Del Mar Keys, B's and C's: July 20

DEL MAR PICK 3 (Races 4-6)

Races 4-6 Saturday at Del Mar offers pick-3 bettors an opportunity to leverage a favorite into something more than low win payoff.

Race 4 is a California-bred main-track route in which early favorite EAST SKY (#3, 5-2) looks tough to beat. He is “single” to begin a pick 3.

Race 5 is a minor turf stakes in which favorite UNUSUAL HOTTIE (#5, 5-2) and longshot shipper CLOSING RANGE (#4, 12-1) are “keys.” Marginal contenders to use on back-up tickets include I DAZZLE (#2, 5-1), TOP KISSER (#6, 3-1) and A TIME TO LOVE (#8, 20-1).

Race 6 is a 2-year-old maiden race. First-time starters SHAKAHARI (#7, 3-1) and GLOBAL VIEW (#5, 4-1) are "keys." Marginal contenders to include on back-up tickets are SOUTHERN FREEDOM (#2, 7-2) and GUNS LOADED (#3, 7-2).

-Brad Free

DEL MAR PICK 4 (Races 7-10)

RACE 7

Keys- Hail Mary, Imwiththeblonde

B- Ostourah

Do like IMWITHTHEBLONDE (#6, 8-1) best. She had a pair of fast races here last summer, but also respect HAIL MARY (#2, 5-2), the likely favorite for Mitchell/Leparoux.

RACE 8

Keys- Barocci, Sofast, Lucayan

Bs- Fed Biz, Middie

C- Cogito

In a race where I will leave out the Morning Line favorite, will use BAROCCI (#1, 9-2), who’s back in 15 days for Sadler; SOFAST (#2, 5-1), a French import who is facing what may be a sub-standard G1; and #9 LUCAYAN, all set for third start as a 4yo after suffering Euro bounce last time.

RACE 9

Keys- Joe Carl, Rock This Way, Chicsdigtheshark

B-Dunmore East

Cs- Sandys Diamond, Fair Dinkum

Will lean toward a pair going first off the claim, JOE CARL (#1, 3-1)(O’Neill) and #2 ROCK THIS WAY (Hess) and equally use CHICSDIGTHESHARK (#5-1), who’s stretching out to two turns and ran big in his lone two turn start this past winter.

RACE 10

Keys- Thrills and Chills, Chocolatier

Bs- Affirmed Arch, Riseseastsetswest

Cs- Dark Timbers, Neil Healy

Going to use six in here in some degree and leave out the 0 for 25 likely favorite. THRILLS AND CHILLS (#12, 6-1) is a 2nd time starter taking a drop for Ellis and CHOCOLATIER (#13, 5-1), dropping in from a pair of Maiden Special efforts but needing to draw in from the AEs.

- Chuck Kuehhas