Del Mar > Betting Guide
Starting Wednesday, July 18 and concluding on Monday, September 3, the Del Mar Turf Club summer meet holds a wealth of racing and wagering action. With only a few years under it’s belt since switching back to dirt, and with the Breeders’ Cup being run there last fall, there are many reasons to keep a close eye on the races, but even more reasons to keep your wallett closer to the betting opportunities that will develop.
Download this FREE betting tool from TwinSpires.com, which provides the lay of the land for the 2018 Del Mar Race Meet.
Del Mar Summer Meet Betting Overview
One of my favorite parts of the racing year is upon us as the 2018 Del Mar summer meeting commences on Wednesday July 18th.
The stakes calendar as always is loaded from start to finish with the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes serving as the traditional Opening Day feature and the Grade 2 $300,000 Del Mar Futurity headlining the final card of the meeting on Labor Day.
The first weekend of summer stakes action is led by the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, which saw one of the biggest upsets in California racing history last year when 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate was handily defeated by Accelerate at odds of 1 to 20. The prep for the one-million-dollar Pacific Classic should draw another solid group looking to get a race over the track before competing in the premier event of the meeting.
A pair of Grade 1 events should make the last weekend of July a great couple of days “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.” The Bing Crosby Stakes almost always attracts some of the best sprinters on the West Coast. Jockey Flavien Prat has won the last three renditions, including last year’s event aboard Ransom the Moon after 2016 Twin Spires Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Drefong ducked in and lost Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. The Clement L. Hirsch has been won by the likes of Zenyatta, Beholder and Stellar Wind over the past decade and seems like a logical next spot for 2017 Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella.
The Grade 2 Sorrento on August 5th and the Grade 2 Best Pal on August 11th are the first open company two-year-old graded stakes races of the meet. Some top connections over the years have opted to skip these events and focus their attention on the Grade 1 events on closing weekend. Others though use these $200,000 six-furlong dashes as springboards to the Labor Day weekend headliners.
Saturday August 18th is undoubtedly the biggest day of the meeting with the Pacific Classic headlining a card that also features two other graded stakes races. “Big ‘Cap” and Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Accelerate is being pointed to this year’s Classic after tiring late and finishing third in last year’s event. Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap victor Pavel is also a possibility six weeks out.
The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for three-year-old fillies also is part of the Pacific Classic Day card and is always one of my favorite races of the meet. The mile and an eighth affair contested over the sod has consistently drawn competitive full fields and attracted top females from top barns across the nation.
Labor Day weekend is always massive in San Diego County and this year should be no different. The Saturday afternoon card features the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante won in 2017 by last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies favorite, Moonshine Memories, as well as the Grade 2 John C. Mabee run at nine furlongs over the beautiful Jimmy Durante Turf Course. The Grade 2 Del Mar Derby headlines the Sunday card.
The aforementioned Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity concludes the meet’s graded stakes action. The seven-furlong affair was won in 2014 by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and in 2015 by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. It should once again offer horseplayers an early look at some of the most talented young colts out west.
I cannot wait for Opening Day!
Del Mar Summer Meet Stakes Schedule 2018
| Date | Race | Grade | Purse | Restrictions | Surface | Distance |
| Wednesday, July 18 | Oceanside Stakes | $100,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Friday, July 20 | Osunitas Stakes | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Saturday, July 21 | San Diego Handicap | Gr. II | $200,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sunday, July 21 | San Clemente Handicap | Gr. II | $200,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 Mile |
| Sunday, July 22 | Eddie Read Stakes | Gr. II | $250,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sunday, July 22 | Wickerr Stakes | $75,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Wednesday, July 25 | Cougar II Handicap | Gr. III | $100,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/2 Miles |
| Friday, July 27 | Real Good Deal Stakes | $150,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, July 28 | Bing Crosby Stakes | Gr. I | $300,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
