Sunday's Best Bet: Panic Alarm stays calm in La Jolla
Sunday’s 10th race at Del Mar is the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds traveling 1 1/16 miles on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 9:39 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Del Mar entries and results.
No. 5 Panic Alarm (2-1) was entered in the Oceanside for John Sadler, but he scratched out of that race. He seemingly needed more time to acclimate and is probably ready to roll. His overseas turf form is solid enough. He fired trifecta shots in five straight races from May 2022 through April 2023, and he won two of those races at seven panels on turf. In his last start on June 22, he was 17th of 29. He sports four works in this country including a pair of local turf works, and Umberto Rispoli is his new pilot.
No. 2 Agency (4-1) switched to turf and looked good beating optional-claiming company at 6 1/2 furlongs on June 17. He added lasix that day, and that was his first start in more than nine months. He stretched out and finished mid-pack in the Oceanside, and he might move up in his third start after a layoff.
No. 7 Henry Q (6-1) has the speed and talent to win this, but I am not sure if he has turf ability. He finished fourth in his first two dirt sprints as the favorite. He broke through with an extended-sprint maiden win on Feb. 4, and he stretched out and won by many lengths as the chalk in the Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 28. He dueled through quick splits and finished third in the Sunland Derby (G3), and stalked and finished third behind Arcangelo and Bishops Bay in the Peter Pan (G3). In his last start in the Ohio Derby (G3), he was sent to the lead from the inside post and folded in the lane. Dam has tossed a turf winner, and he shows two local turf works for this. Antonio Fresu wins races with Doug O’Neill, and he might be able to get out there and control the pace.
No. 3 Maltese Falcon (5-2) is 0-for-6 with four minor awards. The maiden packs a decent late kick and rallied for the place in the Cinema last time. He will try to get involved late under his new rider Juan Hernandez.
No. 8 Zalamo (8-1) was bumped at the start and was too far back to make an impact in his stateside bow in the Oceanside. He adds blinkers, and Mike Smith gives him another chance. Better seems likely but he is 0-for-3 on turf and 2-for-4 with a pair of minor awards on all-weather ground.
Get Jarrod’s Del Mar analysis.
Wagers
No. 5 to win
Trifecta key 5/2-3-7-8
Trifecta 2-3-7-8/5/2-3-7-8
Recent Best Bet winners
July 22 – Warrens Candy Girl ($22.20)
July 23 – Du Jour ($11.60)
July 26 – Amanda's Folly/Sweet Mystery exacta ($9)
July 27 – Tom Horn/Devil Moon quinella ($25), trifecta ($284.60)
July 28 – Amy C ($9.20)
Last Sunday – Gold Phoenix ($11)
Friday - Bus Buzz ($5.80), trifecta ($82.80)
Saturday - Carmelita's Man ($13.60), trifecta ($199.20)