Pick 5 Betting Preview: Del Mar - September 4, 2013

photo: Matt Carter

Wednesday is closing day at Del Mar so every wager must be paid out, including the 50-cent pick-5, which starts with the C.E.R.F. and includes two other stake races.

Wednesday, the filly, leads the C.E.R.F. for trainer Carla Gaines and is looking to make it back-to-back wins on Wednesday. Gypsy Robin is the actual morning line favorite exiting a fourth place finish against the speedy Reneesgotzip. Also exiting that race is Curvy Cat, who was third that day, but is now 4-1 in the C.E.R.F. Gypsy Robin does look to be lone speed if she shows the same early zip as she did last year.

The second race is a bit more wide open with Explosive Argument leading a field that includes the second, third and fifth place finishers out of a common race. Lady Rosamond was second as the post-time favorite with Magestic Stinger third and Lady Katfish fifth. Pebble Beach Baby drops in class and will be finishing while Julio's Gold may be the speed of the speed. She's a Go Girl will keep Julio's Gold honest up front.

Race three is the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf, which looks like a race between Station House and Diamond Bachelor, two impressive debut runners earlier in the meet. Home School is an interesting horse making his first start in the U.S. after five starts in his native Ireland. Home School exits a pair of placings in Group races at the Curragh and Leopardstown and trainer Doug O'Neill has already scored at this meet with a horse from Europe.

Two-year-old maidens go five and one-half furlongs in race four with Malibu Colony the tepid choice. The Mike Mitchell-trained son of Malibu Moon had a fast three furlong drill over the track last week and can win with a stalking trip. Others to consider are Sawyer's Hill and Karma King. Julio Canani has had a tough meet, but Snuggley Bear could be one to use. Candy Anniversary is trained by John Sadler and owned by Hronis Racing LLC, connections that must be respected.

The Pirate's Bounty Stakes is the final race of the pick-5 and if Roman Threat is ready to roll off the 15-plus month layoff, then the others will be running for second. The gelding did not get to the races until his four-year-old season, but was second in the Grade 2 Potrero Grande and won the Grade 3 Los Angeles Handicap. Roman Threat is trained by Bob Baffert, who also has So Brilliant, the $300,000 two-year-old purchase that has won three of five races. Chiloquin is likely to be overlooked in the wagering, but the five-year-old gelding knows where the wire is. He has six wins in his career, two at Del Mar, and has only been worse than third in 6 of his 22 starts. Rail Trip is the threat from the back of the back of the pack.

No true singles in the sequence, but it is a must play on closing day.

First post at Del Mar is 5:05 pm ET then Southern California racing moves to Fairplex at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona.