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A power outage cancelled racing yesterday so we should have pent up demand for today’s tough card. At least we cashed the early Pick 5!
No live show until Saturday so I hope you will join us then at 4pm approx!
Finished #8 in the 2024-25 NTRA Handicappers Tour
Low Takeout $3 All Turf Pick 3
Race 5,7,9:
$3 AT - 6,10 with 8 with 9,8,2,3,5,1 = $36
$3 AT - 6 with 8,6,7,1,2,3,5,9,4 with 9,8 = $54
$3 AT - 6,10 with 8,6 with 9,8,2 = $36
Low Takeout $3 Pick 3
Race 7:
$3 Pick 3 - 8 with 6,4,3 with 9,8,2 = $27
$3 Pick 3 - 8,6,7 with 6 with 9,8,2,3,5,1 = $54
$3 Pick 3 - 1,2,3,5,9,4 with 6 with 9,8,2 = $54
Low Takeout $5 Late Double
Race 9:
$15 Double - 6 with 9,8 = $30
$5 Double - 6 with 2,3,5,1 = $20
$10 Double 4,3 with 9,8,2 = $60
Selections for each race with horses listed in preference
Race 1: 4,6
Race 2: 4,5
Race 3: 3,1,2,5,9
Race 4: 1,2
Race 5: 6,10
Race 6: 6
Race 7: 8,6,7 (1,2,3,5,9,4)*
Race 8: 6,4,3
Race 9: 9,8,2,3,5,1
Longshot/Value Plays of the Day:
Race 7: #6 Dreaming of Abba 15-1 ships in from Gulfstream for Powell, Diego almost won last out there. Belmont rides and although Powell numbers suck this is a must use somewhere and maybe a single on a ticket too,
Race 9: #2 Long Mayshe Reign 15-1 Belmont rides for Papa up in class, a huge jock upgrade from Baze, use on longshot tix. Papa is 36% off the claim for a big profit.
Typos happen and I do my best not to make them. Always read through my writeups to make sure the posted numbers are correct. I list Pick 4, Pick 5 selections and also a listing of all plays for each race. If there are any differences, please let me know.
*Horses listed in brackets are for added coverage if wanted and for exotics.
THE MATRIX
By Frank R. Scatoni
www.frankscatoni.com
(on X @ScatoniSureShot)
DOUBLE TROUBLE LIVE on YouTube
6/12/2026
NOTE: Because this analysis is posted in advance, always check my X feed @ScatoniSureShot for real-time updates based on scratches and track conditions. For more information about all of my work, please visit: www.frankscatoni.com. Also, be sure to LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE to “Double Trouble Live” on YouTube to follow along with live-wagering of the low-takeout $3 All Turf Pick 3, $3 Late Pick 3, and $5 Late Double. To learn more about handicapping with OptixEQ, please visit here. Thanks!
INTRO:
It’s the last Friday card of the meet, so let’s make this nine-race program count. We’ve got a good mix of races in the low-takeout sequences, so let’s see if the MATRIX can connect the dots as we head into a stellar closing weekend.
Before we begin, however, here is some BIG NEWS!
For the first-time ever, the MATRIX will be available for Del Mar! It will be a modified MATRIX for the same low-takeout wagers covered here but without the detailed horse-by-horse analysis. I’ll provide some proprietary notes for each race (and certain key horses), along with the actual full letter-grade MATRIX, as well as suggested wagers—just like I’ve done in this space.
All you have to do is sign up for special “Double Trouble Live” content at markgelding.com. Ciaran and I will give out our low-takeout plays for select sequences, as well as offer up unique content, wagering strategies, and special summer coverage for all of our members. It’s free to sign up! I haven’t asked for much over the years, but it would mean a lot to me if you all signed up and followed the MATRIX all summer long, so we can celebrate some big wins together! Thank you! Of course, a lot of that content will feed into our “Double Trouble Live” show, and we’ve got a full schedule planned, featuring both Del Mar and Saratoga.
Note: There’s no “Double Trouble Live” wagering show today, but please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel here.
RACE 5: $3 ALL TURF P3 (LEG 1):
The $3 All Turf P3 kicks off with a Cal-bred Maiden Special Weight contested at 6.5-furlongs on the lawn with the rails at 10-feet.
