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Del Mar Picks & Predictions — August 8, 2026

August 8, 202610 racesAll Del Mar picks

It's a beautiful Saturday at Del Mar — clear skies, 80 degrees, and the Pacific breeze doing its thing out by the paddock. Conditions couldn't be more cooperative, and the racing office has put together a 10-race card that gives you something to dig into from the first post all the way through the closer.

You've got a nice mix today: two stakes races (Races 3 and 8), a pair of maiden special weight sprints, and plenty of claiming action spread across both dirt and turf. The turf course figures to be in excellent shape under these conditions, and with five of the ten races going on the grass, surface read is going to matter all afternoon.

Our TrackWiz models have identified standouts in every race — including a couple of overlays worth building tickets around. Let's break it down.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Maiden Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden optional claiming sprint on the dirt where first-time experience is limited across the board — the TrackWiz ratings are tightly bunched at the top, making this one a puzzle worth attacking with the right key.

win5High ProntoML 3/1

High Pronto leads our TrackWiz ratings for this opener with a mark of 56.67 — the highest in the field — and posts an average speed figure of 56, which is competitive for this level. Trainer Doug O'Neill has a knack for placing first-time starters in spots where they can graduate, and morning line support at 3/1 confirms the stable expects a big effort. At 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt, pace will be honest and a horse ready to roll out of the gate has a real edge.

place4Billy GoatML 7/2

Stablemate Billy Goat hits the board as our place pick, posting a TrackWiz rating of 55.83 and the same average speed figure of 55 as several rivals. The 7/2 morning line suggests the market sees this one close to High Pronto in ability, and with the same O'Neill barn behind both horses, the workout data could be telling a consistent story. Solid exacta underneath play.

show2CharacterML 4/1

Character checks in at a 55.0 TrackWiz rating for trainer Peter Miller, who consistently sends live first-timers to Del Mar. The 4/1 morning line is fair for a horse with upside we haven't fully seen yet, and Kazushi Kimura gives this barn a strong rider to close things out. Worth slotting into trifectas as the third piece of the puzzle.

Race 2

9:34 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

Philip D'Amato doubles up with two contenders in this mile turf starter optional claimer, setting the stage for a barn-vs-barn battle at the top — but the gap in ratings between his top horse and the rest of the field is hard to ignore.

win1Eternal ReignML 5/2

Eternal Reign is the standout here with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81, well clear of any rival in the field. A 25% career win rate backs up the numbers — this is a horse that knows how to close out a race. Trainer Philip D'Amato is one of the sharpest turf conditioners on the West Coast, and with Juan J. Hernandez up, the connections are pointing this one to win. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price isn't generous, but the dominance of the rating speaks for itself.

place3NikolinaML 6/1

Nikolina is D'Amato's second string but shouldn't be dismissed — a 33% career win rate is the best in the field, and her TrackWiz rating of 78.40 is well ahead of the mid-pack group. Kazushi Kimura handles the mount, and an average speed figure of 57 edges out her stablemate. She's the natural place play in a race where D'Amato could go 1-2.

show7With LoveML 8/1

With Love sits third in our TrackWiz ratings at 63.18 and offers a value angle at 8/1 on the morning line. Trainer George Papaprodromou knows his way around a turf route, and a 55 average speed figure fits comfortably within this field. If the D'Amato horses tie each other up on the front end, With Love with Joe Bravo could close into a piece of the purse.