| Saturday, July 28 | California Dreamin’ Stakes | $150,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Sunday, July 29 | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Gr. I | $300,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sunday, July 29 | Fleet Treat Stakes | $150,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
| Wednesday, Aug 1 | CTBA Stakes | $100,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Friday, Aug 3 | Daisycutter Handicap | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 5 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, Aug 4 | Yellow Ribbon Handicap | Gr. II | $200,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Saturday, Aug 4 | Graduation Stakes | $100,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Sunday, Aug 5 | Sorrento Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Sun. Aug 5 | La Jolla Handicap | Gr. III | $150,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Friday, Aug 10 | Solana Beach Stakes | $150,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Saturday, Aug 11 | Best Pal Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Sunday, Aug 12 | Rancho Bernardo Handicap | Gr. III | $100,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Wednesday, Aug 15 | CTT and TOC Handicap | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 3/8 Miles | |
| Friday, Aug 17 | Green Flash Handicap | $75,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 5 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, Aug 18 | Pacific Classic | Gr. I | $1,000,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/4 Miles |
| Saturday, Aug 18 | Del Mar Oaks | Gr. I | $300,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Saturday, Aug 18 | Del Mar Handicap | Gr. II | $250,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 3/8 Miles |
| Sunday, Aug 19 | Del Mar Mile | Gr. II | $200,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 Mile |
| Wednesday, Aug 22 | Harry F. Brubaker Stakes | $75,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Friday, Aug 24 | Tranquility Lake Stakes | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Saturday, Aug 25 | Pat O’Brien Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Saturday, Aug 25 | Shared Belief Stakes | $100,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Sunday, Aug 26 | Torrey Pines Stakes | Gr. III | $100,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 1 Mile |
| Wednesday, Aug 29 | Generous Portion Stakes | $100,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
| Friday, Aug 31 | I’m Smokin Stakes | $100,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, Sept 1 | Del Mar Debutante | Gr. I | $300,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Saturday, Sept 1 | John C. Mabee Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sunday, Sept 2 | Del Mar Derby | Gr. II | $250,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sunday, Sept 2 | Del Mar Juvenile Turf | $100,000 | 2YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Monday, Sept 3 | Del Mar Futurity | Gr. I | $300,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Monday, Sept 3 | Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf | $100,000 | F2YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Monday, Sept 3 | C.E.R.F. Stakes | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
Handicapping Del Mar With BRIS All-Ways Data
by Ed DeRosa, originally posted in 2017
If there’s one race type you want to pay attention to this summer at Del Mar when using Brisnet.com Past Performances, let it be turf sprints.
Unfortunately, turf sprints have made up less than 10% of all races since 2012, so a half dozen such races per week seems to be the absolute max, but the proprietary data found in Brisnet PPs such as Speed Ratings and Prime Power performs well in these types of races, so you should make the most of these opportunities.
Since 2012, there have been 119 turf sprints at Del Mar. The top-ranked horse by last-out Speed Rating has won “only” 28% of those races, but the return on investment is a robust +22.5%. Another positive ROI category among the top-ranked horses is Quirin Points, which supports handicapper Scott Shapiro’s thought that when in doubt in these turf sprints, take the horse who’s likely to make the lead. The top-ranked Quirin horse wins “only” 27% of the time, but the ROI is an even more robust 46.5%.
Prime Power is better for landing on standouts than action plays. The top-ranked horse by Prime Power in turf sprints wins just 23% of the time and is overbet with an ROI of -17%. However, when the edge is at least 7 points the win percentage balloons to 32% with a +1% ROI.
The big Prime Power gaps are powerful across all race types. In dirt sprints, it’s 54% winners when the gap is at least seven, however, the ROI is -2%. This is beating the wagering public, but it does mean these horses get crushed. Better as singles in multi-race wagers than win candidates.
Dirt and turf routes fare better in the ROI category with more than 50% winners AND a positive ROI with a gap of at least 6 points.
In 2,131 races at Del Mar since 2012, the best last-out Brisnet.com Speed Rating has won 25% while the top Prime Power is at 26%. These numbers suggest that favorites could be more vulnerable here than at most tracks. Of course, they win their fair share, but if a horse is close in ability to the favorite, it appears more lucrative to take the longer price.
You can find All-Ways data products here.
