Free: Del Mar pick three play for Saturday, Aug. 15

DEL MAR, Calif. – Santiago Gonzalez could have a big Saturday at Del Mar. He rides Del Mar Oaks favorite Prize Exhibit in race 8, and the most likely winners of races 7 and 9. Neither is favored.

Gonzalez entered the week fifth in the Del Mar jockey standings. His Saturday mounts are keys to “all-single” daily double and pick 3 plays in races 7-9.

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Race 7

The 2-year-old Cal-bred filly MILES SISTER (8) finished a promising third in her debut, but bombed second out. Maybe the five-furlong distance was too short. Maybe she just had a bad day. Either way, the sister to stakes winner Miles Rules merits another chance.

Miles Sister adds blinkers, worked twice since she raced, and stretches out to five and a half furlongs against a modest field of statebred maidens. Mile Sister is listed at 7-2.

Race 8

PRIZE EXHIBIT (6) seeks her third straight, and first Grade 1, in the Del Mar Oaks. A fussy filly that can be difficult to ride, she is 2 for 2 under Gonzalez. Her last-out San Clemente victory was overpowering against four of the seven rivals she meets in the Oaks.

Prize Exhibit looks like the most probable winner on the card, as the 5-2 favorite.

Race 9

DISTINCTIVE B (8) is much improved. He won his maiden-20 comeback by more than eight lengths, and reproduced the effort next out, winning a starter allowance with another good number (90 Beyer).

Up in class to N1X while seeking his third straight, Distinctive B has had nearly six weeks between starts. His odds are likely to drop from this program price of 5-1.

The bets

$4 daily double

Races 7-8: Miles Rules to Prize Exhibit

$2 pick three

Races 7-9: Miles Rules to Prize Exhibit to Distinctive B

$4 daily double (no bet if Miles Rules wins race 7)

Races 8-9: Prize Exhibit to Distinctive B