Pick 5 Betting Preview: Del Mar - August 25, 2013

photo: Matt Carter

We touched on two major stake races from Del Mar on Sunday, but there is actually a third, the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap. The reason why it's not part of the late pick-4 or pick-6? The answer is obvious. Obviously stands out in the mile turf race and will be a single on everyone's pick-5 ticket. The sequence starts with race one, a five furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and upward.

Sacred Ovation and Wild Media are the pair to concentrate in the opener, the pair exiting a two-four finish in a similar race three weeks ago. Dixieland Blues is the late threat and while the pace may suit him, the course profile does not. Laugh At Life adds more speed to the race first-off-the-claim with My Slew and D'Obsession projecting for the best trips just off the pace. Check the tote board for horses getting bet or those cold on the board.

Ismene was squeezed at the start in her last race and was never happy behind horses so the stretch out to two turns makes her the pick in race two, as long as she breaks well. The Tribal Rule filly looks to be the speed of the speed, but could get pressure from Camryn Kate, who is drawn right to her outside. Joel Rosario was named on Camryn Kate, but there will need to be a replacement as Rosario broke him foot in a fall on Friday. Lady Asano looked good winning an allowance race in her last race over the track and is the threat from off the pace.

On speed figures, Just Irish stands out in race three having just finished second at this level on August 3. Now first-off-the-claim for Emily Mode, Just Irish can stalk the early pace and power home to score. The three-year-old colt should get adequate early pace with Suances Candy, Knucklebuster and Valid But True all liking to run near the front. Mudflats takes a huge drop from a $50,000 claiming race and puts the blinkers on. This is probably the level at which he belongs. Bob Consultation gets an extra furlong for his late run and could upset at a price.

Race four is a maiden special weight race for two-year-old fillies and seven of the ten are first-time-starters. Be Proud is one with experience and likely to go favored for trainer Bob Baffert. Baffert also has Lady Bugatti, who looks to have some slowish-type works for the trainer. Antiquity cost $450,000 as a yearling and makes her debut for trainer John Sadler. Alison Marie cost four times her sires stud fee at auction last year and gets Garrett Gomez in the irons. Elite Eight is trained by Tom Proctor and his horses always get better with experience. She is likely to have no early speed and make one run late.

The fifth is the Del Mar Handicap and if you decide to play against Obviously, He Be Fire N Ice and Silentio look like the best to upset. Tigah is going to probably be 20 lengths off the early pace with El Commodore the most likely to be sitting second behind the favorite. He's going to need the race of her life to upset the favorite.

First post at Del Mar on Sunday is one hour before normal time at 4:05 pm ET.