Del Mar Race Meet Statistics and Information for Handicapping
A look at the previous full Del Mar meet: November 1, 2017 through November 26, 2017
AVG. WINNING ODDS: 6.17 – 1
FAVORITE WIN%: 38% FAVORITE ITM%: 70%
| EXOTICS | PAYOFF |
| Quinella | 42.82 |
| Exacta | 101.36 |
| Daily Double | 135.52 |
| Trifecta | 826.55 |
| Pick 3 | 1,974.09 |
| Superfecta | 6,435.00 |
| Pick 6 | 103,135.47 |
| Pick 4 | 64,684.16 |
| Pick 5 | 27,680.31 |
| Place Pick All | 5,764.83 |
| Super High Five | 24,667.39 |
TRACK BIAS MEET (11/01 – 11/26)
| Distance | # Race | % Wire | Best Style | Best Posts |
| 6.0fDirt | 22 | 32% | E/P | Rail/Ins |
| 6.5fDirt | 13 | 54% | E | Outside |
| 1 MileDirt | 16 | 44% | E | Outside |
| 1 1/8mDirt | 2 | 0% | E/P | Middle |
| Turf Sprint | 13 | 31% | P | Middle |
| Turf Routes | 51 | 10% | P | Rail |
TRACK BIAS WEEK (11/20 – 11/26)
| Distance | # Race | % Wire | Best Style | Best Posts |
| 6.0fDirt | 7 | 29% | E/P | Rail |
| 6.5fDirt | 5 | 40% | P | Outside |
| 1 MileDirt | 3 | 67% | E | Inside |
| 1 1/8mDirt | 1 | 0% | E/P | Middle |
| Turf Sprint | 1 | 0% | P | Middle |
| Turf Routes | 15 | 20% | E | Rail/Ins |
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT
| HOT TRAINERS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show | Avg. Odds | Winning Favorites | ‘16-’17 Win % |
| Miyadi Steven | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8.56 | 1 | 17% |
| Brown Chad C. | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.98 | 1 | 25% |
| Kruljac J. Eric | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4.6 | 2 | 15% |
| HOT JOCKEYS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show | Avg. Odds | Winning Favorites | ‘16-’17 Win % |
| Smith Mike E. | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4.44 | 0 | 20% |
| COLD TRAINERS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show | Avg. Odds | Beaten Favorites | ‘16-’17 Win % |
| Glatt Mark | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10.35 | 1 | 17% |
| COLD JOCKEYS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show | Avg. Odds | Beaten Favorites | ‘16-’17 Win % |
| Desormeaux Kent J. | 19 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7.35 | 4 | 19% |
| Stevens Gary L. | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14.5 | 3 | 14% |
Top Jockeys and Top Trainers of the Past 3 Years, as of 2017
| DEL MAR JOCKEYS 2016 |
| JOCKEY STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD WIN % EARNINGS |
| 1. Rafael Bejarano 175 38 34 23 22% $2,545,394 |
| 2. Flavien Prat 215 38 32 29 18% $2,431,351 |
| 3. Santiago Gonzalez 221 31 34 21 14% $1,508,387 |
| 4. Kent Desormeaux 145 25 28 21 17% $1,702,510 |
| 5. Tyler Baze 195 23 25 35 12% $1,442,848 |
| 6. Norberto Arroyo Jr. 127 19 13 17 15% $1,038,782 |
| 7. Stewart Elliott 109 17 10 9 16% $652,590 |
| 8. Victor Espinoza 79 15 10 12 19% $1,641,910 |
| 9. Tiago Pereira 104 13 12 10 13% $664,490 |
| 10. Gary Stevens 68 11 8 2 16% $1,004,431 |
| DEL MAR TRAINERS 2016 |
| JOCKEY STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD WIN % EARNINGS |
| 1. Phil D’Amato 108 23 14 13 21% $1,503,154 |
| 2. Peter Miller 115 21 16 16 18% $1,069,206 |
| 3. Richard Baltas 94 20 18 11 21% $1,223,188 |
| 4. Bob Baffert 77 19 17 8 25% $1,691,775 |
| 5. Doug O’Neill 135 11 18 24 8% $894,438 |
| 6. John Sadler 62 11 8 11 18% $810,080 |
| 7. Mark Glatt 60 11 11 10 18% $478,581 |
| 8. James Cassidy 53 10 4 8 19% $525,319 |
| 9. Michael Machowsky 24 9 0 3 38% $279,122 |
| 10. Richard Mandella 33 7 6 1 21% $779,592 |
| DEL MAR JOCKEYS 2015 |
| JOCKEY STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD WIN % EARNINGS |
