Del Mar Scouting Report: July 20-21, 2024

‍Key Races

Saturday | G2 San Clemente (3yo turf fillies), Oceanside (3yo turf mile)

Sunday | Osunitas (turf mile), Wickerr (turf mile)

Horsepower

Saturday: undefeated multiple stakes winner Medoro (probable for San Clemente, entries drawn Wed); King of Gosford, 3-for-3 since arriving in US (probable for Oceanside, entries drawn Wed).

Sunday: Fran’s Valentine winner Stay and Scam (probable for Osunitas, entries drawn Thu); G2 City of Hope Mile runner-up Astronomer (probable for Wickerr, entries drawn Thu).

Extra Incentives

Saturday | $10K-added Fun in the Sun Handicapping Tournament | last 5 races Saratoga, first 5 races Del Mar

Tracking the Trends

-- Favorites won just 9 of 32 (28%) during opening week of the ’23 Del Mar summer meet.

-- Fast-starting trainers during the ’23 Del Mar summer opening week were Doug O’Neill (7 wins, 24%), Bob Baffert (4 wins, 36%, Phil D’Amato (4 wins, 17%) and Leonard Powell (3 wins, 43%). O’Neill was also a fast starter during the ’22 Del Mar summer opening week.

-- Top opening-week jockeys during the ’23 Del Mar summer were Umberto Rispolo (5 wins, 23%), Juan Hernadez (4 wins, 24%) and Hector Berrios (4 wins, 19%).

-- 15 of 32 opening week winners at the ’23 Del Mar summer meet last raced at Santa Anita; 5 first-time starters won; no other circuit delivered more than 3 winners.

-- 16 of 32 winners at the ’23 Del Mar summer opening week exited layoffs of 6 weeks (42 days) or more – including 3 who had not competed in more than 300 days.

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