#1 DEBBIES GETTINGHOT (8/1) has some decent races at this level thanks to his tactical speed. He’s fast enough to get good position early from the rail—but can he stay that tricky last half-furlong? He hasn’t been able to yet. Wire job or bust! GRADE: B.
#2 HIGH KING (4/1) ran a good third from the rail last time at this level and distance, but this 5-year-old is still searching for his first win in now 15 tries. Ooof. GRADE: B.
#3 FEELING LUCKY (8/1) debuts for Koriner, who has been pretty quiet with his firsters the last few years. This 4-year-old cost $100K, and I like seeing Jaramillo in the irons, but this is a tricky distance for a debut runner. GRADE: C.
#4 ROYAL RUMOR (15/1) was the tepid favorite at this level and distance last time, and he had some trouble and was never a factor. Before that, he ran a good second, so there is some ability here, even though Jaramillo bails. Expect Maldonado to be very aggressive. GRADE: B.
#5 OMISSION (30/1) looks to need lesser at this point. GRADE: X.
#6 OWL (5/1) got a lot out of his debut race when he finished a closing fourth at 40/1. Drysdale is having a quietly good meet, so I expect this second-time starter to run much better today, adding blinkers and with the leading jock staying put. He looks really good to me. GRADE: A.
#7 DOING TIME (10/1) is a 3-year-old who is winless in 10 tries, so even though he’s done well to pick up checks, he needs to show a lot more oomph to get the job done here—but he’s usable in your exotics. GRADE: X.
#8 SEAVER WAY (30/1) couldn’t beat much lesser animals back in 2024 and 2025, so I’m thinking that this spot is just a leg-stretcher off the long break for this newly gelded 5-year-old. GRADE: X.
#9 DE FACTO (10/1) took money in his debut, but this 3-year-old was a bit green when finishing fourth. He should really improve today, but he faces elders for the first time. That said, there is more here than meets the eye. GRADE: A.
#10 BOOKED CLUBHOUSE (9/5) is a 3-year-old who faced elders for the first time last time and finished sixth at 3/1. Granted, that was going a mile, so the cutback today should help his cause, but this guy is 0-for-8, so 9/5 seems absurd to me, even with J.J. taking over. GRADE: B.
#11 HIT THE TRACK JACK (30/1) was 15/1 in his debut, and he showed sharp speed before weakening. He figures to improve, but now he’s looking at a wide journey while facing elders for the first time. GRADE: X.
RACE 7: $3 ALL TURF P3 (LEG 2); $3 LATE P3 (LEG 1):
Race 7 is the middle leg of the $3 All Turf P3 and also the first leg of the $3 Late P3, so we need to score here to keep everything alive in the $100K Possibly Perfect, a 10-furlong turf affair for fillies and mares with the rails at 10-feet.
#1 WATCHTOWER (6/1) is a very nice mare, but she was on the cusp of big things, and she never really trained on. I’m not sure why, because her final times are always really good, and she’s had plenty of chances to break through, but she’s now a 5-year-old whose last win came when she was a 3-year-old. She’ll be running on late, and even though this is a pretty nice group, this gal has faced some elite turf gals over the years, so we might see her very best at a good price. GRADE: A.
#2 RESOLVE (4/1), the first Powell runner, will give you a thrill, but she’s been on the wrong side of so many photos, that she’s also bound to break your heart. She did get at W against much lesser foes last time as the 4/5 favorite, but her luck against stakes company has not been as good. She’ll be right there at the end as always, but she’s not going to win a dogfight, unless new jock Kimura gets a little something extra out of her. That said, 4/1 is a pretty good price. GRADE: A.
#3 INNOVATIVE (5/1) is a lightly raced 4-year-old who still has room to improve, but she will need a big step forward today when you consider that her first race this year wasn’t much (albeit with some trouble). Also, her come-home times last year didn’t wow me, so her paper form isn’t great—but I trust D’Amato. GRADE: B.
#4 THE MIZEN QUEEN (IRE) (10/1) hasn’t been able to best N1X types, but this gal has strong come-home times, so I’m projecting a big move forward for her with more ground to cover. Upset special. GRADE: A.
