DEL MAR DERBY AND MORE GRADED RACES AT DEL MAR

This Saturday and Sunday Del Mar will host three graded races Del Mar Derby, John C Mabee Stakes and Del Mar Debutante Stakes, Horse Racing Tote brings you the Horse Racing Entries Racecard, take a look and pick your favorite!

Del Mar Derby

A huge field charged with promise and inexperience confronts the bettor in the Del Mar Derby, and the best weapons for a walk to the windows could be a pin and private prayer rather than a formline. The boys of southern California are all here, fighting their own private battles on a public stage.

The Grade 3 La Jolla here is always a good bell-wether, but this year’s renewal was a messy affair decided by the stewards. Sword Zorro hit the wire first in a whirl of noses and heads, but his number was taken down and he was placed third behind Zoffarelli and Hudson Ridge (Cathkin Peak (12-1) last of six).

Zoffarelli (6-1) comes out worst of the three on Saturday’s revised weights, but he is entitled to improve for his first start Stateside after some fairly ordinary efforts in Britain. At Santa Anita in May, Hudson Ridge (9-2) beat Sword Zorro (5-1) by a length and a quarter in receipt of 4lb, and there is unlikely to be much between the trio again.

Another pointer to the Derby is the Oceanside over a mile here in July, which was won in a desperate finish – two lengths covered the first six home – by Flashiest (6-1) from the reopposing Crew Dragon, No Foolery Here (8-1) and Hockey Dad (Petruchio (20-1) sixth,

None Above The Law ninth). Then, in an allowance optional claimer here last month, Crew Dragon (8-1) saw off Hockey Dad (8-1) and Barraza (12-1) in another photo-finish, confirming the notion that there irts very little between the three-year-old colts at Del Mar this summer.

Jimmy Blue Jeans (12-1) placed another piece of the puzzle at Santa Anita in June when a neck too good for None Above The Law (12-1) in a black-type affair at this distance. Next time out he won an allowance optional claimer here over a mile-sixteenth with Lincoln Hawk (20-1) a length and a quarter away third, and Barraza out the back, out of sight. Necks, heads, noses, nothing in it anywhere. Pick six and you might yet not hit the board, so this is not a race on which to bet the farm. It depends which prep race you put greatest faith in, and the La Jolla is probably the strongest. Zoffarelli needed help to win it, but if he steps up for that introduction to US racing he could do it on his own this time

Current Fixed Odds for Del Mar Derby

Del Mar Derby Betting Prediction: Zoffarelli

John C Mabee Stakes

This contest also features a raft of horses who have been keeping regular company, with the notable exception of Fast Jet Court (6-1), who hasn’t been off the board in four Grade 1s in her native Brazil, winning two of them, but who simply can’t be judged rationally in this entirely different ballpark. She could win; she could finish last.

Safer territory is found in Maxim Rate, winner of the Grade 1 Gamely at this distance at Santa Anita in May, in which Bodhicitta (6-1) was third and Going To Vegas fifth. She again finished ahead of Bodhicitta in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon here in August, but on that occasion she only took third spot behind Princess Grace, with Dogtag separating the two. Consistency is not associated with Maxim Rate (7-2), whereas it is with Dogtag (3-1), the only problem being that she is consistently not quite good enough in Graded company, where she is nought-for-six lifetime. That Yellow Ribbon effort is arguably her best to date, so for those looking for a trifecta lock, Dogtag is your girl. She is preferred to stablemate Tapwater (6-1), who needs to take a long step forward in order to get competitive at this level.

Going To Vegas (4-1) should not be dismissed after her Gamely defeat, as she then cleared away to win an allowance optional claimer over course and distance in July, seeing off Quiet Secretary (15-1) by three and a half lengths. She is a Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed at Santa Anita, and is the pick of trainer Richard Baltas’ three runners, but if Maxim Rate brings her ‘A’ game, despite spotting weight all round, it’s hard to see Going To Vegas flipping the form and hitting the jackpot.

Current Fixed Odds for John C Mabee Stakes

John C Mabee Stakes Betting Prediction: Maxim Rate

Del Mar Debutante Stakes

Sunday’s feature brings together the usual mix of maiden-race potential and Graded-race experience, with the Grade 2 Sorrento over six furlongs here the hinge on which the race will likely swing.

Four weeks ago, Elm Drive and Eda fought out a furious finish for the Sorrento, Elm Drive prevailing by a head with the third horse more than 13 lengths adrift. Elm Drive got first run that day and Eda – who had a little trouble out of the gate – was reeling her in all the way down the lane, which suggests that the extra furlong of the Debutante will be to Eda’s advantage, as will the 5lb turnaround at the weights for that fast-diminishing head margin. Eda gets the vote on those terms, and looks much the more likely of Bob Baffert’s two contenders, the other being Grace Adler, who beat a field of newbies over five furlongs here in July on her only start. Baffert has won the Debutante nine times, including the last two runnings.

Rock The Belles and Dance To The Music both made successful debuts here, the latter going wire to wire and beating Bicameral by four and a half lengths. Myfavoritedaughter broke her maiden at the third time of asking at Gulfstream Park, whereas At The Spa is unbeaten in three, her most recent victory coming in a black-type affair here in August.

That was over five and a half furlongs and the step up in distance is a concern.

This is probably best left to the Sorrento one-two, who have already shown their capabilities at Graded level and distanced those rivals in a fashion that indicates they may be a class above among the two-year-old filly division.

Current Fixed Odds for Del Mar Debutante Stakes

Del Mar Debutante Stakes Betting: Prediction Eda

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