Frankly Speaking - Del Mar August 4, 2023
Racing is NOT dead...and some nice picks from yesterday...
Who Says Racing Is Dead?
Judging by the first picture above, it may seem that “racing is dead,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth here at Del Mar. I took that picture at the end of the day on Thursday, August 3, long after that area was packed for the Newcomers’ Seminar with a line of guests anxiously waiting to enter for “Free and Easy” Thursdays…what a sight!
Way before Covid—in a galaxy far, far away—I used to do the Newcomers’ Seminar every race day, and it was always the highlight of my day. Then Covid hit, and the Newcomers’ Seminar was a casualty, like so many other things. I moved on to other responsibilities with Del Mar as host of both the Saturday on-track handicapping seminar and Sunday’s “Best Bet” livestream, but I secretly lamented the fact that the Newcomers’ Seminar was no more.
When live racing resumed after Covid protocols were relaxed, the powers that be were still hesitant of such a gathering—and I couldn’t blame them. I agreed that we needed to be careful, and having a livestream that people could watch remotely was a much better way to go, so my “Best Bet” seminar thrived while the Newcomers’ Seminar became a footnote in racing history.
Fast forward to April 2023. I was having my pre-Del Mar lunch with Chris Bahr, Director of Events/Promotions, to talk about the upcoming meet and my responsibilities, and he said, “So, what do you think about bringing back the Newcomers’ Seminar?”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I really thought that event was gone and forgotten forever.
“Absolutely!” I exclaimed. “I think it’s a great idea, but you know I can’t do it on weekends because of my other seminars.”
Chris said, “I know. I thought of that. How about just on Thursdays?”
I loved the idea. You see, Thursdays are “Free and Easy.” Everyone with a Diamond Club membership gets in free (and by the way, Diamond Club membership is also free, just click here for more info: Del Mar Diamond Club (dmtc.com); and there are discounts on hot dogs and beer!). When Chris and I would debrief every year after the summer meeting, we always talked about how the free admission days had the highest seminar attendance. Of course, if you’ve never been to the track before, you’re going to go on a day when admission is free!
It was a no-brainer. “Sign me up,” I told Chris. And the Newcomers’ Seminar was back in business!
Admittedly, I was a little bit rusty last week, trying to shake off the cobwebs and have my brain muscle memory remember my thirty-minute script. But this week, I was back in mid-season form. I was very happy with the seminar—but what made me even more happy was the audience. Once again, we had a packed house—and the audience covered all demographics. The highlight of my day was when—on two separate occasions after the seminar—two teenagers (who may or may not have been of legal betting age) came up to me and asked me questions. They stood next to their parents and asked really good questions. One of them asked how the post positions are determined.
Ah, my faith in humanity was restored. I don’t have to tell most of you how great our game is. Once you get someone hooked, they are hooked for life. I firmly believe in spending a lot of time making your core customers happy, but I also believe that you have to build for the future. In my seminar, I give people a few pointers that they can do at the track—both handicapping and wagering—so that they can feel like they are part of something and not overwhelmed. I feel that if a newbie has a good experience at the track—and doesn’t feel lost or like an outsider—then that newcomer might come back…and bring some friends.
I know a lot of grizzled gamblers turn their noses up when it comes to preaching some very fundamental and basic bets, but everyone has to start somewhere. Most people come to Del Mar for the experience—let’s face it, Del Mar can be a party—but if just a small percentage of those people realize just how fun handicapping and betting can be, then I feel like we are doing something good.
I mentioned the after picture from the seminar. Check out the before, which is the second photo up above. Who says racing is dead? Thank you Del Mar for bringing back the Newcomers’ Seminar.
Jocks and Trainers
I keep saying that Del Mar isn’t as top-heavy as people think it is—and I’m talking about both the trainers and jockeys. Gone are the days when Flavien Prat won everything at odds-on or Peter Miller had a 3/5 shot in every other race. The racing this meet has been spectacular. Case in point: on Friday both Diego Herrera and Tiago Pereira won two races. Even the apprentices Abdul Alsagoor and Armando Aguilar got in on the action with victories. Heck, even Victor Espinoza, who rides so sparingly these days, dusted off his boots and whip to win a race for Wesley Ward. The other remaining race on the card was won by Juan Hernandez, so he picks up one win in the standings, but, as mentioned before, this has been a very equitable meet.
As for the trainers, there were no repeat winners today. D’Amato got one to move farther ahead of Baffert and O’Neill—and Powell continued his hot hand, getting a winner on dirt (as opposed to his three on turf already)—but it’s been a very fair meet for the small barns. In fact, Sergio Morfin got his second winner in two days, which leads me to…
Spot Play, Track Trends, and The Feature
The aforementioned Sergio Morfin skunked our Spot Play in Race 6 Thursday, when his Shanghai Sunrise took the lead and never looked back, gamely fending off a real challenge by our Spot Play, Youteyourhonor. I unloaded on my horse at 5/1, knowing that the top few choices were no good—but the Morfin horse stepped up to win at 13/1. Take note today because the track played a lot more fair than it has the first two weeks. If that race was run the first two weeks, I’m pretty sure that Youteyourhonor (from post 8) would have inhaled Shanghai Surprise (who was on the inside), and we’d be celebrating another nice Spot Play winner.
So what’s in store for Friday’s eight-race card? Do we have a clue? I found this card to be very difficult, since there’s nothing here that’s really my bread-and-butter, but I think #7 CLOUSEAU (4/1) in Race 6, the $175K Real Good Deal Stakes, might offer a whiff of value. Don’t get me wrong, the top two choices in this 7-furlong Cal-bred affair, are legit horses, but both #1 KANGAROO COURT (8/5) and #4 BUS BUZZ (9/5) are speedsters who are very likely to cancel each other out. If one of them wins, they will have earned it.
Do note that both of these horses have beaten my horse at Santa Anita, but I can see CLOUSEAU just getting the perfect tracking trip on what’s been the best part of the track (every day this meet except yesterday). Let’s see if we can solve this mystery that is Race 6!
Del Mar’s Online Contest Race
As most of you know, I do a daily write-up for Del Mar’s online contest race. Yesterday, I gave the link out in this space, and we connected with a 6/1 horse right on top. Here’s the link to today’s race (below), a very difficult Cal-bred $20K optional-claiming/N1X for fillies and mares going one mile on the lawn with the rails at 30-feet. The morning-line favorite is a tepid 7/2, and I have three “A’s” at the following prices: 12/1, 12/1, 10/1. In other words: get involved! Check it out here: Frank Scatoni Daily Picks at Del Mar (dmtc.com).
Be sure to check out www.frankscatoni.com for what’s good every day during the Del Mar meet.
As I always say: Good luck to us…and let’s make some money!!!