Program favorite #9 Mohaven and second choice #7 Lady K Westfall top this MSW for Cal-bred 2yo fillies, Mohaven has shown speed in workouts; progeny of first-crop sire Yaupon are 5-for-15 first out. Mohaven is listed 5-2, but could go shorter. Lady K Westfall debuts for an outfit that can fire with firsters. Her jockey Edwin Maldonado has been aboard in workouts; the jockey-trainer combo of Maldonado and Luis Mendez is 5-for-16 with first-time starters since late 2022.

Betting strategy is an $8 play in the early double ($2 minimum) and $36 play in the early pick five (50-cent min). The double insists that one of the first two races includes an upset winner, either Lady K Westfall in the opener or an 8-1 contender in the second race.

#3 Twilight Empire is listed 8-1 in this claiming sprint, but her price is likely to drop. Her win two starts back for the same $10k tag is plenty fast enough; she was overmatched last out.

The program favorite is #1 Unwritten Code, who plummets from $32k claiming and is expected to set the pace. She could be long gone, but who wants to back a class dropper at a short price? Unwritten Code might win, or she might stop. She is being managed as if she does not have many left. Betting strategy focuses on Twilight Empire. She is worth backing at 4-1 or higher; a $10 play in the exacta is mainly a saver in case the favorite wires the field.

#2 Arrakis is only an “okay” favorite in this maiden turf sprint, based on his solid third-place comeback in his first start as a gelding. The race had only four starters, but the second- and fourth-place finishers returned to win. Arrakis offers minimal value here at 2-1.

An upset candidate listed at 8-1 is second-time starter #6 Reno. He trained exceptionally well into his debut, chased while wide, and backed up. He worked better than he ran, and the switch to turf for his second start could wake him up. He certainly is bred for turf, sired by Collected and from a dam that produced turf stakes winners Cariba and Cairo Memories. Expectations are Reno will outrun his morning line. He is the second preference, and worth backing at the price. Betting strategy is a win bet on Reno, and $10 play in the exacta ($1 min) that insists Reno finish first or second.

A pair of 6-1 shots are appealing in this maiden race for Cal-bred 2yos. #4 Sagunto has worked well, shown speed, and is well-regarded. He is a Cal-bred with a Kentucky pedigree: sired by Nyquist, and produced by a Street Boss mare.

#5 Southern Melodee did not break well in his debut, then was merely schooled while splitting the field. He came back to work well from the gate on June 25, and is sure to improve with a clean start. First-time starter #3 Sammy Davis has trained well for a hot stable. As for program favorite #2 Arkadelphia, he is a pass. His second start was not that great, runner-up by more than six lengths. If he wins, that means Sagunto, Southern Melodee and Sammy Davis are not as good as perceived. #1 Benny and the Jet is another firster who has worked well.

Betting strategy is a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min) keyed around the aforementioned 6-1 longshots. This race also is the first leg of the middle pick four (50-cent); a $36 shotgun play is offered.

Program favorite #2 Tight Squeeze is obvious in this N1X turf sprint; she crushed a Cal-bred N1X last out at six furlongs, and has enough speed to be involved early shortening to five furlongs. The upset candidate is #1 Comeback Girl, who benefitted by a slow pace wiring maidens last out. But she is lightly raced, and who’s to say she will not be as effective from off the pace? She was purchased last season for $250k and might be a good filly.

Betting strategy focuses on the 8-1 outsider whose price allows additional risk. It's a win bet on the longshot, and a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min) that includes top choice Tight Squeeze.

#6 Cherry Cider and #2 Super Corredora are highly regarded 2yo fillies expected to fire big. Both have trained well, are highly regarded, and bred to win early. They also are the two favorites in the program. An under-under-the-radar firster commands respect.

#3 Counterbalance has worked well, the stallion Caravaggio gets 20 percent debut winners from 2yos according to Formulator, and firsters trained by Michael McCarthy routinely outrun their odds. With all due to respect to top choices Cherry Cider and Super Corredora, the odds discrepancy on 12-1 Counterbalance mandates a play. Betting strategy is a win bet on Counterbalance and a $10 play in the exacta ($1 min) that keys the longshot with the two favorites, and also a well-regarded first-time starter #7 La Wally.

