furlongs to round out the card.

No. 1 Jenny Jenny Emily was nowhere in her debut, but she drops in class and shows some nice works for a trainer who excels with two-year-olds.

No. 5 Table for One retains the services of Rafael Bejarano and her race two back is good enough to win.

N. 8 Cosafina Carina was also nowhere in her debut, but drops in class and has trained forwardly since, including a nice four furlong work over the track.

No. 9 Homework ran a solid fourth in her debut after breaking from the rail in a productive heat. She moves to the outside here and wouldn’t need to improve much to win.

No. 10 Desperate Measures finished second in her debut to a horse that came back to run here in a stakes last week.

Recap – (5,9) w (1,3,5,8) w (1,2,5,7) w (1,5,8,9,10) – Total cost of ticket = $80

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @mdoche for last minute changes caused by scratches.

Good luck!

Yesterday’s Result – (-$72)

Total for meet – (-$43.15)