The later races on the final Saturday of the Belmont meet appear extremely tough, so I’ll pick my spots early by pairing up a race 2 single with the two favorites in the Saginaw (race 3) and spreading elsewhere in trying to nail a caveman-style pick five.
Sunset Glow has raced in Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and at Royal Ascot, but it’s in California where she has had the most success, and trainer Wesley Ward is hoping a return to Del Mar will help her improve on form below what he’d have expected, “considering what she accomplished last year,” he said. Sunset Glow won both the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes and Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last summer, both on Polytrack. On Sunday, she makes her first start on Del Mar’s turf in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Stakes, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.
DRF handicapper Michael Hammersly provides his best plays on Saturday's card at Del Mar.
Wise Dan, the two-time Horse of the Year, had his first breeze since recovering from an ankle injury when going a half-mile in 48.20 seconds Friday over a firm turf course at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
The catalog for the July 25 Paddock Sale at Del Mar of race-ready horses has been posted online, according to the company holding the sale.
Less than a year after a life-threatening bout with colitis, Her Emmynency was back in action, and a winner, in an optional-claimer June 20 at Arlington Park. The victory has led to a start in Sunday’s $100,000 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar.
Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes winner Are You Kidding Me will look to continue his strong start to the season when he gets back on turf for Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Nijinsky Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on the Woodbine turf course.
Tracker will have to work harder if he is going to win his second straight race when he runs in a first-level optional $25,000 claiming race Sunday at Hastings.
An interesting assortment of filly-mare sprinters will square off in the lone allowance race Sunday at Gulfstream Park, and bettors might well have a difficult time settling on a favorite.
Trainer Stephen Dunn saddles Help the Children (#4, ML 15-1) in Friday's seventh race at Indiana Grand, the five-furlong Brandywine Stakes on turf. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Dunn is winning at a 48 percent clip in turf races, for a return on investment of $5.16. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
