Let’s take a look at the late pick three from Del Mar on Saturday.

RACE  7

The linchpin for this wager lies in race 7, the featured Red Smith, in which the likely favorite BIG BLUE KITTEN appears a solid single, giving you a chance to spread in the other three legs to find your price.

The difficult aspect to this card is there doesn’t appear to be a linchpin to serve as a foundation for your multi-race wagers. So it may be a case of taking the day as it comes and taking what the card gives you early, which can help bankroll your plays later on the card.

Sometimes it jumps out on the page, and that’s what happened last week when we saw Two Step Temper was making his debut at Gulfstream West and we let you know what we thought.  What we didn’t think was that he would pay only $9.40, but a win is a win even though he was quite green in getting there.

BOLO
Trainer: Carla Gaines
Last race: Nov. 7, 5th
Finish: 5th by 2 1/4
Beyer: 65
A 2-year-old first-time starter by Temple City, this colt was in this maiden turf route strictly for education. No speed, raced at the back, finished with run. This was a terrific debut, nine days after he dumped his rider and scratched in the post parade.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wednesday’s ninth race at Churchill Downs is more than the richest race of the day at the track. To these eyes, it also offers the best wagering opportunity.

With fifth- and fourth-place finishes in her last two starts clouding her form, the price should be square on NAPLES GOLD (#4, 4-1), who is a move-up candidate with the return to the Churchill Downs turf, where she has consistently run her best races. She won a maiden race last fall and was second to the talented Bitty Kitty in June.

The pick six was not hit Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, resulting in a triple carryover of $227,192 as the new week begins Wednesday.

Five of the 10 horses in Monday’s final race were covered, but not longshot winner Miss Motivation, who took a tight decision from Flirtatious Spring, one of the covered horses.

When the top jockeys have reasons to work hard during the waning days of a meet when the weather is cold and the races are generally cheap, then one should closely scrutinize all their mounts. The battle for leading rider is being hotly contested between Luis Contreras and Patrick Husbands, and it might not be decided until closing day, Dec. 7.

Saturday, Nov. 8

Aqueduct - Long Island (race 7)

COMMENT:  Aigue Marine got the money in her third try in this race. Off since a lackluster fifth in the Grade 3 Glens Falls at Saratoga Aug.31, she stalked the pace while saving ground, remained on the fence throughout, moved up to challenge turning for home, came off the rail to go around tiring pacesetter Invading Humor, went back to the fence and kept on gamely to edge past the favorite, Euro raider Danza Cavallo.  She’s off to Europe now to be bred. Danza Cavallo, making her first start in the U.S.

Bettors looking to play Monday’s pick five will have to get through four consecutive maiden races in order to get to the cash-out leg, a $50,000 starter allowance scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf.

Alice and Trixie may be a standalone single for many in race 1, despite having been sidelined for seven months. Among the seven $16,000 maiden claiming fillies, she is the only one to have surpassed a 40 Beyer Speed Figure on dirt.