Goulding: Del Mar pick three play for Sunday, Aug. 2

We’ll start the pick three with a no-brainer single in the $200,000 Real Good Deal in race 5. GIMME DA LUTE (6) is coming off back-to-back wins in graded races and shouldn’t have any trouble handling the cutback in distance to seven furlongs while facing Cal-breds. He appeared to like the new surface when he earned a bullet for his five-furlong move here July 27, and he should get a perfect trip breaking from the outside post in the six-horse field.

Just in case he doesn’t run his race, we’ll use GRAZEN LUTE (4) as a backup.

In race 6, CERVARO (6) and I’LL WRAP IT UP (9) are the logical horses. Cervaro is coming off two solid efforts on the Santa Anita turf course, and he will be making his first start since being claimed by trainer Mike Puype. According to DRF’s Formulator, over the past five years, Puype has a 24 percent strike rate with claimed horses coming back the first time. I’ll Wrap It Up owns the best Beyer Speed Figures on turf and has been right there in his last three starts at this level. I’ll also use SILVER TORCH (2) and ALL RUN (4).

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The final race in the sequence is a 2-year-old maiden special weight race in which anything can happen, but there are a couple of horses with great pedigrees that have been working well and come out of barns that can have them ready to roll first time out.

For the reasons mentioned above, my first choice is SEMPER FORTIS (8). Both trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez are on fire at the meet, and since 2012, they have teamed up to win at a 26 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds debuting in maiden special weight races. I also will use WHO’S OUT (9) as an “A.”

BLAMEITONTHELAW (3), GLOBAL EVENT (7), and SOUTH DETROIT (5) also will be part of the ticket.