This restricted stakes at a mile on turf looks wide open. It’s the right spot for Grade 1 dropper #11 Endlessly, whose development stalled after he finished ninth in the 2024 Kentucky Derby This is the third start back for Endlessly. If he is going to be a top older turf horse, he’ll show it here. He was compromised by the race shape last out at Saratoga.

#7 Bran makes sense stretching out from solid runner-up finishes in turf sprints at Santa Anita. Bran can run long, third in this race in 2022 and an allowance route winner here last summer. Bran has a pressing style, and a cozy inside post. An upset contender is Grade 1-placed #6 Zio Jo, listed 8-1 and dropping out of a much tougher race.

As for program favorite #3 Beyond Brilliant, it’s a pass. He might be the best horse in the field, but he is 7yos and has not started since November 2022. Think he might need one? Betting strategy is simple. It's a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min) that boxes Endlessly, Bran and Zio Jo.

#2 No Joke Antares finished a better-than-looked third in his debut, and gets top billing at a generous 6-1 in the program. His debut was better than it looks. No Joke Antares was not quick, took kickback racing inside, finished with run and galloped out in front of the field. The downside Saturday is he runs back at the same five-furlong distance, which typically favors speed. No Joke Antares might have more gas than he showed first out.

Second preference is #3 Max Ciao, who broke slowly in his debut, hit traffic and was steadied slightly and shuffled into the turn, then finished evenly. He adds blinkers for his second start, and should improve with a clean trip. Program favorite #1 Thirsty Rebel has worked fast for his debut; runners trained by Craig Lewis rarely works as fast as Thirsty Rebel.

A longshot lurks. He is #6 John Metcalfe, who has worked well since his sixth-place debut and adds blinkers. He also is trained by Lewis, whose maidens typically improve with racing. Betting strategy is a win bet on the longshot Lewis trainee and a $14 play in the exacta ($1 min) that mostly boxes a trio of second-time starters.

Program favorite #5 Thought Process is likely to extend the parade of chalk in this Grade 2 turf mile. Favorites won the San Clemente five of the last six years; Thought Process enters with key advantages. A multiple stakes winner last year and smashing comeback winner last month, she is among the fastest on figures, with a versatile style that can lead to a cozy trip just off the abundant speed. She has trained super since her return. Her odds may drop below her 8-5 program price.

Another factor that benefits Thought Process concerns her main rival who is second choice in the program. #1 Will Then is using this race only to prep for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks next month. Will Then only needs to be running late while making her first start in two and a half months. Thought Process will get the jump, and should win at low odds.

#4 As Catch Can might be worth fiddling with at 10-1; she is a cut below the best but well-suited by the mile distance and pace scenario. #7 Jungle Peace and #9 Silent Law figure to duel for the lead. It’s hard to see either sticking around late after an early duel.

Betting strategy centers on Thought Process, a short-price stickout and stand-alone single in a $36 play in the late pick three ($3 minimum). Del Mar added the 15-percent takeout late pick three to its menu this summer. The only other wager this race is a $10 play in the exacta that keys Thought Process over double-digit contenders #4 As Catch Can and pick-up-the-pieces late-runner #8 Firenze Flavor.

This N1X dirt mile looks weak. #3 Concord Bridge is on a roll seeking his third straight but facing significantly tougher Program favorite #1 Tiz Secure was gelded since his last start, his speed figures are okay for this class level though he is facing older for the first time. #8 Indispensable loves the Del Mar track and can improve off his comeback.

An upset candidate is #6 Tranche, listed 12-1 with speed figures as good as any and an up-front style that suits the typical Del Mar profile for a mile on dirt. Tranche is not the most probable winner, but he is worth backing at double-digit odds. Win bet, and a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min).

Hopefully the late pick three is "live" going into the finale, which is a N1X scramble for turf filies and mares. #4 She’s a Joker is a Del Mar horse for course and already in top form; #7 Quick Brown Fox stretches out from a respectable third-place sprint on the hill and will contest the pace. #11 Roselee May shortens to her preferred mile trip after a good third racing a mile and one eighth. No bets.