Del Mar Picks & Predictions — July 26, 2026

Let Her Fly is the 5/2 morning line favorite and grades out at 57.5, comfortably second in the field. Doug O'Neill saddles her with Emisael Jaramillo — a live combo — and her 56 average speed figure is among the best in the race. The favorite's price isn't exciting, but pairing her underneath Automatic Press in exactas is a structured approach in a chaotic maiden field.

Dream Seeker draws the rail for John Velazquez — and honestly, getting JV on a first-time starter is always reason to take notice. He tops out at a 56.67 rating for trainer Michael McCarthy, who also has two other horses in this race, suggesting he's comfortable with this surface and distance setup. At 3/1 he's not a throwback price, but Velazquez's ability to find the ideal position early on turf makes him a solid show and trifecta inclusion.

Goodnight Nellie is the standout angle in this race: a 36% career win rate is elite by any standard, and she grades out second in the field at 67.62. Andy Mathis sends her out at 4/1 with Cesar Belmont aboard, and her 56 average speed figure is the co-highest in the field. Horses with win rates that high find a way to hit the board — she belongs in exactas and trifectas as a confident underneath play.

Cipriani is one of two Bob Baffert runners here and draws the 5-hole with Juan Hernandez up. A 58.11 rating and a 25% career win rate are respectable marks, and Baffert doesn't enter horses in AOC company without believing they belong. At 5/2 on the morning line he'll likely be bet down, but as the third horse in a trifecta with the top two rated horses, he's a natural fit.

Girl Fire is one of the most intriguing plays on the entire card at 20/1 on the morning line. Her TrackWiz rating of 62.29 is actually fourth-best in the full field, which is a serious disconnect from her odds. Trainer Felix Gonzalez sends her out with Edgar Payeras, and while neither is a household name at Del Mar, the numbers say she belongs in the conversation. In a large maiden field on turf, overlooked horses at big prices hit the board regularly — she's a strong exotic play.

Druliner draws the 10-hole for Joel Rosario and trainer Craig Anthony Lewis, and a rating of 60.05 with a 54 average speed figure makes him one of the more credentialed runners in this deep field. Rosario rarely takes weak mounts in California sprints — his presence alone pushes Druliner's probability ceiling higher than the 8/1 morning line implies. Use him in trifectas and supers as a show anchor.

Salty Siss grades out second at 69.68 for trainer Vann Belvoir with Armando Aguilar up, and her 54 average speed figure is solid for this level. She's drawn the 2-hole, which in a sprint should give her a clean break and the chance to establish position early. At 6/1 on the morning line there's genuine value here — horses at this odds range who rate second-best in the field are precisely the horses to back in exactas.

Cotta Ride draws the rail for trainer Craig Anthony Lewis and gets Kazushi Kimura — the same hot jockey who's our pick in Race 4. A 66.05 rating ranks third in this field, and her 54 average speed figure is workable on the front end of a 5.5-furlong sprint. The 4/1 morning line makes her slightly short for a show-only play, but she earns her spot as the third horse in a trifecta beneath the top two.

Poseidon's Law is essentially a co-top horse at 76.87 — one one-hundredth of a rating point separates him from our win pick — and at 3/1 he's the morning line second choice. Trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo has him ready with Emisael Jaramillo up, and his 58 average speed figure is the highest in the entire field. A 33% career win rate adds to the confidence — this is a horse that knows how to win, and at 3/1 he's a natural place underlier and a strong exacta key.

Rogue Legend rounds out a compelling top three at 75.61 for Philip D'Amato, one of Del Mar's sharpest turf trainers. Antonio Fresu gets the call, and a 57 average speed figure matches the win pick at the top of the speed ratings. D'Amato running in a turf sprint allowance is always worth respecting — this trainer doesn't send horses out unprepared on the grass. At 8/1, Rogue Legend is a solid show hedge and a key part of any trifecta construction.

Spotted Haze is the public's 5/2 choice and grades out second at 71.51 for Jeff Mullins with Juan Hernandez riding. A 40% career win rate — one of the highest in this field — backs up the public support, and a 55 average speed figure gives him a slight edge on the pure speed numbers. He's a legitimate contender, but at 5/2 the value is thin compared to Emma G — use him in exactas underneath her rather than on top.

Donttellourwives draws Joel Rosario for trainer Francisco Rodriguez and rates third in the field at 70.47 — within spitting distance of the top two. The 5/1 morning line offers some value, and while a 10% career win rate is modest, having Rosario in the irons gives any horse an automatic upgrade in terms of placement and pace judgment. He rounds out a trifecta combination nicely behind Emma G and Spotted Haze.

Almendares is the value play of this entire stakes race at 8/1. His 79.79 TrackWiz rating is essentially a dead heat with the favorite — 0.63 points of separation — yet the morning line offers more than four times the return. Antonio Fresu rides for Philip D'Amato, one of the elite turf trainers on the West Coast, and an 18% career win rate in stakes company is respectable. If Formidable Man gets caught in traffic or hits any trouble at 1 1/8 miles, Almendares is right there to pounce.

Gold Phoenix is the 3/1 second choice in the wagering and posts a 63.23 rating with a 30% career win rate for trainer Philip D'Amato — who now has two horses in this race. Hector Berrios rides, and in a 9-horse stakes field at a classic distance, a 30% win rate and a double-digit rating gap between this horse and the mid-field tell a clear story. He's the chalk show play and a natural fit in trifectas with the top two.

Cupid's Crusader rates second in this field at 79.79 for trainer Genaro Vallejo, who also runs Oobubbakayo here — a dual-entry that always raises eyebrows. Edgar Payeras rides, and a 54 average speed figure gives him a slight edge over the win pick on raw numbers. At 8/1 on the morning line despite being our second-rated horse, Cupid's Crusader is a clear overlay and a strong place and exacta play underneath Mici's Express.

Pioneer Prince rates third in the field at 76.02 for Doug O'Neill with Emisael Jaramillo up — a sharp trainer-jockey combination that performs well in claiming routes at Del Mar. His 55 average speed figure is the highest in the field, which matters in a one-mile dirt race where sustainable pace is essential. At 4/1 he's attractively priced given his standing in our ratings, and he rounds out the trifecta structure as a confident show selection.

Ryan's Girl is a 34% career winner — the highest rate among any horse in this race — and her 84.17 TrackWiz rating is separated from Goje's by just 0.35 points. Kazushi Kimura takes the mount for trainer Genaro Vallejo, and the combination of her elite win rate and a live jockey at 5/1 on the morning line makes her a compelling place play and a strong exacta partner with Goje. The two-horse exacta box here is a natural.

Newport Dreamz rates third in this 12-horse allowance field at 69.34 for trainer Tim Yakteen with Welfin Orantes aboard. A 20% career win rate and a 55 average speed figure both put him in the conversation for a piece of the prize, and at 8/1 on the morning line there's genuine value in slotting him third in trifectas. Yakteen-trained horses in evening turf allowances at Del Mar tend to be ready — factor that in when building your closing-race tickets.