#5 ULYSSES ROSE (IRE) (9/2) just lost to a few of these, but she wasn’t fully disgraced for a gal who was just making her third career start. She shortens up a bit, which might help her, and she should be sitting on a peak race, third start in the U.S. The big concern, however, is that she’s still a maiden. GRADE: C.
#6 DREAMING OF ABBA (15/1) is a pretty cool 5-year-old mare who has been a dancing queen on the East Coast, running 21 times and hitting the board in 13 of those starts. She now shows up on the West Coast for Powell, who promptly tries this tactically inclined runner at 10-furlongs. She’s not impossible, but I like her more for underneath. GRADE: C.
#7 CAILIN DANA (20/1) ran too good to lose last time, but Hey Jessie nailed her late in a 12-furlong turf affair. She shortens up today, and it’s nice to see Ayuso stick around, but can this 5-year-old mare move forward today after so many mediocre races on her way to graduating just three starts back? GRADE: C.
#8 HEY JESSIE (7/2) is a terrific Cal-bred who can run all day, so you can bet that she’ll be fit shortening up after beating Cailin Dana last time going 12-panels. That said, there are some graded-stakes caliber ladies in here, and this gal has been her best in races outside of those elite ranks. GRADE: B.
#9 KENTUCKY GAL (IRE) (5/1), the second D’Amato runner, ran fourth in this race last year when she tried to wire them at 5/2. Her form since then has been pretty blah, so it’s interesting to see her back in this spot after a dull comeback race last time, where she attended a slow pace and found nothing. But like I said earlier, how can you not trust D’Amato to have her ready for this? GRADE: C.
RACE 8: $3 LATE P3 (LEG 2):
Let’s move to the dirt for the second leg of the $3 Late P3 (so, of course, this race is not part of the $3 All Turf P3): a $32K optional-claiming/$25K starter-allowance contested at 6-furlongs on the main track.
#1 POKERKNIGHTATVEES (7/2), the first Sean Williams trainee, returns to SoCal with solid Oaklawn form, and the last time this guy was here, he crushed in a $25K claimer, so that makes him a very good fit in this race. He has speed and the rail, so we’ll see if he can win the battle and the war. GRADE: A.
#2 TOM SEAVER (30/1) was no good last time in his first start for Miyadi, but he was a voided claim in that Cal-bred $20K affair, where he finished last as the 8/5 favorite and was then busted for a medication violation. Now he shows up on dirt for $35K and with a new jock. Hmmm. GRADE: B.
#3 CLOUSEAU (5/1) is a total pro who knows how to win races, and even though his best form of late has been around two turns, he does have perfect form at this sprint distance from back in the day. He also came off a layoff last time and wired four other foes going a mile at this level—and putting up a monster speed fig. I’m not sure that I believe how fast that last race was, but 5/1 seems good value on a professional racehorse. GRADE: B.
#4 MEGA MOON (4/1) ran too good to lose last time when he did all the dirty work, only to get headed late in a 6.5-furlong sprint at this level off a long layoff. Look out! GRADE: A.
#5 SENDIT MO (20/1) is in good form, and he’s been claimed twice in a row, so I like that O’Neill took him for $32K last time and protects him today. That said, he’s a 3-year-old facing some hard-knocking elders for the first time. He also likes to be in the mix from the rip, and there is other speed in here. GRADE: X.
#6 GETTINBY (8/5), the second Sean Williams entrant, has blazing speed, and he enters this off some sharp Oaklawn Park races where he crushed Arky-breds in forward fashion. J.J. takes the call, so you know that this one is live, but there is other heat in here, and 8/5 seems short against some real pros. GRADE: B.
#7 HEY BROTHER (8/1) was 9/1 at this level last time, and he lost by a neck, finishing third after chasing the pace on a very closer-friendly track. He seems like good value to me. GRADE: A.
#8 TAPALO (8/1) attended a slow pace two back to beat similar types in facile fashion. Last time was too tough for him, so this spot makes sense. He should get a great stalking trip, but others look just a bit better than he does in this race. GRADE: X.