Race 3

10:07 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Dirt

A short-field stakes sprint on the dirt where three horses carry perfect career win percentages into the gate — pace will be everything when horses who've never lost clash at six furlongs.

win6KennytenML 9/5

Kennyten tops our TrackWiz ratings at 58.67 and brings a 100% career win rate to this stakes sprint, making him the one to beat despite a 9/5 morning line that reflects public confidence. An average speed figure of 57 matches the best in the field, and trainer Vladimir Cerin has him in the right spot. Ricardo Gonzalez is a sharp pick for a horse that needs to put himself on or near the lead in a race with multiple unbeaten rivals.

place2He Is No LieML 2/1

He Is No Lie sits just behind at a 58.33 TrackWiz rating with a 50% career win rate — every time he's finished, he's come in the top two. Trainer Doug O'Neill saddles him here with Emisael Jaramillo aboard, and an average speed figure of 56 keeps him honest against the top horses. The 2/1 morning line makes him the second choice and a logical place play in what figures to be a competitive stakes sprint.

show3HughesML 3/1

Hughes brings a 100% career win rate from the Bob Baffert barn — hard to look past those credentials even at 3/1. His TrackWiz rating of 56.67 and average speed figure of 57 suggest he's got the raw ability to compete. Juan J. Hernandez is a strong tactical rider who can put him in position if the pace gets heated between the other unbeaten horses.

Three races are fully open today, and they cover a nice spread of race types. High Pronto draws our attention in the opener — a maiden optional claiming sprint on the dirt where first-time angles and pace shape can create early value before the public has found its footing. In Race 2, Eternal Reign tops our ratings on the turf going a mile in the starter optional claiming ranks — that 87.81 TrackWiz rating is the highest of the three free races and suggests a horse whose recent form translates well to today's conditions. Then in Race 3, the dirt stakes at 6 furlongs, Kennyten comes in as the morning-line favorite at 9/5 — a number that might tighten further if the early handle confirms what our models see.

The throughline across all three free picks? Speed. All three races set up for pace-friendly scenarios, and on a clear day with a fast, true Del Mar oval, horses that can put themselves in position early have a real edge. Keep that bias in your back pocket as you play the afternoon.

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Race 4

10:42 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

Three scratches thin this five-furlong turf claimer down to a tighter field, and that shakeup opens the door for a horse with the highest rating in the bunch to go wire-to-wire at a price worth taking.

win7Regal PatriotML 5/1

Regal Patriot leads all active runners with a TrackWiz rating of 84.17 and a 45% career win rate — those are two of the strongest figures on today's entire Del Mar card. An average speed figure of 58 is the best among those still running, and trainer Steve R. Knapp places horses in spots where they can perform. At 5/1 on the morning line, this is genuine value for the class of the field.

place9FulanitoML 8/1

Fulanito rates second among the active horses at 75.63, with a 26% career win rate and an average speed figure of 58 that matches Regal Patriot's top mark. Trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo keeps him competitive, and Emisael Jaramillo gives the barn an experienced hand. If Regal Patriot draws heat on the lead, Fulanito is the horse most likely to swoop in for the place.

show4TigerhonML 6/1

Tigerhon posts a 73.92 TrackWiz rating with a 16% career win rate — modest on paper, but his average speed figure of 57 puts him firmly in this company. Trainer Peter Miller knows these five-furlong turf sprints well, and a 6/1 morning line gives you solid show value in a field where the scratches removed several potential threats. A solid exotic piece.

Race 5

11:16 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 5 1/2-furlong dirt claimer features a hidden standout whose TrackWiz rating towers over the public's morning-line favorite — a classic spot to beat the chalk and find real value.

win1R Danny BoyML 8/1

R Danny Boy is the TrackWiz top pick at 79.79 — the highest rating in this field by a significant margin — yet the morning line has him sitting at 8/1, making this a genuine overlay angle. A 16% career win rate is workmanlike, but the speed figure of 54 is consistent and the rating model sees something the public hasn't fully priced in. Trainer George L. Lopez and Kyle Frey make for a capable team, and if R Danny Boy finds a forward trip in this sprint, the payoff at those odds could be significant.

place3Desert KatML 5/1

Desert Kat rates second in the field at 60.69 and carries a 10% career win rate with an average speed figure of 55. Trainer George Papaprodromou is a proven conditioner at Del Mar, and Jeremy Laprida gives the horse a shot to find a clean trip. At 5/1 on the morning line, Desert Kat is the logical place play if you're building exactas around R Danny Boy.

show2Ima Track StarML 5/2

Ima Track Star opens as the 5/2 morning line favorite on the strength of a 50% career win rate — every other time she's finished, she's won. Trainer Brian Koriner places her appropriately here, and Joel Rosario is always dangerous. The TrackWiz rating of 57.5 is third in the field, so while we're using her underneath rather than on top, she absolutely belongs in every exotic ticket.

