Sometimes you don’t have to wait till the weekend to turn Blue into Green so we’ll try to do just that Friday night at Del Mar in the Sandy Blue Handicap.
Ten California-bred sophomore fillies will go a mile on the grass trying to earn the main portion of the $75,000 purse.
Let’s examine them from the rail out.
Sweet Hanni, who will carry 113 pounds, will be making her stakes debut and is coming off an even try in $80K optional land. In the good hands of Vlado Cerin, she will likely have to track and attempt to out kick them late.
Conniption beat 11 foes to start her career in England packing 126 pounds, is proven at this distance and is exiting the best races as she was beaten less than 2 lengths in the Grade 2 San Clemente last time. She totes 10 pounds less then her debut assignment today.
Go Forth North is in light at 112 after just breaking her maiden and the best thing she has going for her is her red-hot trainer in A. C. Avila.
Warren’s Jitterbug finally got up last time but is only 2 for 12 with 7 slices in her career as she is burdened with a 114-pound package this time.
Got an Itch is proven fresh, is proven on grass and the way she won a stakes in Arizona at 7 and a half furlongs suggests she’ll get this distance under 114 pounds.
Fortunia got a feel of the surface last time and was never comfortable when rank and forced to steady. This miss is assigned the same weight as Conniption.
La Nez, the highweight at 118 although she has never won on grass, was game in her sprint score last time in the $100K Fleet Treat. She has limited speed as she is out to prove her 6-1 upset last time was no fluke.
The pews will be filled with backers of True Religion, who is pushing the envelope as a 113-pound entrant who was just crushed in her first try vs. winners.
Sandy Cheeks will be making her 4th start of the time, this time under 114 pounds and she has a right to be making an impact late.
Excellent News got anything but last time when she hopped in the air as the beaten chalk. She was third in her only turf try but is a stakes winner and she has some semblance of speed.
This fray is wide-open so we’ll take a shot at a price. Excellent News will take some money off her troubled trip last time, and so will La Nez.
Droppers like Conniption and Fortunia will be somewhat highly regarded but could be under valued on the tote.
As the race unfolds look for Sweet Hanni to be sent hard from the fence chased by Excellent News and Got an Itch. At the top of the lane the closers will be looking for room but Got an Itch will get first run on the group after getting a perfect 3-hole trip to prevail in a close photo at about 10-1 under Alonso Quinonez, who’s 5 winners this meeting averaged over $40.
Why not take that Green and buy a margarita.
Good luck.