Brad Free

You thought Saturday was tough? Del Mar expects $1 million to be wagered Sunday on the pick six, chasing a $145,934 carryover. “New money” usually is six to seven times the carryover amount. The problem with Sunday’s sequence (races 5-10) is every race is difficult. That creates good gambling opportunites on a race-by-race basis, but stringing together six straight might be impossible. Here is a quick look, anyway.

The pick-six carryover from Saturday into Sunday is $169,635. Bettors are expected to add another $1 million to the pot. Looking for an inconspicuous single? The last three races offer possibilities. Race 7 is a maiden-40 starter allowance sprint for fillies and mares, and if Cactus House runs back to her maiden win she can win as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. Race 8 is the Grade 1 Bing Crosby for sprinters Smiling Tiger, Euroears and Amazombie. Comeback works by Euroears suggest he can be gone as the 5-2 second choice.

The turf rails were put up Friday at Del Mar, and longshot front-runners stole a pair. Is more of the same in store this weekend? The turf rails were down the first seven days of racing, during which time not a single grass race at a mile, or a mile and a sixteenth, was won by the pacesetter. That was 15 races through Thursday, none won wire to wire. But when the rails were put up Friday (seven feet), the profile changed immediately. Jet Set Girl made the lead in race 3, slowed down the pace, and was gone at $19.60.

First post Friday at Del Mar is late afternoon. How will the track play, and is there anything worth betting? The main track on Thursday was not the same Polytrack from the first six days of the meet. Speed was better Thursday than any time this meet. The $18-20,000 claiming mare Malusita set a blazing pace in race 2, and won by more than five lengths. The $20,000 maiden-claiming filly Sheskey set a relatively strong pace in race 3, and won by two and a quarter lengths.

The eight-race card Thursday at Del Mar appears logical, with legitimate favorites in races 5 and 7. The only drawback facing Gallatin’s Run and All Star Heart is betting.  Both are listed at 5-2, which is about fair. The uneasy feeling is both might go shorter. As for handicapping creativity on Thursday, three Del Mar races with price-horses merit consideration. In race 3, Smilin’ From Above is 6-1 following a better-than-looked effort last out. She’s a maiden-20 going two turns.