Weekend horse racing handicapper best bets from Mike Somich
It was a wonderful weekend at Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup! We had wonderful racing with a plethora of photo finishes and great performances from stars on both sides of the pond. Now we start the build-up to the 2024 Kentucky Derby!
The beauty of horse racing is that we have action year-round, and this weekend, Del Mar re-opens with great cards on both days. Let’s dive into the best racing tomorrow from Del Mar and try to get a couple of prices home!
Kathryn Crosby Stakes – Del Mar, Saturday Race #7
The stakes schedule for the Bing Crosby meet kicks off with restricted Filly stakes going 1 Mile on the turf, and we’ve got plenty of speed signed on for this race. That pace should benefit #9 Yerwanthere, who had a brutal trip the first time running in North America. She returned from the layoff, smoked a good field at Santa Anita, and now steps up to stakes competition. She won last time without ever really being asked, and a repeat performance would make her tough in here.
#5 Dolce Zel is placed beautifully here while switching barns to Phil D’Amato. If she can find her Saratoga form, she will be a real threat. The only issue will be the price; I expect her to go off as a short-priced favorite.
#2 Nadette should also benefit from a snappy pace, just missing last time out from off the pace at a similar level. The last four times at a mile, she’s been competitive versus much better, and a return to any of those races would make the 6-1 morning line look like a steal.
One of the pace players will be the #1 Linda’s Gift, who steps up to take on stakes company for the first time in her career. She’s improved in three straight races after switching to the Mandella barn and did show the ability to come from off the pace in New York. The inside post should provide a ground-saving trip; if she can improve, she is a player.
D’Amato has a second runner in here with the #4 Turnerloose. I would be more interested in her if not for the pace. If there is early pace that scratches out, then I would consider adding her into the plays.
Picks: 9-5-2-1
Bets:
$25 Win 9
$25 Exacta Box 5, 9
$5 Trifecta 5, 9 / 2, 5, 9 / 2, 5, 9
OC 80k/N2X – Del Mar Saturday, Race #5
A fun little turf sprint splits the card and is key to both Pick 5’s! This is another race that features an abundance of speed, so let’s look for someone who can sit just off the lead and pounce when the leaders start to suck wind. The #9 Runninwiththeboyz fits the bill with tactical speed and the ability to rally from just off the pace. Her last race looks better on film than on paper, running sixth in a blanket finish as the favorite after having to swing eight-wide into the lane. She’s had success closing at a similar distance at Santa Anita, and the setup is perfect.
#5 She’s Got a Way should also benefit from the early pace and has consistently improved throughout her four-year-old season. She won over this course and distance last time out and faces a sub-standard group for this level today.
One of the speed horses, #4 Kissed by Fire, has been extremely tough since switching over to the turf. She has gone gate to wire in the last two but will have to deal with two other need-the-lead types in here. If she gets loose, watch out.
The price in the race that interested me is #2 Secrets Told, who learned how to stalk and pounce last time out. She is stepping up in class but improved last time out off the claim. Another step forward could make the 12-1 morning line look like a steal.
Picks: 9-5-4-1
Bets:
$25 Win #9
$5 Trifecta 9 / 1,4,5 / 1,4,5
Spot plays:
Saturday, Del Mar, Race #8: $20 Win #8
Saturday, Del Mar, Race #3: $20 Win #9
