Hammersly: How I'd play Del Mar on Sunday, July 26
Well, we tried utilizing a key horse last weekend as our linchpin for numerous multi-race and in-race wagers, but when the storms came, that race was washed off the turf, and our key horse scratched.
A week later, however, there appears to be a similar opportunity, this time with ROCK ME BABY in the California Dreamin’ Handicap (race 8).
The main appeal of a horse like this is that if you’re right, you can not only cash a win bet, but you may hit the exacta, tri, super and any number of pick threes, maybe even the pick four or pick six. That’s how pivotal one horse on the card can be.
You can’t force it, however. These situations don’t arise all that often. However, as noted, we may have one here with ROCK ME BABY.
The 6-year-old has had ample success in this race regardless of surface. He was a sharp second (beaten just a head) in this race on turf in 2013, then a romping winner on dirt here last year when the race was moved off the turf after some early-meet problems with the surface.
This edition almost certainly will stay on the sod, and that’s just fine for this guy. After a respectable fourth in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 4, he got a nice long break. He came back firing, finishing full of run to win the Albany, a five-furlong stakes on the Golden Gate Fields turf June 13. Sprinting isn’t even his best game, but he powered home to beat a nice bunch, looking as good as ever. That race should set him up perfectly for a top effort here at a distance that surely figures more to his liking. Oh, and there are four nice works since, including two bullets.
He can be the key horse in the exactas over POSHSKY, AMBITIOUS BREW, LUCKY J LANE, PATRIOTS RULE and AWESOME RETURN. A $1 trifecta play with ROCK ME on top of those five is just $20.
That race being situated in race 8 gives you plenty of multi-race options as well. In the pick threes, for example, he can be your key in the final leg of the races 7-9 pick three. That may be crucial as race 7 is full of firsters, so you can see how they look in the paddock and on the track and absorb what’s happening on the tote before deciding where to go. Surely with so many firsters, spreading is likely, but again, you don’t need to make up your mind on this difficult first leg until you see the horses and the betting action.
At first glance in race 7, the likes of GONE TO BALI, ANNIE’S CURLS, TREASURING and JADE PRINCESS are promising firsters, while TIZ A TOMMY TOWN is the one with proven good form after finishing a fine second in her debut at Santa Anita on June 18. She dueled and ended up more than six lengths clear of third.
These also are the first two legs of the pick four, and you can utilize the same info for a play there.
Race 9 is a tough maiden race where you likely have to spread for this final leg of the races 7-9 pick three as well, but at least you have some experienced runners like ALAMO and ROSICKY to use along with promising firsters like WAYMOND BOYD, POWER OF HOPE, and MAGIC MOON.
A pick four play for me would encompass spreading in race 7, keying ROCK ME BABY in race 8, and spreading again in race 9. In the final leg, race 10, you can winnow down your ticket some. SPIRIT OF TEN looked smashing in winning at Santa Anita last month; Q’ VIVA is a proven commodity who is a must-use as she continues her good form; TEEMEKU has worked smartly for her return from a lengthy layoff after a smashing maiden win on this course last fall; THERMODYNAMICS figures to enjoy returning to turf, her best surface; and DIAMOND CUT comes here in peak form as it appears she’s figured things out.