Race 6

11:50 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/8 mi · Turf

A full field of first-time starters goes 1 1/8 miles on the turf — the longest test of the day — and one horse enters with a rating so far above the rest that this shapes up as a potential parade.

win2Constitution AndiML 3/1

Constitution Andi dominates this field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08, the highest in the race by a country mile — the next best active horse (Pax Mundi) rates over 15 points lower. Trainer Mike Puype has Victor Espinoza up, a Hall of Famer who excels in patient route setups on the turf. At 3/1 on the morning line, the price is fair for what figures to be the most talented horse making its debut in this spot.

place8Pax MundiML 6/1

Pax Mundi rates second in the field at 71.32 for trainer Jose Francisco D'Angelo, and while an average speed figure of 53 is modest, the rating model sees latent ability that could surface in a long route on turf. Emisael Jaramillo is a competent handler for a first-timer navigating 1 1/8 miles. At 6/1 on the morning line, Pax Mundi offers value as the place half of an exacta with Constitution Andi.

show6Conquer We MustML 7/2

Conquer We Must lands third in our ratings at 55.83, and trainer Simon Callaghan has an excellent track record developing turf horses at Del Mar. The 7/2 morning line is light for a show play, but in a maiden route full of unknowns, Callaghan's ability to have a first-timer tuned up and route-ready makes this one a legitimate exotics piece. Antonio Fresu handles the riding assignment.

Race 7

12:20 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A deep field of maiden special weight runners go 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt, and two horses at the same 8/1 morning line lead our TrackWiz ratings by a wide margin — this is a race where the board could lie.

win11Sauced UpML 8/1

Sauced Up tops the TrackWiz ratings at 79.79 — the highest mark in a large maiden field — with an average speed figure of 55 and trainer Felix Rondan pointing him to run. At 8/1 on the morning line, the public hasn't caught up to what our model sees here, which is a genuine class edge in a wide-open maiden sprint. Alfredo Bautista gets the call and can position this one forwardly over five and a half furlongs.

place10Thirsty CaitlinML 8/1

Thirsty Caitlin matches Sauced Up's 8/1 morning line but trails slightly in our ratings at 70.32. Trainer Edwin G. Alvarez saddles her with Armando Aguilar aboard, and an average speed figure of 54 is consistent for this distance and surface. She's the natural place play to pair with Sauced Up — two horses from similar price points who both top the field in our model.

show3Just Work It OutML 7/2

Just Work It Out comes in at a 55.83 TrackWiz rating for the powerful John Sadler barn, with Joel Rosario — one of the best riders in the country — climbing aboard. There's no prior speed figure on record, which adds some mystery but also means she's unproven in the negative sense. Sadler's ability to have a first-timer ready on debut gives this one a genuine shot to hit the board at 7/2.

Race 8

12:50 AM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A stakes turf route at 1 1/16 miles features a dominant rating outlier and a morning line that undervalues her — the question isn't whether Sweet Rebecca belongs, it's whether anyone can get close.

win2Sweet RebeccaML 7/2

Sweet Rebecca leads all runners with a TrackWiz rating of 86.35, and a 60% career win rate is simply extraordinary — the best win percentage on today's entire card by a comfortable margin. Trainer Michael Maker ships her in with Antonio Fresu, and an average speed figure of 55 on turf is enough to win this race. At 7/2 on the morning line she may not offer monster value, but you don't often get a horse this reliable at that price in a stakes field.

place5Take A BreathML 3/1

Take A Breath rates second at 68.21 with a 16% career win rate for trainer Mark Glatt, and Emisael Jaramillo is a dependable choice to keep her in contention through a mile-plus turf route. While her average speed figure of 54 trails Sweet Rebecca's output, she's consistent enough to hold a placing position if the favorite runs her race. A logical second leg on exacta and trifecta tickets.

show6WarmingML 6/1

Warming brings a 30% career win rate into this stakes spot — the second-best win percentage among active starters — with trainer H. Graham Motion, a conditioner whose turf horses routinely outrun their odds. Juan J. Hernandez aboard gives her a tactical rider who can gauge pace and make a move at the right moment. At 6/1, she's a value show play and a must-use in trifectas.

Race 9

1:19 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The late-night allowance optional claimer on the dirt sets up as a two-horse race at the top of the ratings — both horses significantly outclass the rest of the field, so the exotic prices could compress fast.

win9Matt At FiveML 2/1

Matt At Five leads our TrackWiz model with an 88.54 rating — the highest of any horse in any race on today's card — and opens as the 2/1 morning line favorite with good reason. A 33% career win rate and an average speed figure of 56 back up the lofty rating, and trainer Peter Miller sends him out with Hector Isaac Berrios, a hungry jockey who can sit close in a six-furlong pace. This is the best bet on the card.

place1Special ClubML 5/2

Special Club rates second at 83.01 with a 19% career win rate and an average speed figure of 57 — actually the highest speed figure among active runners in this field. Trainer George Papaprodromou has him ready, and Umberto Rispoli is a proven big-race rider at Del Mar. At 5/2 on the morning line, he's essentially co-favorited by the market and gives you a solid place play even if Matt At Five gets the job done on top.

show4SupernalML 5/1

Supernal rates third at 69.75 with a 28% career win rate, giving him the best win percentage of any non-top-two horse in the field. Trainer Isidro Tamayo places him appropriately in this allowance spot, and Armando Ayuso can keep him close enough through a six-furlong pace to grab a piece. At 5/1, he's the right price for a third in trifectas and opens the door to some meat in the exotics.

Race 10

1:48 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

The marathon finale goes a mile on the turf in a maiden claiming field that's been thinned by scratches, elevating two horses with strong ratings into clear prominence — and a price play could emerge in the form of a trainer angle.

win7Dr. FilkinsML 5/1

Dr. Filkins tops the active runners with a TrackWiz rating of 84.17 for trainer Sean McCarthy, opening at 5/1 on the morning line — a price that seems underestimated given his rating advantage. An average speed figure of 53 on turf fits a mile route, and Armando Ayuso gets the mount on a horse the model identifies as the class of this maiden claiming field. If he handles the turf comfortably, this is a horse that should be running past them in the stretch.

place6ThrowthefirstpunchML 7/2

Throwthefirstpunch rates second at 71.57 for Doug O'Neill's barn, with Emisael Jaramillo — a trainer-jockey combo that shows up regularly in exacta payoffs at Del Mar. An average speed figure of 54 is consistent for a mile on turf at this level, and a 7/2 morning line puts him squarely on the public's radar as the place horse. Use him in every exotic underneath Dr. Filkins.

show10SaguntoML 4/1

Sagunto rates third in the field at 71.15 for trainer Ryan Hanson, with Ricardo Gonzalez aboard and a 4/1 morning line. An average speed figure of 55 is actually the highest among the top three picks, suggesting he has the raw pace numbers to compete over a turf mile. In a maiden claimer that's lost several horses to scratches, the remaining field is more approachable than it looks — and Sagunto is a live longshot worth including in trifectas.

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Del Mar is dealing today — great weather, a versatile 10-race card, and our models firing on both surfaces. High Pronto, Eternal Reign, and Kennyten headline the free selections, while Matt At Five is the marquee name for subscribers in the back half. Full pace projections, exotic strategies, and the complete card breakdown are waiting for you inside. Good luck out there — and as always, bet smart.

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