Five things to look for at the Del Mar meeting

The excellent racing at Del Mar will commence on Friday, July 16, and run through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 6. A total of 39 stakes races will be held at the picturesque seaside locale, with 22 of the graded variety. 
 
Since Del Mar will play host to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Nov. 5-6, paying attention to how the surfaces play at the venue could yield long-term rewards to astute handicappers. Below are a handful of things to watch for at the much-anticipated summer meeting.

Dirt angles

Speed was especially good on the main strip last summer in abbreviated sprints as well as route races. In the one-turn events, outside posts were more successful, while inner starting positions had the best winning percentage going long on the dirt. This surface, partly due to its location close to the Pacific Ocean, can be unique on a day-to-day basis. I recommend treading lightly early in a card before taking a swing later on.

Turf angles

In the summer of 2020, turf sprints yielded a far higher percentage of wire-to-wire winners than in races contested going long on the lawn. I have long felt that turf dashers who get in front early are difficult to catch in the five-furlong heats, and I will continue to seek out dangerous front-end contenders this summer.

Jockeys to watch

The two dominant pilots last summer were Flavien Prat and Umberto Rispoli, with the former taking home the crown in a 50-49 battle. Those two will be on display once again in 2021.
 
But one pilot to keep an eye on is a two-time Eclipse Award winner hoping to rise back to prominence. Kent Desormeaux has revived his career this season and will make his presence felt at the stand once again. The 51-year-old has been in good form at Santa Anita and will carry that momentum over to Del Mar.

Trainers to watch

Peter Miller was second in entries and a clear first in winners saddled last summer, with 28 first-place finishers from 116 starters. He will be tough to upend due to his depth and ability to send out winners in any kind of race.
 
Phil D'Amato, John Sadler, Bob Baffert, and Doug O'Neill are obvious conditioners who will have success at the meeting, but I will also be keeping an eye on two less heralded trainers.
 
The shedrow of Michael McCarthy has steadily grown in stature in recent years, and he could be set to take the next step in the trainers race. The former Todd Pletcher assistant will not match his counterparts in volume of runners, but his barn has top horses, and his client base is likely expanding following Rombauer's Preakness S. (G1) triumph.
 
Conditioner Mark Glatt won at an 11% rate in 2020 here, but his runners hit the board 45% of the time. I see him getting more wins this summer.

Exotics Bonanza

Based on a $2 play, the average Pick 4 return was in excess of $7,500, and the Pick 5 average was more than $85,000! The unique Place Pick-All was good for a healthy $25,000 on average at the summer meeting, as well.
 
Taking shots in the horizontal exotics makes a lot of sense at Del Mar, and nobody should be afraid to "overbet" their tickets due to the substantial payouts that are available.