| 1. Rafael Bejarano 223 39 42 30 17% $2,470,590 |
| 2. Flavien Prat 194 30 29 26 15% $2,222,694 |
| 3. Joe Talamo 196 27 18 16 14% $1,603,448 |
| 4. Tyler Baze 216 26 28 32 12% $1,727,242 |
| 5. Mario Gutierrez 143 26 16 14 18% $1,614,256 |
| 6. Santiago Gonzalez 183 23 18 24 13% $1,366,186 |
| 7. Kent Desormeaux 108 21 13 14 19% $1,147,144 |
| 8. Martin Garcia 142 18 15 17 13% $1,310,580 |
| 9. Corey Nakatani 89 16 11 4 18% $768,816 |
| 10. Tiago Pereira 109 14 9 8 13% $600,510 |
| DEL MAR TRAINERS 2015 |
| JOCKEY STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD WIN % EARNINGS |
| 1. Jerry Hollendorfer 104 22 12 15 21% $1,535,072 |
| 2. Peter Miller 141 20 22 17 14% $1,375,276 |
| 3. Doug O’Neill 110 17 21 13 15% $1,521,300 |
| 4. Richard Baltas 79 17 6 14 22% $932,956 |
| 5. Phil D’Amato 91 14 13 12 15% $1,055,582 |
| 6. Bob Baffert 66 13 13 8 20% $1,083,920 |
| 7. Mike Puype 79 12 4 10 15% $671,302 |
| 8. John Sadler 60 11 6 6 18% $645,734 |
| 9. Bob Hess 59 11 4 10 19% $395,842 |
| 10. Richard Mandella 42 8 6 9 19% $1,588,626 |
| DEL MAR JOCKEYS 2014 |
| JOCKEY STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD WIN % EARNINGS |
| 1. Rafael Bejarano 196 42 33 30 21% $2,629,022 |
| 2. Kent Desormeaux 174 32 31 25 18% $2,256,606 |
| 3. Elvis Trujillo 199 30 24 30 15% $1,848,932 |
| 4. Mike Smith 122 27 13 14 22% $2,773,584 |
| 5. Tyler Baze 212 21 27 25 10% $1,697,990 |
| 6. Drayden Van Dyke 181 20 24 23 11% $1,151,268 |
| 7. Victor Espinoza 133 19 14 17 14% $1,787,076 |
| 8. Joe Talamo 212 19 27 25 9% $1,751,994 |
| 9. Fernando Perez 152 17 12 11 11% $859,302 |
| 10. Corey Nakatani 88 15 7 13 17% $1,269,114 |
| DEL MAR TRAINERS 2014 |
| JOCKEY STARTS 1ST 2ND 3RD WIN % EARNINGS |
| 1. Jerry Hollendorfer 96 20 20 11 21% $1,996,986 |
| 2. Peter Miller 132 20 15 19 15% $1,153,054 |
| 3. John Sadler 112 17 11 19 15% $1,231,918 |
| 4. Doug O’Neill 134 16 19 21 12% $1,312,766 |
| 5. Bob Hess 62 15 9 7 24% $595,560 |
| 6. Bob Baffert 71 12 9 8 17% $1,116,490 |
| 7. Phil D’Amato 71 11 5 14 15% $987,970 |
| 8. Vann Belvoir 47 9 3 3 19% $233,040 |
| 9. Mark Glatt 63 8 13 10 13% $666,152 |
| 10. Richard Baltas 52 8 7 4 15% $549,192 |
Juvenile Stars Come Out at Del Mar
by James Scully, originally published in 2017
Del Mar is known for 2-year-old racing, with juvenile champions American Pharoah, Songbird, Nyquist and Champagne Room competing at the seaside oval during the last three summer sessions, and the 2017 meet holds added significance with the Breeders’ Cup making its first appearance at the track this fall.
Many exciting prospects will be unveiled over the next seven weeks and a pair of centerpiece events, the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on September 4 and Del Mar Debutante (G1) two days earlier, are offered at the conclusion of the meet.
Here is a preview of 2-year-olds with racing experience who may be pointing toward Del Mar, listed by trainer:
Bob Baffert
No race is more deserving of Bob Baffert’s namesake than the Del Mar Futurity. The Hall of Fame trainer has posted a remarkable 13 wins in the important 7-furlong test, including victories by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah and Hall of Famer Silver Charm, and he has 35 horses nominated to the
2017 edition. Along with 24 nominees to the Debutante, Baffert could have more than 50 2-year-olds in action at Del Mar. Here are a few prominent runners who have started:
Doug O’Neill
Both of Doug O’Neill’s Kentucky Derby winners, I’ll Have Another and Nyquist, raced at Del Mar as juveniles and accomplished conditioner is expected to feature another deep roster of 2-year-olds this year.
