King: Del Mar pick three play for Monday, Sept. 7

I love one horse in particular on Monday’s Labor Day card at Del Mar: TIRPITZ (7) in race 3. He is returning to a turf sprint after showing speed and fading when stretched out to two turns in his only other start this meet.

So my strategy for betting the race is to play him to win and to single him in the middle leg of a pick three, while going three to five horses deep in the other legs with the aim of catching a price and knocking out some bettors.

:: See Byron King’s pick three play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets

Race 2, a $16,000 nonwinners-of-two claimer,is pretty competitive, though I think that one of three horses will win: BOOMPA (3), PRODIGIOUS (4), or FANCY SHOES (7). I don’t particularly like one more than the others, but feel pretty comfortable using this trio to get by this first leg.

Race 3 and TIRPITZ (7) follow next. In looking at his two races going down the hill at Santa Anita in grass sprints, it’s clear Tirpitz is a major player. And his morning-line odds are appealing at 6-1.

BIG MACHER (12) is expected to go favored in race 4, as the class of a small stakes, but he hasn't raced since March in Dubai. I will use him and four others. If he needs a race, there could be some blow-up price potential to this race.

CHERUBIMpick three Pick 3.

The ticket

This pick three will be a simple one, using every horse equally in $1 demoninations. Ticket cost is $15 using the $1 minimum.