Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 7/17/21
Starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, we have 11 races at Del Mar. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing.
As always, check for scratches and changes and monitor the weather and track conditions.
(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions.)
Sedamar and Brooke, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 5/2
Race 9 is the $80K Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares racing 1-mile on the turf. The numberFire data projects Sedamar (4/1) and Tapwater (7/2) to challenge for the win and finish in front of the favorite Brooke (5/2), who breaks from the outside No. 9 post with top turf jockey Umberto Rispoli riding.
Sedamar has three turf wins at Del Mar and tries to fire fresh off a four-month layoff.
Tapwater set the pace into the deep stretch going 12 furlongs last race and finished third. She shortens up to a mile and drops from a Grade 3 race to this offering which has more speed types likely pressing the pace.
Brooke ran very well in a Grade 3 race and can improve dropping in class. In her last race, she chased blazing fractions and help up to finish third.
Express Train and Royal Ship, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 9/5
Race 10 is the $250K Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. The numberFire algorithm projects Royal Ship (9/5) to win, and he looks tough as the favorite. Guaranteed Tip Sheet gives Express Train (3/1) a solid shot to win after he ran wide and rallied from off the pace to finish third in the recent Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Rushie (5/1) finished fourth in that race, while Royal Ship finished second, and he’s been running better since being gelded earlier this year. Royal Ship also won a highly-rated Grade 2 race two races back in April while posting his best speed figure of 113. Royal Ship came from the back of the pack to finish third in this race last year.
Trainer Bob Baffert is back, and he has long shot Magic On Tap (12/1) as a capable runner of his Grade 2 win in May.
Lincoln Hawk and Mohawk King, Race 11
FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 7/2
Race 11 is an Allowance race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The numberFire data calls for an upset by Mucho Del Oro (15/1) over the favorite Mohawk King (7/2), who stretches out from two sharp runner-up sprints.
Mucho Del Oro has won three straight starts and will be running on the front end.
Lightly-raced and improving Lincoln Hawk (4/1) could rally strong into the abundance of pace in this race, according to Horse Racing Radar. He flashed a very strong final quarter mile when breaking his maiden last race.