Simon Callaghan
Michael Machowsky
Alfredo Marquez
Peter Miller
Kristin Mulhall
Gary Sherlock
Eddie Truman
Past Del Mar Betting Information
Del Mar Bing Crosby Meet Stakes Schedule 2017
| Date | Race | Grade | Purse | Restrictions | Surface | Distance |
| Wednesday, Jul 19 | Oceanside Stakes | $100,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Friday, Jul 21 | Osunitas Stakes | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Saturday, Jul 22 | San Diego Handicap | Gr. II | $300,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Saturday, Jul 22 | Eddie Read Stakes | Gr. II | $250,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sun. Jul. 23 | San Clemente Handicap | Gr. II | $200,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 Mile |
| Sun. Jul. 23 | Wickerr Stakes | $75,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Wed. Jul. 26 | Cougar II Handicap | Gr. III | $100,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/2 Miles |
| Fri. Jul. 28 | Real Good Deal Stakes | $150,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
| Sat. Jul. 29 | Bing Crosby Stakes | Gr. I | $300,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs |
| Sat. Jul. 29 | California Dreamin’ Stakes | $150,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Sun. Jul. 30 | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Gr. I | $300,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sun. Jul. 30 | Fleet Treat Stakes | $150,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | |
| Wed. Aug. 2 | CTBA Stakes | $100,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Fri. Aug. 4 | Daisycutter Handicap | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 5 Furlongs | |
| Sat. Aug. 5 | Sorrento Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Sat. Aug. 5 | Yellow Ribbon Handicap | Gr. II | $200,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sun. Aug. 6 | La Jolla Handicap | Gr. III | $150,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Sunday, Aug 6 | Graduation Stakes | $100,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Friday, Aug 11 | Solana Beach Stakes | $150,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Saturday, Aug 12 | Best Pal Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Sunday, Aug 13 | Rancho Bernardo Handicap | Gr. III | $100,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Wednesday, Aug 16 | CTT and TOC Handicap | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 3/8 Miles | |
| Friday, Aug 18 | Green Flash Handicap | $75,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 5 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, Aug 19 | Pacific Classic | Gr. I | $1,000,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 1/4 Miles |
| Saturday, Aug 19 | Del Mar Oaks | Gr. I | $300,000 | F3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Saturday, Aug 19 | Del Mar Handicap | Gr. II | $250,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 3/8 Miles |
| Sunday, Aug 20 | Del Mar Mile | Gr. II | $200,000 | 3&UP | Turf | 1 Mile |
| Wednesday, Aug 23 | Harry F. Brubaker Stakes | $75,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Friday, Aug 25 | Tranquility Lake Stakes | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Saturday, Aug 26 | Pat O’Brien Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | 3&UP | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Saturday, Aug 26 | Shared Belief Stakes | $100,000 | 3YO | Dirt | 1 Mile | |
| Sunday, Aug 27 | Torrey Pines Stakes | Gr. III | $100,000 | F3YO | Dirt | 1 Mile |
| Wednesday, Aug 30 | Generous Portion Stakes | $100,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
| Friday, Sep 1 | I’m Smokin Stakes | $100,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, Sep 2 | Del Mar Debutante | Gr. I | $300,000 | F2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Saturday, Sep 2 | John C. Mabee Stakes | Gr. II | $200,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sunday, Sep 3 | Del Mar Derby | Gr. II | $250,000 | 3YO | Turf | 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sunday, Sep 3 | Del Mar Juvenile Turf | $100,000 | 2YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Monday, Sep 4 | Del Mar Futurity | Gr. I | $300,000 | 2YO | Dirt | 7 Furlongs |
| Monday, Sep 4 | Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf | $100,000 | F2YO | Turf | 1 Mile | |
| Monday, Sep 4 | C.E.R.F. Stakes | $75,000 | F&M, 3&UP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | |
Graded Stakes Schedule Overview
by Alastair Bull, originally published in 2017
As well as being a great destination, Del Mar will host some of the country’s best horses. And with the seaside track hosting the Breeders’ Cup for the first time this year, the summer meet also gives potential Breeders’ Cup contenders extra experience for the most important racedays of the fall.
The season begins with a bang with the San Diego Handicap (G2). This race has been growing in stature, and last year it was won by California Chrome after a stirring battle with Dortmund. This year it is set to feature the return of the world’s highest-rated horse, Arrogate, who has won seven straight. The San Diego Handicap will be his first start since a stirring victory in the Dubai World Cup at the end of March. The San Diego Handicap is the most important lead-up to the richest and most prestigious race of the meet, the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at 1 1/4 miles. In the past two years it has been won by champions California Chrome and Beholder, and it is a likely target for Arrogate.
