Friday July 18 Del Mar Picks

Hello racing fans,
Paddock Girl here:

Image from www.delmarscene.com

  What a great Opening Day we had yesterday at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club! More than't break the record of 47,339, the amount was very close.

  On the 20th anniversary of "The (One and Only True Fabulous) Hat Contest" there were a couple of repeated winners this year, and as usual, some amazing and huge hats.

   The turf course was in good condition, a little firm because it's basically brand new, but all the horsemen seem to have a positive experience with it.

  On the betting side… we have the first Pick -6 of the season! Yesterday we did not that bad with the picks, but there were two surprise winners that made a carryover of $106, 931 for today!

 This Friday, the 2014 "Del Mar Summer Concert Series" starts with  "Jurassic 5", an alternative hip hop group, so get ready to party tonight of your going to the racetrack.

   The featured race on today's 8-race card is the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes (seventh race) and remember that post time on Fridays is at 4pm!

   Here are your picks for this Friday:

Race 1: CHAMPION RISK, MOTOR'N MONA... include VOW OVER ME in your 'fectas.

Race 2:  FOREST ROMANCE, GOSPEL MUSIC… include SLICK CAPER in your 'fectas.

Race 3: BOOZER, EDDIE'S TURN... include PRESSURE TIME in your 'fectas.

Race 4: TRIBAL DUDE, PIONER CHARLIE... include SUPERBOOT in your 'fectas.

Race 5: ONE MAGICAL GIRL,  JULIO'S GOLD... include SIEMPRE ESPERANZA in your 'fectas.

Race 6: CARACORTADO, PURE TACTICS… include ROSENGOLD in your 'fectas.

Race 7: California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association ($100,000): SINGING KITTY, LOST BUS... include MY FIONA in your 'fectas.

Race 8: SMART JOURNEY, UNUSUAL GREENE... include MISSING GROOM in your 'fectas


Today, is Opening Day at Saratoga!
Here are some free picks for the eastern track

Race 3: Schuylerville Stakes ($150,000): FASHION ALERT, TULIRA'S STAR... include TAKE CARGE BRANDI in your 'fectas.

Race 6: FULL TAP, IN SPIRIT OF MAMA… include GRAEME CRACKERS in your 'fectas.

Race 9: Sir Cat Stakes ($150,000): TOURIST, STORMING INDI… include RING WEEKEND in your 'fectas.


Happy Friday!

DEL MAR Opening Day (Thursday July 18)

Hello racing fans,
Paddock Girl is back:

   Guess what? Today is Opening Day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club! This year, it didn't strait on a usual Wednesday, but it seems it's time for new traditions, because this year we will also have a fall meet (whaaat???), so the fun will continue after Labor Day… but let's focus on today, shall we?

   As expected, Opening Day has lots and lots of things going on.  "The (One and Only True Fabulous) Hat Contest" will be one of the highlights, since it is on its 20th anniversary! Dress fancy or funny, but
don;t forget to bring your best fascinator or your biggest hat to participate. Good prizes will be given this year and and hat will be very appreciate it by your face with this weather.

   Moe than 40,000 are expected to this fabulous racing day and it might break its record attendance of 47,339 on an Opening Day, so get here early or don't complain if you're stuck in traffic.

    Also, there's a new turf course, it has been expanded, which means (hopefully) full fields for turf races!

   And one more thing, "Paddock Picks"is now a 4-year-old little horse! Happy Birthday to Paddock Picks!  It has been a wonderful ride so far! Thank you to everyone who has made this possible, for continuing to come and visit this blog and check your daily picks! THANK YOU!!!

   The featured race on today's 10-race card is the 67th Oceanside Stakes (eigth race).

   Here are your picks for Del Mar's Opening Day on its 75th summer season:

Race 1: BIG WAGS, FIT TO RULE ... include NORTHERN FORCE in your 'fectas.

Race 2:  NONNA REESE, FULL OF SPICE… include BIRD IN LOVE in your 'fectas.

Race 3: HAIL MARY, BIORHYTHM... include MY HAPPY FACE in your 'fectas.

Race 4: AFTERMARKETSLAM, HOLD EVERYTHING... include COTTON VALLEY in your 'fectas.

Race 5: JULES JOURNEY, STONEY FLEECE... include KOKALTASH in your 'fectas.

Race 6: PULMARACK, LONDON LEGACY... keep your eyes on  ZINVOR, looks promising.

Race 7: SIN MACHO, CINMARS DANCE... include NO BARNEYS in your 'fectas.

Race 8: 67th Oceanside Stakes ($100,000): ENTERPRISING, TEXAS RYANO... include ARGYLE CUT in your 'fectas

Race 9: DIAMOND OF BLE, CARLOT COWBOY… include CLOSE TO THE EDGE in your 'fectas.

Race 10: AFFETTANDO, THIS ONE'S FOR MEL... include VIBRATO JAZZ in your 'fectas.


Happy Opening Day and Happy Betting!

Today belongs to history… Triple Crown 2014?

Hello everyone,

Paddock Girl here!


I know it's been a long time since I haven't posted anything and also that I didn't even make contact for either the Derby or the Preakness… but don't get me wrong, I've been in contact with horse racing during these months, promoting our love for this sport at other platforms… and in Spanish.

Enough about me, because today belongs to something that we've been waiting for quite a long time.

Today belongs to history! Today history will me made!

It's been 36 years since AFFIRMED grabbing the Triple Crown in 1978 like the champion it was, the last time one horse made it. Several of us only know about this after seeing it on Tv several years later. People who were luck enough to see it with their eyes, know how magnificent that day was…. and today we could be lucky too.

No one would have thought it would take this long to watch another horse entering the most exclusive horse racing club, the "triplecrowners". Even thought there has been several attempts to enter this hisorty book by horses like SPECTACULAR BID, ALYSHEBA, SUNDAY SILENCE, SILVER CHARM, REAL QUIET, CHARISMATIC and, of course, WAR EMBLEM and BIG BROWN, none of them made i, none of them won the Triple Crown.

Today we could have the 13th member of this elite group of champions, the first one since 1978. 13 might not be a luck number for some people, but in horse racing it could be a good one… and that 13th horse to try is CALIFORNIA CHROME.

Both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, "Cal Chrome" won like there was no competition on the field and won "easily" (not really, buy they made it look that way).  Not bad for a horse that no one that one thought it ould make it this far, except its owners of course, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin.

Having a great trainer like Art Sherman it's great .

This team is special, full of heart and passion to accomplish what some people might have told them it wash;r possible. If they win today, Art Sherman will be the oldest trainer to do it, Victor Espinosa the first Hispanic to make it, CALIFORNIA CHROME the first horse from California to achieve it… and who would't like the irony of knowing that a stable called  "Dumb Ass Partners" got the Triple Crown?

So, why will history will be made?

Because we could have a Triple Crown today, we could se history been written by CALIFORNIA CHROME, Victor Espinosa, Art Sherman and the "Dumb Ass Partners" Stable… and if we had to wait for a unique team like this to have it, then it was worth it.

Because CALIFORNIA CHROME has the support not only from California, but also from many horse racing fans all over the world who hope to see it being part of this glory.

Because the worst that it could happen is having one more attempt, be "chromies" for life and wait for another horse aiming for the Triple Crown like "Cal Chrome" very soon.

Because CALIFORNIA CHROME  is a true champion, because it's time and because today we could be lucky to be part of history.

GO CHROME!!!