Free: How I'd play Del Mar for Saturday, July 25
The low-odds standouts Saturday at Del Mar include favorites Sheer Pleasure in the race-3 Fleet Treat Stakes, and Bayern in the race-8 San Diego Handicap.
Race-9 favorite Micks Miracle could be added to the “slam-dunk” category; he looks tough to beat in the first-level allowance sprint.
Meanwhile, upset candidates lurk in surrounding maiden races.
While neither is a “standout,” there are reasons both could outrun their odds. The colt Exaggerator makes the second start of his career in race 6; he is listed at 6-1. The filly Perdona switches surfaces and distance in race 10; she is listed at 5-1. The plan is to key both maidens.
Exaggerator, a 2-year-old colt by Curlin, ran better than it looks in his debut early last month at five furlongs. He took up early and was shuffled to last, raced evenly, and split the field. He ran like a colt that wants distance. He gets it Saturday, six furlongs in race 6.
Maidens trained by Keith Desormeaux tend to improve with racing, and with his pedigree and a race under his belt, second-start maiden Exaggerator should move up a ton.
Perdona, a 3-year-old filly by Blame, was compromised in both starts. She had trouble in her debut, and second out engaged in a kamikaze speed duel before she backed up. She stretches to a route Saturday, with turf influence in her female family.
Exaggerator in race 6 and Perdona in race 10 are the prime overlays Saturday at Del Mar. They are the keys on a card that includes potential slam dunks Sheer Pleasure, Bayern, and Micks Miracle in races 3, 8 and 9.