Hammersly: Pick three play for Del Mar for Sunday, Aug. 3

While the nightcap is fairly puzzling, a couple of races leading into it might make the late pick three appealing, as you can likely take a stand in races 7 and 8, potentially putting a smile on your face as you get a two-day hiatus and crank up for next week’s action.

Race 7

A RED TIE DAY (#10) may have turned the corner for trainer Ron Ellis. He comes off two big turf wins but has handled synthetic decently before – and he’s a better horse now than he was then. Usually, once Ellis gets them on the right path, they stay there. SECRETSATMIDNIGHT (#1) set a brisk pace under pressure against similar at Santa Anita on June 19 and stayed on well to be a nice second. The guy who finished behind him in third (Big Cazanova) came back here the other day and won, setting a track record). He has ample tactical speed and the rail and boasts a strong 1:12.40 work July 26 at Los Alamitos to indicate he’s feeling spry. BLUE NOTE (#6) makes his first start in nine months but showed ample talent last year, and the way he’s working, he looks primed to fire first time back. LITTLE JERRY (#4) comes off a nice fourth on turf at this level here July 17, his first start in almost four months. He can benefit from that outing, and his two wins came on synthetic. It’s also nice to see Rafael Bejarano take the call.

A’s) 1, 10
B’s) 6
C’s) 4

Race 8

SKYWAY (#7) was third in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor on Churchill Downs dirt June 28 behind a couple of really promising boys. He returns to Polytrack, and it was on this footing at Keeneland in his debut April 5 that he was a smashing winner. He has pedigree, too (kin to three-time stakes winner and Grade 3 stakes-placed Ava K.). STORY TO TELL (#1) is a proven commodity, having run second in the Santa Anita Juvenile (to Wake Up Nick, who came back to win the Graduation Stakes here Wednesday) and proving a smart winner of the Willard Proctor on Los Alamitos dirt July 13. It’s his first time on synthetic, but he worked well here Tuesday. BAD READ SANCHEZ (#4) ran second to STORY TO TELL in the Proctor but wasn’t beaten far at all (1 1/4 lengths), and he was actually the 9-10 favorite, so he merits respect, while HENRY’S HOLIDAY (#6) won his debut smartly at Santa Anita on May 9 and, after a sluggish start, ran on well to be fourth in the Santa Anita Juvenile, just 1 1/2 lengths behind STORY TO TELL.

A’s) 1, 7
B’s) 4, 6
C’s) None

Race 9

ALAMO (#8) cost a pretty penny at auction ($600,000) and, after a sluggish start, ran on decently to be third in his debut at Santa Anita on June 29. With that under his belt, he might be ready to show what’s really under the hood. However, this is no easy spot, and it’s his first time racing on synthetic. HALL OF FAME (#4) also cost a bundle ($250,000), and the son of top sire Tapit has been freshened since running a strong second in a sprint at Santa Anita on June 14. WRIGHTWOOD (#1) posted two 90-plus Beyers in June to show he has talent. OPSEC (#2) was a sharp third (beaten only a neck) in his lone outing at Los Alamitos on July 5. The $220,000 son of multiple Grade 1 winner Pioneerof the Nile is kin to Quality Council (five wins, Grade 2 stakes-placed), Francois (11 wins, stakes winner), and Black Onyx (three wins, Grade 3 stakes winner, $418,000 earned). NOBLE BIRD (#5) was a sharp second (5 1/4 lengths clear of thirdd) on turf at this distance at Churchill Downs on June 7. Not only do turfers often revel on this main track, but he’s worked superbly here (bullet five furlongs in 58.40 seconds July 27). CLICKJAB (#6) flashed talent on turf at Santa Anita in his first two starts (ran third, fourth). He comes out of a strong heat (produced two next-out winners), and he worked splendidly here July 27 (bullet six furlongs in 1:11.40).

A’s) 4, 8
B’s) 1, 2, 5
C’s) 6