GamePlan for August 20, 2022: Picks for Del Mar Oaks, Smart N Fancy, Soaring Free

The Alabama for 3-year-old dirt fillies at Saratoga is the marquee race this Saturday, but on the other side of the country, the Del Mar Oaks, for 3-year-old turf fillies, offers a better wagering opportunity. I tried to beat Nest with Secret Oath in the Coaching Club American Oaks last month and am not eager to do that again. Instead, the focus is the Del Mar Oaks, another among the three Saratoga stakes, and a race north of the border.

Del Mar Oaks

Spendarella’s favoritism here is absolutely justified. I thought her Keeneland win in April, which I was lucky enough to see in person, was better than the bare margin of victory, and her loss in England came to the most talented 3-year-old filly in Europe, Inspiral.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Still, Spendarella ships cross-country, faces her toughest American test at a distance farther than she’s ever run, and gets stuck in an outside post with other speed in the race – all this at a very short price. The filly might overcome it all but there is merit in playing against her.

Second-choice Cairo Memories returns to California after a pace-and-fade trip against a stronger Belmont group, top to bottom, than this. She’s already had a demanding campaign, could wind up part of a solid pace, and has little upside on the day.

Txope is the mystery horse. She has form lines through some very good horses, sure, but Spendarella’s second in the Coronation is the best European race any horse in this field has put forth.

Ballet Dancing, who might be set for the race of her life at a very nice price, received due consideration, but Bellabel, who either is third or fourth choice, gets my action in the Del Mar Oaks.

The Irish import looks to me like the key player who can take a considerable step forward Saturday. She won the San Clemente last month while eased up, displaying athleticism and a nice turn of foot, and can work into a mid-pack stalking trip here while saving ground from post 2. Her sire’s progeny’s average winning distance is just short of this nine-furlong trip, and one of her two siblings to race could handle 1 1/2 miles, meaning the stretch-out here could be more positive than negative.

Smart N Fancy

It would be amusing if Robin Sparkles just went out and scored a second straight wire-to-wire Saratoga turf-sprint stakes win – amusing, but not impossible. The two horses most likely to pressure her on the lead, Fouette and Sarah Harper, never have even raced on turf. Still, I’m guessing Robin Sparkles doesn’t repeat her Caress Stakes upset and I will take the Caress’s third-place finisher, Lady Edith, to win this.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

Lady Edith is one of a handful of 4-year-olds in the Smart N Fancy and makes her third start after a long layoff and a trainer change to Christophe Clement. She has ample room to improve. Lady Edith’s two 2022 races each came with some measure of trouble, and she likely has more positional pace than she showed in the Caress. Clement told DRF’s David Grening that Lady Edith hit her head on the starting gate as the field was sent on their way, and Lady Edith, by top turf-sprint sire Street Boss, had to pick her way through stretch traffic while finishing fastest in the Caress. Her stablemate Miss J McKay had a tougher Caress trip than did Lady Edith but is one year older and far more exposed.

Soaring Free

Philip My Dear is the play to start his career 2 for 2 by winning the Soaring Free over 6 1/2 furlongs on the Woodbine turf course. The colt is 6-1 on the morning line, and even if he gets bet down to some extent, he should be at least in the 7-2 range.

Like many here, Philip My Dear has raced only once, and his debut was excellent. Breaking from post 1 and stuck on the rail inside horses going down the backstretch and around the turn, Philip My Dear kept his composure and stayed on the bridle until his rider could maneuver and find some room. Philip My Dear accelerated through two tight holes while turning in what easily was that maiden race’s fastest final furlong to win going away. His trainer, Kevin Attard, over the last five years has gone 12-2-4-1 with second-time-starting 2-year-olds in stakes races.