Free: Pick three play for Del Mar for Sunday, Aug. 24

DEL MAR, Calif. – In multirace wagers, there are different strategies for “spread races.” One approach is to buy the entire field – “all” – and hope for a longshot. Rather than hope, a different approach is to insist. It only works when one is able to catch a chaotic result.

That might be the case in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Pat O’Brien, race 9. The favorite is Fed Biz, a closer buried on the rail. The second favorite is Goldencents, whose only win in his last nine starts was bias-aided. Big Macher ran super in a six-furlong race off a layoff; it is unsure if he will run two alike stretching to seven furlongs.

If the O’Brien favorites are vulnerable, and if expectations are that the race 10 Pacific Classic will be predictable, a simple pick three can be fashioned on races 8-10.

The idea is to beat the favorites in the O’Brien and “get live” to the second choice in the Pacific Classic.

Race 8

Fillies and mares race a mile on turf in this first-level allowance. Five-deep is enough: JADE WITH ENVY (No. 2), BURNING ARCH (No. 4), MALIBU HONEY (No. 6), BURNS TURN (No. 8), and BARUTA (No 10).

Race 9

This race will insist on chaos by excluding the favorites. Instead, the ticket will use four outsiders: SILENTIO (No. 3), SYNDICATED (No. 4), COLOR OF COURAGE (No. 6), and INDEXICAL (No. 8). If one of the favorites wins, the pick three is dead.

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Race 10
A likely slow pace in the Pacific Classic benefits GAME ON DUDE (No. 5), the second choice.

It’s an easy play, outlined below.

($1 pick 3; races 8-10)
Race 8: Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Race 9: Nos. 3, 4, 6, 8
Race 10: No. 5
Ticket cost = $20