The temporary cancellation of turf racing at Del Mar means pure Polytrack for at least the next week. Track officials announced Friday that turf racing will not resume until Aug. 9 at the earliest. The change affects three races Saturday that were scheduled for turf. It also lessens the appeal of the card, and the meet. Turf races historically account for 30 percent of the Del Mar program.
It’s not every day that you can play a pick four that includes three Grade 1s – though the opening leg, the Vanderbilt, race 8, looks like a Grade 1 in name only.
While the nightcap is fairly puzzling, a couple of races leading into it might make the late pick three appealing, as you can likely take a stand in races 7 and 8, potentially putting a smile on your face as you get a two-day hiatus and crank up for next week’s action.
Puntrooskie (8-5) mounted a breath-taking wide rally to take the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes by five lengths with a 99 Beyer Speed Figure on April 20. There hasn’t been an appropriate Polytrack sprint for him since then until this second-level optional claimer, and it will be interesting to see if he can prevail after ending up fifth in back-to-back stakes.
: DRF handicapper Matt Bernier takes a closer look at juveniles running at Del Mar.
There are three guaranteed pools on the 11-race Whitney Day card: a $250,000 pick five on races 1-5; a $250,000 pick six on races 6-11; and a $750,000 all-stakes late pick four on races 8-11 – the Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Test, Whitney Handicap, and the Lure.
DRF Plus graded stakes analysis for the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar by Michael Hammersly.
The first horse who really caught my eye on Saturday’s card is Loufoque in the fourth race. This filly is making her first start off a 9 1/2-month layoff, but she’s been very solid in her first two career starts, and she’ll be getting Lasix for the first time.
DRF handicapper Matt Bernier takes a closer look at juveniles running at Del Mar.
BreezeFigs Quick-Pix for Saturday, August 2 by Bob Fierro and Jay Kilgore.