RACE 9: $3 ALL TURF P3 (LEG 3); $3 LATE P3 (LEG 3):
Welcome to the pay leg in both wagers: another $32K optional-claiming/$25K starter-allowance, but this one is for fillies and mares going 6-furlongs on the lawn with the rails at 10-feet.
#1 CANDY BAR (6/1) was overmatched last time, but she has solid form in the claiming ranks, so this is a good spot for her—but she seems better for underneath, especially with the rail draw today. GRADE: X.
#2 LONG MAYSHE REIGN (15/1) is better than her 2026 form shows, but can this 6-year-old mare get back to her solid form? She has plenty of speed, so maybe she can get brave on the lead and turn back the clock today—but she could also be a case of “when good mares go bad.” GRADE: B.
#3 CORPORAL VIOLETTE (IRE) (15/1) won at this level going a mile, and she took a little break back in February. She returns at the same level, but sprinting hasn’t really been her game. Two back, she was 15/1 in a similar spot, and she lost to one of these gals. Watch today for two turns next time. GRADE: X.
#4 MISS MEAGHER (IRE) (5/1) looks solid in here. She always seems to fire, and you can draw a line through that one-mile race against much tougher last time. GRADE: A.
#5 CROSSANNA (20/1) looks juicy at 20/1. First off, her trainer has been on fire for six months. Secondly, she has decent form at this level, and she has a starter win at 6-furlongs, albeit on dirt, but still… GRADE: A.
#6 KETONIA (FR) (15/1) is another price horse who looks solid to me. She cuts back while making the second start of her form cycle after facing much tougher foes last time in what was surely a prep. The last time she won, it was against starter foes. That said, she needs pace help as a deep closer. GRADE: A.
#7 ANDIAMO RAGAZZA (6/1) is a hard tryer who hasn’t won in a long time, but she does get class relief today, running for a $32K tag after so many races being protected against much better foes. That said, this is a salty group, and it’s hard to overlook her 0-for-8 record here at SA. Then again, J.J. takes the call. GRADE: B.
#8 SHANGRILAMA (IRE) (5/2) hasn’t finished off the board since 2024, so that tells you just how consistent this 6-year-old mare is, so of course she’s a strong contender today—but it should be noted that after she won at this level back in February and then won again, she has finished second twice in a row at short prices. The lady who just beat her is right back, and she’s a better price. GRADE: B.
#9 LADY RIDER (5/1) was favored last time against Shangrilama (Ire), and she won easily, yet here she is a much better price. That race was against $25K foes, so they are both up against tougher today. GRADE: B.
#10 SPECIAL FLOWER (20/1) has been handled by a few of these already, so this 7-year-old looks to need lesser to shine at this point in her career, but do note that hot-riding Fresu takes the call. GRADE: C.
#11 DELITEFULL HART (12/1) looked good beating $30K/N3L conditional-claimers last time, but this is a much tougher group, and given her stalking style, she’s looking at a very wide journey. GRADE: X.
#12 NEEZER DALTON (30/1) (AE) runs for a tag after races against Cal-bred allowance types, where she was not competitive. Last time she ran for a tag, she won, but that was back in 2024, running on dirt against 3-year-olds. I have to watch one if she gets in. GRADE: X.
$3 ALL TURF P3 MATRIX (R5,R7,R9)
NOTE: Horses are listed in order of preference in the MATRIX, so if you need to downgrade or upgrade horses, you can tell which ones I like better or worse by the order in which they are listed. Also, these are plays that I am considering. Please account for scratches, changes, and track conditions. For more information/updates, check my X feed @ScatoniSureShot—but most importantly, please watch “Double Trouble Live” on YouTube here for live-wagering suggestions (when available).
$3 LATE P3 MATRIX (R7-R9)
NOTE: Horses are listed in order of preference in the MATRIX, so if you need to downgrade or upgrade horses, you can tell which ones I like better or worse by the order in which they are listed. Also, these are plays that I am considering. Please account for scratches, changes, and track conditions. For more information/updates, check my X feed @ScatoniSureShot—but most importantly, please watch “Double Trouble Live” on YouTube here for live-wagering suggestions (when available).
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