The first Grade I races at Del Mar come at the end of July. The six furlong Bing Crosby Stakes, one of California’s biggest sprints, is on Saturday and the next day features the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. One of California’s premier races for fillies and mares, the Clement L. Hirsch was won three times by Zenyatta last decade, and its last two editions were won by Beholder and Stellar Wind.
Del Mar also hosts the first Grade I races in California for 2-year-olds, the Del Mar Debutante for fillies and Del Mar Futurity the following day. Futurity winners in recent years include Nyquist and American Pharoah, while champion filly Songbird won the Debutante two years ago. Both races are at seven furlongs, and the juveniles get important leadups in the Sorrento Stakes (G2) for fillies, and the Best Pal Stakes (G2).
The Del Mar turf hosts nine graded stakes races. The most important is the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on Pacific Classic Day. Run over 1 1/8 miles, this attracts many of the best 3-year-old turf fillies in the country. Colts and geldings get their chance in the Del Mar Derby (G2).
Also significant on the turf are two races for turf milers, the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) and the Del Mar Mile (G2). Midnight Storm won both races last year prior to finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Fillies and mares are also well catered for on turf, with the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2) and the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2), while the stayers get their chance in the 1 3/8 mile Del Mar Handicap (G2).
With these and several other top races, Del Mar will keep players interested throughout the meet.
Del Mar At A Glance From the 2016 Bing Crosby Full Meet
| Avg. Winning Odds: 5.02 – 1 | |
| Favorite Win%: 33%, Favorite Itm%: 66% | |
| EXOTICS | PAYOFF |
| Quinella | 41.18 |
| Exacta | 78.68 |
| Daily Double | 77.11 |
| Trifecta | 611.60 |
| Pick 3 | 571.64 |
| Superfecta | 3,641.34 |
| Pick 4 | 3,937.05 |
| Pick 5 | 17,531.08 |
| Pick 6 Jackpot | 59,791.94 |
| Place Pick All | 3,457.84 |
| Super High Five | 18,440.67 |
| TRACK BIAS MEET(11/11 – 12/04) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance |
# Race |
% Wire |
Best Style |
Best Posts |
|
| 6.0fDirt | 19 | 42% | E | Mid/Out | |
| 6.5fDirt | 14 | 43% | E | Mid/Out | |
| 1 MileDirt | 23 | 48% | E | Inside | |
| 1 1/16mDirt | 2 | 0% | E/P | Inside | |
| Turf Sprint | 10 | 40% | E | Outside | |
| Turf Routes | 38 | 18% | S | Outside | |
| TRACK BIAS WEEK(11/28 – 12/04) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance |
# Race |
% Wire |
Best Style |
Best Posts |
|
| 6.0fDirt | 5 | 20% | E/P | Outside | |
| 6.5fDirt | 3 | 100% | E | Rail | |
| 1 MileDirt | 6 | 50% | E | Inside | |
| 1 1/16mDirt | 2 | 0% | E/P | Inside | |
| Turf Sprint | 4 | 25% | P | Outside | |
| Turf Routes | 10 | 20% | S | Outside | |
| Who’s HOT, Who’s NOT | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOT TRAINERS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show |
Avg. Odds |
Winning Favorites |
’15-‘ 16 Win% |
| Miller Peter | 24 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 5.11 | 7 | 19% |
| Motion H. Graham | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6.09 | 1 | 16% |
| Sadler John W. | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10.42 | 1 | 16% |
| Morey William E. | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.50 | 1 | 19% |
| Gaines Carla | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.42 | 1 | 11% |
| HOT JOCKEYS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show |
Avg. Odds |
Winning Favorites |
’15-‘ 16 Win% |
| Desormeaux Kent J. | 20 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 8.30 | 0 | 17% |
| Stevens Gary L. | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14.08 | 0 | 15% |
| COLD TRAINERS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show |
Avg. Odds |
Beaten Favorites |
’15-‘ 16 Win% |
| Eurton Peter | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17.30 | 2 | 15% |
| Belvoir Vann | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 38.08 | 0 | 9% |
| Dollase Craig | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.68 | 0 | 10% |
| Puype Mike | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5.00 | 2 | 14% |
| COLD JOCKEYS | Starts | Wins | Place | Show |
Avg. Odds |
Beaten Favorites |
’15-‘ 16 Win% |
| Pereira Tiago Josue | 17 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 21.25 | 1 | 11% |
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