Hammersly: Del Mar pick three play for Sunday, Aug. 31

Some big fields to close out the card, coupled with the fact that by this point on the card some of your playing colleagues will be ‘chasing’, trying to stop the bleeding from earlier wagering injuries on the day, translate to a potential decent payoff in the day’s final pick three (races 9-11).

Race 9 – ENTERPRISING (5) is the West’s best, and two big wins over this course this meet show he loves it here. His versatility gives his rider options, and that’s no small matter on turf. FLAMBOYANT (7) beat Enterprising when they met earlier this year at Santa Anita and comes off a very nice third in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby when he chased Mr. Speaker, likely New York’s top turf 3-year-old, and Adelaide, a top-class Irish horse who next won the Grade 1 Secretariat.

AVENTADOR (6) faced top competition in France and invades off a stakes win there, while HOME RUN KITTEN (1) was just a neck behind Flamboyant and 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Enterprising in the aforementioned La Puente before posting two straight wins at Santa Anita, including a stakes win.

A’s: 5, 7
B’s: 1, 6
C’s: None

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Race 10 – PEPPER SWEET (4) made a threatening move in a $12,500 sprint here Aug. 21 before flattening out. He drops another notch, moves to a route, gets blinkers, and lures leading rider Rafael Bejarano. HAWK’S EYE (7) was a dazzling winner here opening day at this level (by 10 lengths), and anything close to a repeat of that effort likely means everyone else is running for second.

FRIENDLY BANTER (9) continues his sharp form, having won four of his last five, while BIG WAGS (3) is capable of popping up with a big effort when in the mood, and his recent so-so form means he’ll be a price. GOLD MEDALLION (1) comes off a game win for $8,000 and gets an encouraging value bump.

A’s: 4, 7
B’s: 3, 9
C’s: 1

Race 11 – HALLJOY (7) was good enough in England last year to earn a couple group engagements and in fact ran third in a Group 3. She’s run just once this year – March 1 in England – but at least it was a good run (second, beaten a neck). She’s been working well, and that March run shows she can fire fresh.

BIJOUX (10) flashed turf talent in her debut down the hill at Santa Anita last October and after nine months off came back to be a decent fifth routing here July 19. She can benefit from that run. SEE THROUGH (6) came back after seven months to be a good second in a turf sprint May 26 at Santa Anita. There’s another layoff, yes, but that May 26 run shows she can fire fresh.

CHARM CATCHER (5) was gone more than 11 months and came back to be a very nice third (moved up to second via disqualification) on this course Aug. 14. Another forward move puts her in the mix, while NIGHTTIMING (11) showed turf talent back east in the winter-spring and comes off a good second in her first local try on the main track Aug. 2.

A’s: 7
B’s: 6, 10
C’s: 5, 11