San Diego H (gr. II), $300,000g, 3&up, 8.5f
 

This weekends big race, the san diego handicapp, the prep for the pacific classic gr1, 10f, $1,000,000, on 8-20-6

who's running ???

how about the Kentucky derby winner from 2005, back for more!

More than 14 months after his upset win in the Kentucky Derby and four months since his last start, Giacomo will make a comeback in Saturday's $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

Not sure who else is running. Not expecting a stellar field with Lava Man out until the Pac Classic. I mean who else could there possibly be? Sure Cat is out. Whatever happened to High Limit?

Giacomo's return?

DISTORTED b.c.4 Super Horse, Inc. Patrick Gallagher
DIXIE MEISTER dk b/.g.4 Gary A. Tanaka Julio C. Canani
GIACOMO gr/ro.c.4 Moss, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. and Stronach Stables John A. Shirreffs
MOLENGAO (BRZ) ch.h.5 T N T Stud Paulo H. Lobo
PAPI CHULLO gr/ro.c.4 Greg Norman J. Buenaventura Vargas
PARK AVENUE BALL ch.c.4 Char-Mari Stable James T. Ryerson
PREACHINATTHEBAR gr/ro.h.5 Michael E. Pegram Bob Baffert
PUBLICATION dk b/.g.7 Mercedes Stables LLC Vladimir Cerin
RATHOR (IRE) dk b/.c.4 Flaxman Holdings, Ltd. Robert J. Frankel
SOUTHERN AFRICA dk b/.c.4 Kirkwood, Al and Saundra S. Michael Puhich
SPELLBINDER dk b/.h.5 Moss, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Richard E. Mandella
TEXCESS b.g.4 Anastasi, Scott and Wayne and Van Burger, Carl F. Mike R. Mitchell
THAT'S AN OUTRAGE b.h.5 Bull Stick Stables LLC Michael Puhich
YES HE'S A PISTOL ch.c.4 STD Racing Stable Doug F. O'Neill

Giacomo
Dixie Meister,
Papi Chullo,
Preachinatthebar,
Publication,
Rathor,
Southern Africa,
Texcess,
Yes He's a Pistol.

thta don't look encouraging at all, maybe a 5 horse field.

yes giacomo's return, thats what the drf said.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/76624.html

are these the runners or the nominations ?

expected runners per DRF

Yeshesapistol just ran in that race versus Declans Moon. Bringing a horse like this back off of a week? I mean his recent form has been very suspect.

Maybe they are thinking a theft job?

Confirmed as starters in the race are

Giacomo
Papi Chullo, with Patrick Valenzuela aboard;
Preachinatthebar, Jon Court;
Publication, Victor Espinoza;
Rathor, Garrett Gomez;
Southern Africa, Alex Solis; and
Spellbinder, Corey Nakatani.

thats 7, okay...

Not a great group but interesting still. Need a couple more.

without any data, i like

giacomo
rathor
south africa

boxed tri and exacta, but i need to see data

this is not my final answer

Giacomo finishes last or 2nd to last in this race.

I dont know how anyone can like Giacomo in this spot. Off layoff, short odds, never been much of a winner, not very much speed lined up. No thanks. Has he ever run at Del Mar?

I'll take my chances with Rathor in this group.

AMEN Gander.

thats not true at all,
if you remember back in time, i posted giacomo was Romans leading horse based upon his time data. he had the fastest time
predicted to 10f. i posted 4 of the 6 top runners. but it didn't matter because my bets didn't include closing argument. the only reason i bet gicamo then, and broke even on the day, was because of his fast times projected to 10f.

further, his times to 10f where primarily projeted off races from 8 to 9f. he had some of the best times at 8, 8.5 and 9f,
the question for me 2 derbies back was could he get the distance, not was he fast enough.

granted he has had surgery, and may not be as quick,
will he win this, prolly not, hit the board, i think so
TODAY, but again i need PP data, should be free on delmar site later today.

I think Giacomo picks up 3rd or 4th but is well behind the winner. Depends on who goes though - pace wise. His connections arent expecting to win. Per DRF Shirreffs said that 8.5f is definitely not his best and he just wants to see him moving foward late.

Dixie Meister has been a solid win/place horse all year and is my tentative pick.

just out of memeory, and that don't mean its accurate, i thought DxM was better a little longer. and i read the sheriffs article, i thought , again based upon his work at 3 he was better at the shorter distance ??? i dunno??

i wou't leave Giacomo out as of now. i'm gonna look for the PP data.

heres johnny..

http://www.delmarracing.com/frame.ph...noms/04-pp.pdf