Tipsheet: 2026 San Diego Handicap

An excellent cast of seven will travel 1 1/16 miles on the main strip at Del Mar in Saturday’s $300,000 San Diego H. (G2). 

San Diego Handicap Picks

• #6 Full Serrano
• #5 Journalism
• #7 The Goat

San Diego Handicap Wagers

• $20 win and place #6 Full Serrano
• $15 exacta box 5-6

San Diego Handicap Contenders

#1 MC VAY: Peter Eurton trainee was a distant third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) last time and gets the fence for his third run over the surface. The dark bay son of Constitution has never proven to be capable of defeating this kind, but his last two runs were among his best ones, and he could challenge for a minor award with another move forward under Berrios. 

#2 MIRAHMADI: Baffert pupil was second to Nysos in the 2025 edition and will make his first run in this spot after a 12-month absence. The Into Mischief five-year-old possesses big early speed and has been training in swift fashion, so he will attempt to win this race on the front end under Juan Hernandez. 

#3 SHEA BRENNAN: Talented California-bred from the D’Amato shedrow was a convincing winner of the Bertrando S. at Los Alamitos in his seasonal debut and is intriguing in this event, second time off the pine. The Tough Sunday colt has won or placed in each of his career runs on the grounds and will have Armando Ayuso in the silks. 

#4 IRON MAN CAL: Second of two for trainer Phil D’Amato is a Grade-1-placed turf performer who will try the dirt for the first time in this ambitious spot. The Collected gelding was a smart allowance winner on the Santa Anita green last time out, but the Kentucky-bred would still be a big surprise to me with Antonio Fresu in the silks. 

#5 JOURNALISM: Classy multiple Grade-1 victor has put in a trio of very good runs on the course in his career and is the one to beat for trainer Michael McCarthy. The classic-winning son of Curlin had what I thought was a great prep for this in the one-turn Met Mile (G1) most recently and has worked well in advance of his local return. Umberto Rispoli gets the call and will have the four-year-old rating behind a lively early pace before asking the colt for his best in the stretch. 

#6 FULL SERRANO: First of two for trainer John Sadler won the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on the strip and has worked well leading up to his reappearance at this venue. The fleet seven-year-old has registered four swift morning moves in anticipation of Saturday, and the son of Full Mast will be seen pressing the pace to the top of the lane before taking the lead in the stretch with Joel Rosario in the stirrups. 

#7 THE GOAT: Chilean import is a two-time Group 1 hero who sprinted in his stateside debut for Sadler. The Midshipman five-year-old didn’t run poorly off the long absence in that event and has trained in fine fashion since. I expect the bay to track the pace from the second flight early before moving into contention turning for home with Emisael Jaramillo signed on.