Tue, 08/05/2025 - 11:53

Brad Free's Del Mar Horses to Watch for week of July 31-Aug. 3, 2025

Barbara D. Livingston
Top mare Kopion was too far back in her excellent second in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch last Saturday.

SORRENTO SKY
Trainer
: Phil D’Amato
Last race: July 31, 1st
Finish: 3rd by 1
Beyer: 95
Turf sprinter broke slowly, spent remainder of race trying to catch up, narrowed gap, too much to do. Contender vs. stablemate Motorious in Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap Aug. 30.

DIRTY RICH
Trainer
: Peter Miller
Last race: July 31, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 5 1/4
Beyer: 83
Another Peter Miller-trained second-start maiden winner, 2-year-old colt popped gate, set pace, widened, impressive win. Will target Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7.

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SENDIT MO
Trainer
: Peter Miller
Last race: Aug. 1, 3rd
Finish: 6th by 22 1/2
Beyer: NA
Debut 2-year-old favored off fast dirt works, but did not like turf and also displaced. Yaupon colt had trained like a top prospect on dirt, can make amends next time out.

CORPORAL VIOLETTE
Trainer
: Steve Knapp
Last race: Aug. 1, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 1/2
Beyer: 78
Veteran turf mare blocked while waiting for room into stretch, rail rally, bogged down inside, even finish. Claimed by Knapp from Doug O’Neill for $25K, fits vs. similar.

MISSTRIAL
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 2, 6th
Finish: 7th by 18
Beyer: 25
Debut 2-year-old filly favored off flashy works, bobbled and went to nose at break, middle move into contention on turn, went flat. Constitution filly is better than this.

KOPION
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Last race: Aug. 2, r10th
Finish: 2nd by 1 1/2
Beyer: 107
Stretch-out sprinter in Grade 1 route may have been best. Broke well, not asked for speed, lagged too far off pace, rallied wide, narrowed gap. Excellent try in highly rated race.

PACKS A WAHLOP
Trainer
: John Sadler
Last race: Aug. 2, 3rd
Finish: 6th by 1 1/2
Beyer: 85
Turf front-runner compromised by strategy. Broke well, rank while rated behind slow pace, re-engaged three wide far turn, went flat. He runs best when he uses his speed.

WAR SWIFT
Trainer
: George Papaprodromou
Last race: Aug. 2, 7th
Finish: 5th by 11 3/4
Beyer: 50
Comeback maiden ran sneaky good in turf sprint. Midpack, saved ground, big finish, galloped out in front. Wants longer, this was a promising comeback by older gelding.

FALCON JET
Trainer
: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 3, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 3 1/2
Beyer: 76
Debut 2-year-old colt tucked inside, chased, finished more than seven clear in race won by odds-on stablemate Buetane. Solid debut by Falcon Jet, who can improve.

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