Thumbs up
To Del Mar for returning the Futurity to closing day and giving relevance to the final day of racing locally for the season. It just wasn't the same last year on closing day.
Thumbs down
Jockey Christian Santiago Reyes should stop appealing every time he receives a suspension from track stewards. The appeal of his latest 10-day ban for dropping fellow jockey Rafael Bejarano is especially disconcerting. California should adopt a rule that your suspension is doubled if you lose an appeal. Reyes has 28 days on the books he needs to serve.
Thumbs up
John Sadler didn't win the training title -- finishing second to Doug O'Neill -- but he might have saddled two of the most exciting horses at the meet in Twirling Candy and Sidney's Candy. Look for those two 3-year-olds when the Breeders' Cup rolls around.
Thumbs down
Track stewards should have disqualified Twirling Candy from his win in Sunday's Del Mar Derby. Sorry, I know he was the best horse in the race, but a foul is a foul. That was a foul -- something the stewards admitted -- and anything after that is just conjecture because the fouled horse's race was totally changed. Also, don't make a decision before talking to the jockeys. It doesn't look good to the public.
Thumbs up
To track announcer Trevor Denman for turning over the race-calling duties for the eighth race last Thursday to Fallbrook High graduate John Lies, who calls races at Lone Star Park, Kentucky Downs and Hialeah. Lies, who is Del Mar's simulcast host, always wanted to call a race at his home track, and after 7,085 consecutive Del Mar races Denman turned over the microphone in a selfless act.
Thumbs up
Pick Six carryovers in general and three-day carryovers in particular. There was an electricity in the air on Saturday with a carryover of nearly $1.6 million. Bettors who don't normally take a swing at the Pick Six did so, which can only be good for the sport.
Thumbs down
Only six horses entered Sunday's Del Mar Derby and five entered Monday's Palomar Handicap. California has to find a way to attract new horsemen.
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The Del Mar jockey race between Rafael Bejarano and Joel Rosario has been enjoyable to watch. Both riders are class individuals and represent the sport well.
