Brad Free's Del Mar Horses to Watch for the week of July 30-Aug. 2, 2026

COMPROMISE
Trainer: John Sadler
Last race: July 30, 1st
Finish: 1st by 2 3/4
Beyer: 33
Debut 2-year-old filly tucked third on rail in turf mile, angled out, ran past favorite Rosa’s Miracle, 23.51 final quarter. Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf contender notwithstanding low figure.

STAY IN LINE
Trainer: Steve Knapp
Last race: July 30, 2nd
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/2
Beyer: 67
Sprint mare set pace inside, hounded throughout, never got a breather, hung tough, weakened. Claimed by Knapp from George Papaprodromou for $25,000, fits in similar sprint with outside post.

ASTRONOMICALLY
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: July 30, 8th
Finish: 7th by 5 1/2
Beyer: 52
Irish-bred filly did not have visible excuse in maiden-claiming turf mile, just her second start in the U.S. Claimed for $50,000 by D’Amato from Paddy Gallagher, improvement likely next out.

:: Play to Win at Del Mar! Get DRF Past Performances, Expert Picks and Clocker Reports

VANTA
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: July 31, 3rd
Finish: 1st by 1 1/4
Beyer: 70
Debut 2-year-old filly lagged in turf sprint, saved ground, blocked quarter pole into stretch, shot through opening on rail in lane, drew off. Sharp debut by filly from first crop of Greatest Honour.

FORGOTTEN MEMORIES
Trainer: Craig Lewis
Last race: July 31, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 42
Second-start maiden-claiming mare off slow again, blocked and steadied quarter pole, angled wide, flew late, missed while tons best. Can make amends in Cal-bred maiden-claiming sprint.

OCEAN BEAR
Trainer: George Papaprodromou
Last race: July 31, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 1 1/4
Beyer: 79
Off nine months, stakes-winning Cal-bred ran well in statebred stakes. Lacked speed, rallied wide, narrowed gap behind front-running one-two finishers. Solid comeback by Ocean Bear.

SACRED SOUND
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Aug. 1, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 1
Beyer: 55
Maiden 4-year-old filly blocked into lane as favorite in Cal-bred maiden turf sprint, waited, found a seam, rallied too late. Likely winner with clean trip in next statebred maiden turf sprint.

PRINCESSES PHOEBE
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Last race: Aug. 1, 7th
Finish: 6th by 9
Beyer: 54
Second-time starter in maiden-50 turf mile void of speed, finished okay, split field in California debut. Marginal ability, but racing into condition and worth longshot look maiden-50 turf route.

THEBEACHISBACK
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Aug. 2, 2nd
Finish: 3rd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 56
Debut 2-year-old filly broke slowly, hustled backstretch and into turn, fanned five wide into the lane, finished willingly. This was a much better-than-looked career debut by Omaha Beach filly.

BLACK TIE OPTIONAL
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: Aug. 2, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 84
Debut 3-year-old colt off half-step slow, got bumped and bucked his hind legs, rushed forward to duel inside, hung tough through lane, missed. With a clean start next out, color him long gone.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.