Free: How I'll play Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 26

DEL MAR, Calif. – There is plenty of racing entertainment on Saturday, even before Del Mar’s first race at 2 p.m. Pacific.

It will be fun to watch the California-based Songbird crush the Personal Ensign at Saratoga (race 6, 2:23 p.m. Eastern). Songbird is 2-5 in a small field, and value is nonexistent. But it will be fun to watch, no wagers necessary.

It’s tough to say who will win the Ballerina at Saratoga (race 7, 2:59). The race lost a lot when Finley’sluckycharm defected. Paulassilverlining is in the driver’s seat at 2-1 (no value), as she heads toward a Breeders’ Cup showdown with the California-based Skye Diamonds in the Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar. November advantage: home team.

Coal Front is fast and the most likely winner of the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at Saratoga (race 8, 3:35). He would be worth a wager at his program odds of 4-1, but I suspect his odds will drop. Anything less than 7-2, pass. American Anthem is favored off his Belmont crusher on June 10, but the Bob Baffert express has slowed since then.

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Looking for Tommy Macho to get a piece of the Forego at Saratoga (race 9, 4:12). He is 8-1, which would be okay except that the California shipper Drefong figures to be loose on the lead. How about a one-way exacta, Drefong over Tommy Macho, just for the sake of action?

Money Multiplier at 7-2 in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga (race 10, 4:49) is an attractive low-odds overlay. He is a bet at 3-1. If Money Multiplier loses to the Europeans, then he is not the horse who this handicapper thought he was.

Finally, 2 p.m. Pacific first post at Del Mar. One key scratch – Danzing Candy is out of the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien (race 9).

Looks like three good races on which to wager Saturday at Del Mar.

Race 4
Unchanged (1) has more speed than she showed in her debut; with a race under her belt, the 2-year-old filly is worth a gamble at 12-1 on the morning line. First-time starter Exuberance (7) has trained well and may come out firing at 8-1. Can you bet two horses in the same race? Of course you can. Unchanged and Exuberance, win bets both, minimum odds 6-1.

Race 7
Gato Del Oro (4) is fast, lightly raced, working super, and can upset his accomplished rivals in this $100,000 ungraded stakes for 3-year-olds. Gato Del Oro is listed at 4-1. He is a play at 3-1, nothing less.

Race 9
Assuming that Gato Del Oro runs well in race 7, the horse who finished second to him last out should be tough in the Pat O’Brien. Giant Expectations (10) continues to improve, his figures are solid, and this field is shaky without Danzing Candy. Giant Expectations is a play at 4-1.

It’s a fun day of racing Saturday – simulcast action from Saratoga and live at Del Mar, where the play of the day is Gato Del Oro in race 7.