Brad Free's Del Mar play of the day for Aug. 25, 2018

Catalina Cruiser is the best horse running Saturday at Del Mar and is favored to win race 7, the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes. Catalina Cruiser, 3 for 3, is the low-odds key in the first leg of a play-of-the-day pick-three wager. We’ll single Catalina Cruiser and use four runners in the middle leg and three in the finale. Bet size: $1. Ticket cost: $12.

Race 7

Catalina Cruiser looks formidable, more so if main rivals Ransom the Moon and Roy H scratch, as expected. That would make Catalina Cruiser the odds-on favorite, with a front-running style that should play well in a field without much pace. He is a single.

Pick: Catalina Cruiser (1)

Race 8

Many contenders in this turf sprint, first-level allowance/optional claiming. The likely pacesetter, Smiling Angelo, is favored despite never having raced on turf. He will be kept company by front-runner Circus Act; late runners Cats Blame and My Heart Awakens provide come-from-behind coverage. We’ll use both front-runners and both closers.

Picks: Cats Blame (4), Smiling Angelo (6), My Heart Awakens (8), and Circus Act (9)

Race 9

Two logical contenders and one longshot anchor the pick-three ticket. Trainer Doug O’Neill entered come-from-behind favorite Taniko and pace presser Kona Coast. The longshot is Plum Dandy, taking a subtle class drop from $12,500 claiming open to $20,000 claiming, non-winners of three. We’ll use all three.

Picks: Kona Coast (1), Plum Dandy (4), and Taniko (6)

The play: $1 pick three, races 7-9
(ticket cost: $12)
1 with 4, 6, 8, 9 with 1, 4, 6

:: Bet this play with DRF Bets.