Any maiden turf route in which the 5-2 program favorite is an underachieving 10-start maiden is interesting. #1 Nafisa may win someday, but her 10-race skid at low odds already includes four losses as the favorite. With eight in-the-money finishes, she’s great for the trifecta and exacta. Bottom only.

#5 Heads in Beds and #7 The Mizen Queen, listed 4-1 and 3-1, are preferred. Heads in Beds stretches out from a pair of third-place sprints for trainer Phil D’Amato, whose maiden turf stretch-outs have won at a 23 percent clip the past five years (24 for 105). The Mizen Queen had an uneasy trip in her U.S. debut, but she ran her final five-sixteenths in a quick :29.14 to finish second. Good try while making her first start since April. Betting strategy is a $36 play in the pick five (50-cent minimum) and $12 play in the double ($2 min). Both wagers will key the favorite in the second race.

Despite a class drop that might be considered suspicious, #4 Man Child stands out. He won a $20k claiming race, and enters back for $12.5k. Red flag? Maybe not. Man Child has earned $22k since he was claimed three starts back for $16k. It’s closing weekend of the summer meet, and his owners have a “free roll.” Man Child should win at a short price. All or nothing for the chalk.

Betting strategy is mostly for the sake of action. Hopefully the double from race 1 is cashing out. A $12 play in the exacta concedes the race to the favorite and insists a longshot run second. Prices underneath are #2 Raging Waters, a dropper listed 15-1; #5 Gypsy Tears, winner two back vs. similar and listed 8-1; and #6 My Man Bags, second start back and also listed 8-1.

This maiden turf mile looks wide open. #2 St Petersburg drops from Grade 3 to maiden, with speed to make the lead if he wants. #6 Honey’s Choice is a first-time starter from a top stable; #10 Here’s Some More adds blinkers, goes dirt to turf, and sprint to route.,

The price play might not even start. #13 Medici is stuck on the also-eligible list; he finished last in his debut on dirt.  But his Aug. 27 workout was terrific according to the Daily Racing Form Clocker Report, and he is bred for grass. Medici was produced by Grade 1 turf winner Avenge. All her progeny prefer turf.

Medici adds blinkers, and though he would break from the far outside, he is quick enough to establish a forward position without losing excessive ground. Medici is listed 12-1 and worth backing if the draws into the field. Betting strategy is a win bet on Medici, and a $12 play in the exacta that combines Medici with the logical contenders. If scratches do not cooperate and Medici does not draw in, then no bets.

The 76 Beyer Speed Figure that #9 Revera earned first out is fast enough to win most maiden races. If she runs two alike, Revera should win. Funny thing is, she’s not even the program favorite. First-time starter #7 Sounds Lucky is listed 5-2 off good works. But the proven filly is Revera, listed 3-1.

A longshot worth tinkering with is #1 Mimi’s Memory, who has worked well and reportedly has speed. Betting strategy is a win bet on Revera and a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min) that tosses the program favorite due to low odds and includes three prices underneath – Mimi’s Memory, blinkers-on #2 Kizazi and first-time starter #5 Wild Like the West.

This turf mile for maiden-claiming fillies and mares is a scramble. #3 Rehearsal dropped to maiden-claiming last out and finished a respectable second in the seventh start of her career. She is getting closer. #9 Inner Fury can improve second start back; she figures to set or press the pace in a turf mile likely to unfold at a soft tempo. #1 Aleramo is first-time maiden-claiming, first-time Lasix, Betting strategy is mainly for the sake of action. It’s a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min) that boxes the top three choices.

#1 Explora probably will win the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante as favorite, based on her runaway debut. She ran fast (88 Beyer) and is quick enough to make the lead from the inside post in the Debutante.  Explora is 8-5 and could drop from there. #2 Himika, 2-1, is two-for-two including the G3 Sorrento; Bottle of Rouge, 5-1, beat maidens by more than eight. The three shortest prices are all trained by Bob Baffert.

But a pair of debut winners offer value. They are #6 La Wally, listed 10-1, and #7 Bourbon and Ginger, 8-1. La Wally earned a mere 62 Beyer in her debut, but that was only five furlongs. She benefits by the stretch-out to seven furlongs, and has worked exceptionally well since raced. La Wally should take a big step forward rallying from off the pace. Same with Bourbon and Ginger, who earned a 69 first out and trained well since. From the outside post, she can press the pace racing in the clear. Betting strategy will key La Wally and Bourbon and Ginger. It’s a win bet on both, and $30 play in the exacta ($1 min).

Late-runner #11 Yours Sincerely and front-runner #1 La Ville Lumiere top the $100k Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. If anyone else wins, we’re out of luck. Yours Sincerely rallied from last to win her U.S. debut at a mile on turf. If she runs two alike, she can mow them down.

La Ville Lumiere is running long for the first time; she has worked with company in the morning and is more than a one-dimensional speedball. But she might be the pace of the race and possibly long gone based on her springtime sprints. Betting strategy is a $10 play in the exacta ($1 min) that insists the race be won by Yours Sincerely or La Ville Lumiere. The underneath runners include a handful of prices. A $20 play in the trifecta (50-cent min) follows the same blueprint – a win by one of the contenders and the trifecta filled by prices.

#2 Lyell’s Song is favored at 5-2 in this N1X dirt mile based on back-to-back races with upper-90s Beyers. But he has a touch of hang to him. The value this race is second preference #5 Speedy Wilson, who has won three in a row since last fall including a sharp recent comeback in a Cal-bred sprint stakes. Speedy Wilson is bred to run long; his stakes win was validated when runner-up Shea Brennan won his next start. Even though Lyell’s Song is top choice, the discrepancy in odds makes 6-1 shot Speedy Wilson the bet. It’s a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min).

It will be a surprise if #4 Medoro gets beat in this Grade 2 turf route for fillies and mares. Her comeback victory early this summer in a restricted stakes was super. She ran a mile on turf in 1:34.88 and smoked her final quarter in :22.70. Two fillies she defeated won stakes next out. Not only is Medoro the sharpest in this field, she might also be the speed. This race came up entirely void of pace. Medoro could fall into the lead and race wire to wire. Betting strategy is a win bet on Medoro and $36 play in the late pick three ($3 min) that singles the standout favorite.

#5 Titanic Thompson was compromised by a tough trip last out; #1 Brunchandcrunch overcame another “off slow” takeoff to win a fast maiden race. Those two are the principals in a Cal-bred sprint with linmited appeal other than the curious underlay price of 5-2 on #6 Catmansue. He is not impossible, but he is not particularly fast. Betting strategy is a $12 play in the exacta ($1 min) that keys Titanic Thompson and Brunchandcrunch over Catmansue and #7 Minister Shane.

Another wide-open turf race with a legit contender at double-digit odds. Although #7 Word Play is the top choice seeking her third straight and listed 3-1, a mare two stalls to her inside is the play.

#5 Starts Now, listed 10-1, is fast enough. She finished second at this level last out. The fact she has not raced in four months is a non-issue. Richard Baltas-trained comebackers often are ready to roll, and Word Play has a pressing style that should play well in a race without much pace. Due to the odds discrepancy, second preference Starts Now is the key.

Betting strategy is a win bet on Starts Now, $10 play in the exacta ($1 min) that insists Starts Now finish first or second, and $20k play in the trifecta (50-cent min) that keys Starts Now to finish first or second.