Race Preview: Real Good Deal Stakes - Del Mar, August 2, 2013

photo: Matt Carter

The feature race on Friday at Del Mar is the $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred or sired three-year-olds. The seven furlong sprint drew a field of nine; let's take a look.

Tiz a Minister was installed as the morning line favorite at 5-2 off of his second place finish in the Grade 2 Swaps and win in the Grade 3 Affirmed at Hollywood Park. Those two races were around two turns and this will be the colt's first start in a sprint since December. He will be running late and will need a fast pace up front.

The speed should come from the outside of Tiz a Minster with U'narack and Follini. U'narack has won two of his four starts while Follini has won two of five. The polytrack seems to be evening out and a speed duel would set it up for Tiz a Minster as well as Omega Star and Raised a Secret.

Omega Star drew the rail for the Real Good Deal, but should be able to get a good spot once the speed clears. The son of Candy Ride has always been highly thought of and won a similar state-bred stakes at Santa Anita in March. In January Omega Star finished second, beaten just over a length, to Tiz a Minster in the Cal Breeders' Championship.

Raised a Secret is 4-1 on the morning line and could go higher. By Songandaprayer, Raised a Secret exits a game nose defeat in a state-bred allowance race at Hollywood Park at seven and one-half furlongs. The cut back should help him and his jockey Gary Stevens, has been riding lights out.

Ambitious Brew is the long shot play for trainer Marty Jones after his facile maiden breaker at Hollywood Park last month. In his debut Ambitious Brew came from off the pace, but was much the best in his second race and ran gate-to-wire. From post eight jockey Mike Smith can has options, don't dismiss in this wide open race.

First post on 4 o'clock Friday is 7:00 pm ET with the Real Good Deal off at 10:00.