Goulding: How I’ll play Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019
Both pick fours at Del Mar are tough sequences, with highly competitive races throughout. I am going to focus on the early one. Outlaw (8) should win Race 4, so I will build a ticket around him.
RACE 2: Contention runs deep in this maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds and up. First-time starters PEYTONS PATH (4) STABLE GENIUS (7) and JUSTINIAN (8) all look live. MUSIC TO MY EARS (1) shouldn’t mind the move back to dirt. Ditto for TRUCK SALESMAN (6) who also figures to move forward in his second start back. ONE NATION (11) will be rolling late and could be sitting on a big effort in just his third start and second on dirt.
1,4,6,7,8,11
RACE 3: Another tough event with no obvious favorite in this five-furlong dash on turf. FANTASY FEAT (1) looked good winning a $20K optional claimer for California-breds and should get a similar trip. FIRST SCREENING (3) is trending in a positive direction and is coming off a solid effort in his first try on grass. MISCHIFFIE (4) likes the local course and seems capable of handling the jump following a sharp win in a maiden special weight race. VELVET QUEEN (6) posted rapid fractions in her last two routes and being a sprint winner shouldn’t mind the cutback in distance. MISS HOT LEGS (7) just missed after dueling the whole way in the same race First Screening exits.
1,3,4,6,7
RACE 4: Toss Outlaw’s his race on turf two back and you are looking at three straight solid races. He was the runner-up at this level in his latest, and the 78 Beyer Speed Figure he received stands out. He also drew a nice post, where he should get a clean trip from a forward position.
8
Race 5: Another scramble. FEDERAL CASE (3) has been facing tougher in New York but will be running on turf for the first time. RED ISLAND (4) has speed and could be dangerous wearing blinkers for the first time. CRYSTAL TRIBE (7) is a two-time winner in Great Britain and has worked well for trainer Jeff Mullins who is having a strong meet. EAGLE SONG (8) finished with a rush sprinting and is back with 3-year-olds only. OCEAN FURY (10) is stepping up in class, but he owns the best last-race Beyer for turf, and being lightly raced he could have some upside. CARNIVVOROUS (11) won at this level Aug. 11 and has worked well in the interim.
3,4,7,8,10,11
Here’s the ticket: 1,4,6,7,8,11 with 1,3,4,6,7 with 8 with 3,4,7,8,10,11.
The cost of a 50-cent ticket is $90.