Del Mar Oaks Attracts A Fine Field
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey are responsible for leading contenders Kitten's Dumplings and Emotional Kitten in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks.
Kitten's Dumplings is arguably the best three-year-old turf filly in America. A stakes winner at two, the Mike Maker-trained bay will bring a three-race win streak in the 1 1/8 mile turf affair, easily taking the Edgewood and Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs before posting a half-length decision in the Grade 2 Lake George at Saratoga on July 24. She loses Joel Rosario, who will be at Arlington for the International Festival of Racing, but picks up the services of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith for her Southern California debut.
Emotional Kitten does not possess the credentials of her uncoupled stablemate, recording her first stakes win in the May 17 Hilltop at Pimlico two starts back, but stamped herself as one to watch when shipping out west for the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 13, recording a half-length second to Emollient. Conditioned by Wesley Ward, the chestnut remained in California and has posted three works on Del Mar's turf in preparation. Victor Espinoza will retain the assignment.
Discreet Marq invades from the East Coast for trainer Christophe Clement. A front-running winner of the Grade 2 Sands Point two start back, the gray filly exits a 6 1/4-length romp over state-bred foes in the July 4 Eventail at Belmont Park. She figures to show speed from post 2 with new rider Julien Leparoux.
An overflow field of 11, including an also-eligible, were entered for the Del Mar Oaks, and the top two finishers from the local prep, the Grade 2 San Clemente on July 21, will both return. Wishing Gate made a successful graded stakes debut last time for Tom Proctor, drawing away to a near two-length decision, and Garrett Gomez will replace an out-of-town Gary Stevens in the saddle. San Clemente runner-up Unusual Way brings early speed to the equation and Northern California legend Russell Baze retains the mount.
Honeymoon winner Sarach exits a decent fourth in the American Oaks and merits respect if she starts for Richard Mandella. She is cross-entered to Friday's Sandy Blue along with Miesque winner Charlie Em, who finished fourth in the San Clemente most recently for Paddy Gallagher. Need You Know will step back up to the graded level following a comfortable victory in the July 7 Le Cle, and Hollywood Oaks winner Doinghardtimeagain switches back to turf following a disappointing fourth as the odds-on favorite versus California-breds in the seven-furlong Fleet Treat on Del Mar's Polytrack.
Pearlside, who was named champion two-year-old filly in Spain last year, is scheduled to make her U.S. debut for new trainer Darrell Vienna. She exits a second in the Group 3 Chloe on June 30 at Chantilly, France. French stakes winner Ighraa could also make her first start stateside if she draws in from the also-eligible list.
The $150,000 Rancho Bernardo H. (G3), a dash on the main oval for fillies and mares, is the top draw on Sunday.
Del Mar Summer 2013 Wagering
One of the most popular selections at the track – the Pick Six – will be presented once more with guaranteed pools on all racing days. The bet, which requires that fans pick the winners of the last six races on the day’s card and often results in large payoffs, will have a guaranteed pool of $125,000 on weekdays and $250,000 on weekends.
As it also has for the past two years, the track additionally will offer guaranteed pools on its Pick Four bet, requiring the selection of the winners for the day’s final four events. The guaranteed pool for this .50¢-minimum wager is $250,000 on weekdays and $500,000 on weekends.
A bet that was instituted in 2011 – the .50¢ Player’s Pick Five – continues on the betting menu again this season. The wager requires picking the winners of the day’s first five races and will be available at a minimum price of .50¢. It carries the additional advantage of having a takeout of only 14%.
The full array of Del Mar bets is as follows: $2 win, place and show; $1 Exacta; $2 Quinella; $1 Trifecta; $2 rolling Double; $1 rolling Pick Three; $1 Superfecta (.10¢ minimum); $1 Place Pick All; $1 Super High Five; $2 Pick Six; .50¢ Player’s Pick Five, and .50¢ Pick Four.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club 2013 Summer Meet
Del Mar Racing Dates: July 17 through September 4
Del Mar Racing Schedule - Del Mar will conduct a 37-day meeting, racing on a Wednesday through Sunday basis up until Wednesday, September 4. There will be one additional day added to the seven-week schedule – a holiday program on Labor Day Monday, September 2.
Del Mar Post Times: First post on most days will be at 2pm PT with the exception of Fridays when cards start at 4pm PT.
Del Mar Handicapping with Brisnet.com
Those planning to play Del Mar all season should check out Brisnet.com/summer for savings plans on Ultimate PPs, Daily Selections, and ALL-Ways data files. Buy any of the summer racing packages and receive Track Stats free!
New for 2013 at Del Mar is Bruno De Julio's Bruno With The Works product with horse-by-horse workout notes plus full-card analysis with spot plays and long shots.
Andy Harrington's National Turf Clocker Report is indispensable especially for the contentious maiden races popular where the Turf Meets the Surf, and Bob Selvin's Fair Odds Analysis delivers daily value.
Whether you play every day or any day, though, Brisnet.com has the information you need to cash in big.
Del Mar Free Race Replays
TwinSpires.com brings you free live online horse racing and race replays from Del Mar and all you favorite tracks. Just type in what you want in our race replay library, click and four years of horse racing history comes to life. The same super quality audio and video resolution you see on our live feeds, captured for you to watch over and over again.
Bet on racing at Del Mar and all your favorite tracks for free right here on TwinSpires.com!