Yesterday’s pair of plays whiffed so let’s turn up the oceanside heat Friday, where a $30,889 carryover in the pick 6 welcomes horseplayers. It could be a big day for red-hot trainer Peter Miller, who has won with his last 3 starters at the meet and is 16: 6-2-1 in turf sprints this summer (winning 4 of his last 9 such grass dashes). Miller has entrants in Races 1,3,5 at the turf sprint trip – all lined between 7-2 and 4-1.
Each day this summer at Del Mar, I’ll be handicapping the action with my top plays on the card – including full-card selections for a featured program each week (this week’s full-card will be Saturday).
Del Mar: Race 1 | 5:00 pm ET
#1 Michael (4-1 morning line odds) debuts for Peter Miller and jockey Joel Rosario, who teamed Thursday for an impressive rookie winner. Barn is on a roll and has been strong in turf sprints all season. Maclean’s Music has had some decent results on Del Mar, sprinting and a touch of first-out success. Debut runners catch weak experienced foes, including a pair of pursuers of Bullwhacker on July 23 and that one came back to trail the field in an allowance sprint next. Win bet #1. Picks 1-2-6
Del Mar: Race 5 | 4:06 pm ET
#6 Got The Ring (7-2 morning line odds) not only represents the aforementioned Miller barn, but I’ll often back route speed when they return from a layoff in a turf sprint. She’s run well over the course and is pace-versatile while getting Lasix for the first time. Has 6 perfectly spaced workouts at San Luis Rey for the comeback. Consider #10 First Or Last in exotic if that one draws into the field. If Miller barn continues to be live early, consider daily double 6-7 to Tessuto in the next race. Win bet #6. Picks 6 with 10-1-4-2
Del Mar: Race 7 | 8:06 pm ET
#4 Raw Ability (5-2 morning line odds) catches a field of 6 with 4 speed horses to set the table. Has to outkick #1 Canto Della Terra for the money but exits tougher races than that one and trainer John Sadler makes a big rider move from Leparoux to Rispoli. When the best horse gets the best set-up, they rarely give back the advantage. Pick 6 single as second choice in the morning line. Win bet #4. Daily Double 4-5 to Here Comes Too Too in the finale. Picks 4-1-5
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