Betting With, and Against, El Potente in the Del Mar Mile Stakes

A deep and talented cast of 12 will jaunt eight panels on the lawn on Sunday in the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (G2). Excellent turf miler #12 El Potente (7-2) has been installed as the deserving morning-line choice for trainer Dan Blacker. By Temple City, the high-quality Florida-bred who specializes at the trip with his 7-4-2-1 mark at one mile in his lifetime. The multiple graded stakes winner was a close second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita in March in his latest venture and has proven to be capable of running well off the shelf in the past. 

El Potente – With

• $1 trifecta 12 with 5,6,9 with all ($30)
• $3 trifecta key 12 with 5,6,9 ($18)

El Potente – Against

• $5 exacta box 5,6,9 ($30)
• $1 trifecta 5,6,9 with 5,6,9,12 with 5,6,9,12 ($18)

El Potente has hit the board in each of his three lifetime runs on the local lawn, and he showed a new dimension last time when rallying from well off the early pace after always being forward prior to that tilt. He drilled five-eighths on the local green in advance of his return and will have regular rider Hector Berrios in the silks. 

#6 Sinsel (8-1) is one of the more intriguing runners in the event for Richard Mandella. Unraced since August, the Brazilian import is a two-time Group 1 victor who could be any kind in his stateside bow. The five-year-old son of Alpha is a question mark at the distance as his top results have come at 1 1/4 miles or longer, but he is aggressively placed off the long absence by a Hall of Fame trainer, and I can’t ignore him with Kimura taking the reins. 

Grade 1 star #9 King of Gosford (5-1) is a four-time winner at the distance and a two-time victor on the course for Phil D’Amato. The Zoustar five-year-old was very impressive in leading throughout the Wicker S. on this strip off the layoff on July 16, and the chestnut was using that event as a prep for Sunday. The prime win threat possesses a versatile running style and could surely be the one with a well-timed ride beneath Umberto Rispoli. 

Juddmonte homebred #5 Detain (10-1) was a convincing allowance winner here in his second run since arriving in the states for trainer Michael McCarthy. The colt by standout sire Wootton Bassett is from a nice family of turf performers, and the four-year-old could be a major contender late in a race with a good amount of pace in the fold. Juan Hernandez will retain the ride.