There aren't a lot of these around, but when you learn to recognize them, you wonder how anyone can let the winners of them go off at odds above even money. 

Sunday, August 4, 1996. First at Del Mar. 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt for 3 and up fillies and mares, open claiming at $25,000. 

RUNATON TONZ---Useful horse, O.K. record, but earned it all at much lesser grade tracks. Outclassed here for sure. 

MCKINSEY---From Boise to Del Mar? 6% trainer, 7% jockey (for the year to date!!)---is this a joke or what? 

MISSOULA LULA---A sprinter whose last win 5 races ago at $20,000 came after steady drops down the class ladder. Even races following the win at 25K and 32K show that form is holding, but she can't win. Needs to drop back to a lower level than today's...unless the rest of the field is like the two inside her! 

SARITA SARITA---A 6-year-old whose records this year and last year read: 8--2-3-1 and 9--3-1-1. Claimed in 2 of its last 3 races (!!!!), 2nd by a neck moving up from 16-20K, excellent runs at 25K. PP's show a solid win at this distance and a place by a neck. Even if you didn't know that her running style is the same that's been winning at this distance at Del Mar, you'd have to put a star by her name! 

QUEEN GEM---Off since the first of the year; third trainer in 10 months (sporting a 6% record for the year, which is 2/3 over); large class drop first race after the layoff; even with a couple of positives, these are overwhelmingly negative factors. 

SIDEPOCKETSUE---1 win in last 17 starts; coming off its first layoff of over 45 days in 10 months; confirmed closer from WAY back, and so far, we haven't seen any prospects likely to set up a speed duel. Maybe next time. Easy to pass on her today. 

ICY N' ELEGANT---Small track (fair circuit) maiden winner, trounced in a couple of tries on the major circuit. Easy throwout. 

FOR JOSIE---The public favorite. Excellent record, even with layoffs and multiple trainers. Last race was a winning effort one month ago today in allowance company (NW1X) after an 8-month layoff. Wait a minute - her record at today's distance is a zero across the board, the worst of the field. And why is she in a claimer today shooting at a purse far less than she's shown she can snag? Looks like she'll regress rather than run another sterling race today. 

YAMUSS---A win last out at $16,000, the first in over a year where most of the running was at cheaper tracks and the fair circuit; new trainer is 5% for the year (Hey! It's August already. This guy zapping the owners for a huge per diem to survive?). Another crossoff. 

Who needs speed figures and pace stuff when you have gimmes like this race? 

SARITA SARITA won and paid $7.40, a great price for the only horse with a serious shot in the race. Wish they were all like this one!