Free: How I'd Play Del Mar for Saturday, Aug. 6

New shooters arrive at Del Mar on Saturday. A well-bred filly makes her career debut, and an inconspicuous European shipper makes his U.S. debut. Both are prime plays.

First-time starter Lady Pamela debuts in race 6, a maiden sprint for fillies and mares. The imported Burgers and Fries is entered in race 9, the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf. There are reasons to wager on both.

Race 6

Seen enough of program favorite Tryst? Odds-on in all three starts, runner-up in all three starts. Her speed figures – Beyers from 79 to 81 – would be fast enough to win a $50,000 maiden-claiming race. But her pedigree precludes her from ever running for a claim tag.

Tryst is by Candy Ride, out of the productive broodmare Carson Jen. That makes Tryst a sibling to Grade 1 winner A Z Warrior, Grade 2 winner Jojo Warrior, Grade 3 winner E Z Warrior, and multiple ungraded stakes winner J Z Warrior.

Because of her pedigree and residual value as a future broodmare, Tryst is not likely to run for a claim tag anytime soon, even if a special-weights win has been slightly out of reach. Yes, of course Tryst could win Saturday. But three odds-on losses suggest she is more likely to finish second. Furthermore, 4-year-old maidens are not particularly reliable.

First-time starter Lady Pamela is only 3, with workouts that suggest she will fire for trainer Cliff Sise. “Her last two works have been really, really good,” Sise said. “She was just breezing.”

Kent Desormeaux has worked Lady Pamela, and will ride her Saturday.

Considering her pedigree, it was expected Lady Pamela would have ability. She was sired by Tapit and produced by Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Life Is Sweet.

Owned and bred by Marty and Pam (“Pamela”) Wygod, first-time starter Lady Pamela should come out running as 7-2 second choice. Sise believes eventually she will prefer two turns. In the meantime, 6 1/2 furlongs is far enough on Saturday.

Race 9

The knock on the top La Jolla contenders is price. Monster Bea is 5-2; Moonlight Drive is 3-1. Both ran well finishing one-two in the Oceanside Stakes on opening day. It’s easy to see why they are the favorites.

Monster Bea won impressively, by more than two lengths, less than a week after arriving from Kentucky. But will he run two alike after training for a month in California heat? Or will he regress off a career-best effort? Wouldn’t you want more than 5-2 for the answers?

As for Moonlight Drive, trainer Bob Baffert hinted prior to the Oceanside he might need a prep race returning from a five-month layoff. Sure enough, Moonlight Drive ran like a short horse. He made the lead at the top of the stretch then was unable to sustain his rally. The La Jolla is his second start back, at 3-1. That price is actually okay.

But the odds are far more attractive for Burger and Fries, an import from France making his U.S. debut in the La Jolla.

Burger and Fries was stakes-placed overseas prior to being sold and shipped. He commenced his local workout pattern in June for his new California owners and new trainer, Paddy Gallagher. He will add Lasix for his U.S. debut.

Gallagher does not fire every time with new imports, but he does orchestrate an occasional upset. Charlie Em popped at $21.40 in a Grade 3 in 2013; Practising won as the favorite in a maiden special weight in 2014; Flamboyant paid $15 winning a minor stakes, also in 2014.

The point is, Gallagher imports can fire. He is 3 for 16 with imports since spring 2013, producing a flat-bet profit thanks to the double-digit winners.

Burger and Fries might not be good enough to win the La Jolla. But 12-1 is too attractive to pass.

Lady Pamela in race 6 and Burger and Fries in race 9 are the prime plays Saturday at Del Mar.