SPORTS N STUFF

Dont look now but Bob Baffert may have unleashed one of his future stars at Del Mar last Saturday and online horse betting fans should definitely take note.

The name is Drill and the game is Power.

All things dont just happen in this sport and it sure didnt for Drill in his debut on July 30. Bet like a good thing to even money, he walked out of the gate, was hung three wide and ended up beating only 2 to the wire.

So much for superstardom.

But Baffert had a trick or two up his sleeve in the form of a stronger rider in Rafael Bejarano and with the additions of blinks to help Drill focus.

Both worked to perfection Saturday but there were some tense moments. At 7-2 on the morning line, the runner figured to be a little value but after acting up at the gate and taking a few extra minutes to load, he finally went the 7-5 sports betting favorite but had to be used every step of the way.

Starting from the rail, Bejarano and Baffert had mapped out a speed journey for the colt as recorded by TVG in their ‘all access portion of a telecast.

But when Drill broke a step slow again, Bejarano had to step on the gas hard 3 jumps out of the gate asking the juvenile for everything early.
The runner responded.

A half-length off the lead after a quarter of a mile, and right off the leader at the half-mile mark, the runner quickly opened up 3 lengths at the top of the lane but he was starting to tire.

With Rafaels strength, he was able to hold off a fast-closing Seal the Deal by a neck.

He was not beating any chopped liver either. One of his Saturdays rivals is kin to an over $350,000 earner. Another is a half brother to Grade 1 winner and over $400,000 earner Street Hero and the morning line chalk Fit to Rule is a half to Grade 1 winner and near $550,000 earner Sinister Minister.

Drills Beyer figure was modest at 76, but the half-mile time of :44.84 was the fastest of the day.

From a modest bottom side on the surface, there is more to Drill than just the fact his dam, Cat Dancer, was just one for 12 on the track and that her other foal to race graduated, but was just one for 10 as a racer.

If you go another step, a thing that can separate winning horseplayers from the others, you find that the dam is not only a daughter of the late great Storm Cat, but is also kin to a pair of runners that won at least $170,000 including Grade 2 winner, 3 for 12 performer and near $250,000 racer Magic Storm, who won that G2 at 9 furlongs going away.

On top, there is some class too. His sire Lawyer Ron took awhile to figure it out as he won in his fifth career start going 7 furlongs.

He was very strong, had 10 starts as a juvenile, but really thrived once he started to grow up.

Ron won several Grade 1s, carried speed a mile and a quarter with ease and counted among his wins the Oaklawn Handicap, the Whitney Handicap and the Woodward Stakes with a career best 119 Beyer. 

This is the future for Drill that Baffert is banking on. He already knows the runner has talent but the stamina on the topside says he has Triple Crown contender written all over him.

If youre betting horses, dont be shocked if this runner takes the Del Mar Futurity and stamps himself as one of the best babies on the West Coast and maybe the country.

Another runner that could turn out to be a very useful performer raced Saturday and her name is Ismene. She is a Cal-bred and may have to work in the trenches most of her career, but her trainer is extremely patient so the fact that she won her racing debut going away as the favorite speaks volumes.

Both of these runners should be followed.