Hammersly: How I'd play Del Mar for Saturday, July 18

Every once in a while there’s a horse on a particular card on which you can key your day. The horse has all sorts of positives for said race, but it’s also the placement of his race on the card and the attractiveness of others racing against him that allow him to be your linchpin for numerous multi-race and in-race wagers. We may have such a situation Saturday at Del Mar with ERNEST SHACKLETON in race 6.

Despite some short fields on the card, the placement of his race provides some opportunities.

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First, the in-race appeal. ERNEST SHACKLETON tried three straight stakes this past winter and spring and while not disgraced he found those waters too deep. Trainer Doug O’Neill dropped him in for a $50,000 tag at Santa Anita on May 31, added blinkers, and got an immediate response. The 3-year-old Ernest Shackleton stalked the pace, surged to grab the lead in midstretch, only to finish second, beaten a nose. Still, it showed there were no ill effects from his stakes activity, that he was back on track, and that they seemed to have found his proper level.

That was his sixth race in five months, however, so O’Neill opted to give him some time. Well, he has now had a month and a half off and returns in this mile turf event for a $40,000 tag.

Exotically speaking, he can be used on top of TRIFECTA, ROCKIN ROBIN, and HIGHWAY BOSS, all with proven turf form. If you’re not as convinced about Ernest Shackleton, then you can also play him underneath those three in exactas.

From a multi-race standpoint he gives you a base from which to work for three pick threes.

In the first of those (races 4-6), use MIDNIGHT STORM and FINNEGANS WAKE in race 4, and spread with QUALITY CHIMES, SAILOR’S CRY, KENNY’S GIRL, and SWEET MZ. POPPET in race 5 before keying Ernest Shackleton in race 6.

In the second pick three (races 5-7), use the same horses in races 5 and 6, and then in the inscrutable race 7, which is loaded with firsters, GAVIN STREETSENSE, GO LONG, IRISH, and KNUST can be used.

Finally, in the third pick three (races 6-8), we can again key Ernest Shackleton in race 6 (though with legs of the previous two pick threes already run this is also the chance to help him here, maybe also using TRIFECTA and ROCKIN ROBIN) and the aforementioned four maidens in race 7. Race 8, however, is a complete scramble. Of the 12 in the body of the race (there are two also-eligibles) it’s not a reach to say eight of them have a legitimate shot to win.

So, a big spread there seems in play (and may mean you have to swallow hard and single Ernest Shackleton in race 6): ELEKTRUM, THEATRE STAR, AGUAFRIA, ISTANFORD, FAMOUS ALICE (my top pick), NASHOBA’S GOLD, and GAS TOTAL should have you covered. If you’re alive to this leg you should be feeling pretty good.

Again, when you can find a horse you like, such as what ERNEST SHACKLETON represents here for me, if you’re correct it can lead to one horse providing multiple-winning tickets.