Free: How I'd Play Del Mar on Sunday, July 27

DEL MAR, Calif. – My wagering action Sunday at Del Mar will be fashioned around a low-odds standout, and a bomber to sneak into the verticals.

Two other entrants initially looked attractive, but no more. They were entered in turf races (5 and 9). Those races have been moved to the main track after a series of fatal breakdowns on the Del Mar turf.

Scratches will reduce the number of runners in the turf races. The odds will drop. Rock Me Baby runs on anything, and if he starts at close to his original 5-1 morning line in race 5, he is worth a play. His odds are likely to be shorter. I expect it to be a “pass” race.

Sistas Stroll was intriguing in race 9. She is a Midwest shipper facing winners after a sharp maiden turf win at Churchill Downs. She was 8-1, and worth a play at a couple ticks less. That is not expected with the surface change and likely scratches.

That leaves two, both on the main track.

Race-7 favorite Make the Sun Shine ran well in her Churchill Downs debut. The 2-year-old filly finished second, has worked well since, and meets modest foes. The good maidens ran last Sunday. Make the Sun Shine should move up a ton with a race under her belt.

Trainer Mark Casse still has not won at the meet, but his horses are firing. Make the Sun Shine worked a solid five furlongs at Del Mar eight days ago. Her main rival, Starlet O’Hara, made her debut at Los Alamitos.

The Los Alamitos meet was short on quality. The best maidens did not run there. Starlet O’Hara might have won her special weight with a clean start, but the gut feeling is she is less than special-weight quality. She is 3-1, and a toss.

Make the Sun Shine will be my key in horizontal wagers. It happens to be the first leg of the late pick four.

Race-8 longshot Indexical is the crazy to hit the board at 30-1. He is overmatched in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby. He also was overmatched last time, and finished third in the Grade 1 Triple Bend.

Indexical’s speed figures are moving forward, he won at Del Mar a year ago, and gets a weight break. Indexical is my key to hit the board in the trifecta or exacta. I will not knock favorites Goldencents and Declassify.

That’s it – Make the Sun Shine at a short price in race 7, and Indexical to hit the board at long odds in race 8.