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Del Mar Picks & Predictions — August 9, 2026

August 9, 20269 racesAll Del Mar picks

Sunday at Del Mar and the conditions couldn't be more cooperative — clear skies, 80°F, and what figures to be a firm, fast turf course for a card that leans heavily on the grass. Nine races on the docket, five of them run on turf, which means pace scenarios and ground-saving trips are going to be at a premium all afternoon.

The mix of maiden sprints, allowance routes, and a stakes race at the six-furlong dirt dash keeps things interesting across the board. Whether you're grinding every race or just looking for a couple of strong spots to play, today's card at the seaside oval has plenty to work with.

Three races are fully open today — our free best bets cover Races 1, 2, and 3 to get you started. The remaining six, including that stakes race in Race 6, are unlocked for TrackWiz subscribers with full breakdowns, pace projections, and exotic ticket strategies.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/8 mi · Turf

A wide-open maiden turf route where TrackWiz's model finds a clear class edge at the top, but the second and third picks are close enough to make exotics interesting.

win3Pentle BayML 3/1

Pentle Bay tops our ratings by a comfortable margin — an 87.08 grade that stands well clear of the field — and Simon Callaghan conditions are always worth respecting on the Del Mar turf. At 3/1 on the morning line, this is one of those spots where the favorite actually looks like reasonable value rather than a lay. The 1 1/8-mile trip should suit a first-time starter from a turf-savvy barn, and Antonio Fresu gets the call in what shapes up as a well-spotted debut.

place6Daring PursuitML 4/1

Daring Pursuit rates second in the field with a 78.19 TrackWiz score and draws a manageable outside post at 4/1. Dan Blacker doesn't send horses out to lose on debut, and Hector Isaac Berrios gives the stable a capable pilot. If Pentle Bay faces any early trouble on the turf course, this one looks like the most likely beneficiary.

show7Ulysses RoseML 5/2

Ulysses Rose is the morning-line favorite's stablemate — both are trained by Michael W. McCarthy — which adds an interesting wrinkle since McCarthy could easily have a two-pronged attack here. At 5/2 on the line, Ulysses Rose is the public's second choice, and a 71.7 rating with Juan J. Hernandez up makes this a legitimate exotic anchor rather than a throwout.

Race 2

9:32 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Three debut firsters with zero workable speed figures line up against a pair of first-out runners in what promises to be a barn-versus-barn shootout on the dirt sprint.

win1Miss MonicaML 8/5

Miss Monica breaks from the rail for Bob Baffert and Juan J. Hernandez — a pairing that has historically clicked at Del Mar — and carries the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 59.0. She opens at 8/5 on the morning line, reflecting public confidence in the Baffert first-out angle on the dirt, which has been one of the more reliable patterns on the Southern California circuit. With no workable speed figures on any of the main rivals, this is largely a trainer-and-connections play, and those connections don't come stronger.

place5Well VersedML 2/1

Well Versed is trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by the legendary Mike E. Smith — a combination that rarely shows up without a horse ready to run. The 58.33 TrackWiz rating tracks closely with Miss Monica's top mark, and at 2/1 on the morning line, this is effectively a coin-flip with the favorite. If Miss Monica is overbet, Well Versed offers a comparable profile at potentially better value.

show4Royal PearlML 3/1

Royal Pearl gives Michael W. McCarthy another arrow in his quiver today — he's sending runners out in multiple races — and Antonio Fresu is a reliable Del Mar turf pilot who can also handle dirt. At 3/1 with a 56.67 rating, Royal Pearl has enough upside to land in the exacta or trifecta, and McCarthy's first-out record on the local circuit warrants respect even when the horse isn't the top pick.

Race 3

10:04 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

The top two in TrackWiz's ratings are separated by just six points in an AOC turf mile that shapes up as a two-horse battle at the top, with a monster longshot lurking in the show slot.

win1Red CherryML 5/2

Red Cherry earns the top TrackWiz score in this field at 87.81 — a full six points clear of her nearest rival — and Joel Rosario sliding into the irons for John Sadler is a powerful rider-trainer combination at Del Mar. She opens at 5/2 on the morning line, which feels fair given the class edge our model identifies. The one-mile turf trip is a distance where Sadler's grass horses routinely fire, and in an AOC spot, the class picture favors a horse with this kind of rating separation.

place2Mia FamiliaML 5/1

Mia Familia brings actual experience to a field that has several unknowns, posting a 14% career win rate alongside an 81.52 TrackWiz score that ranks a clear second in the field. Trainer Jose D'Angelo keeps her engaged with Emisael Jaramillo up, and at 5/1 on the morning line, there's some real place value here if the top pick draws clear. Her average speed of 55 is competitive for this level.

show3Soul SisterML 12/1

Soul Sister is the longshot angle in the show slot — 12/1 on the morning line with a 58.08 rating that doesn't scream top three, but Karen Headley's 14% career win rate with this horse is a live number. At that price, she's a trifecta wheel candidate and a smart inclusion in any exotics approach. Tiago Pereira has been finding his footing at Del Mar and can get her into a good spot from post 3.

Our free coverage kicks off with a pair of maiden special weights before transitioning into an allowance optional claiming mile on the turf — a nice progression that lets you find your footing early in the card. Pentle Bay draws the eye in Race 1 at 3/1 on the morning line, posting the highest TrackWiz rating of the three free races at 87.08 over a 1 1/8-mile turf route — that's a generous price for a horse our model likes this much. In Race 3, Red Cherry comes in rated 87.81, the top mark across the entire free card, and goes off at 5/2 in an allowance optional claiming mile on the lawn. On a clear, fast turf day like today, horses with strong pace efficiency grades tend to thrive at Del Mar, and both Pentle Bay and Red Cherry check that box.

Sandwiched between them is Miss Monica in Race 2, the 8/5 morning-line favorite in a 6.5-furlong dirt maiden. She's the shortest price of the three free picks, which naturally compresses the value a bit — but when our model agrees with the market, that's worth noting. Three solid free plays to build your day around before the card really heats up.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:38 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A deep, sprawling maiden claimer sprinting five furlongs on the dirt with a scratched runner trimming the field — one horse separates herself from the pack on our ratings.

win11Please BehaveML 4/1

Please Behave dominates this field with a 85.62 TrackWiz rating that sits more than 29 points clear of the second-ranked horse. At 4/1 on the morning line, she's not the public's top choice by line, but our model strongly disagrees with that assessment. She's shown an average speed of 54 and gets a competent Henry Reynoso Lopez ride — in a maiden claimer of this depth, that combination of raw rating and workout profile makes her the clear top selection.

place3Big BroadcastML 3/1

Big Broadcast draws the Joel Rosario assignment for Tim Yakteen, and in a maiden claimer at Del Mar, that jockey booking often signals a barn that means business. At 3/1 on the morning line, he's the public favorite despite no published speed figures, which tells you the Yakteen connections have shown connections enough in the mornings to inspire confidence. He rates as the logical place horse if Please Behave gets the job done.

show13HarketteML 7/2

Harkette and Senora Gobernadora are tied on both morning line (7/2) and TrackWiz rating (55.83), but Harkette gets the nod in the show slot based on her published average speed of 54 and Ricardo Gonzalez's consistency at Del Mar. In a full field of 13 active runners, the trifecta is the play, and Harkette's speed figure edge over much of the field makes her a reasonable bottom slot.

Race 5

11:10 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A five-furlong turf claiming sprint packed with experience — three horses are separated by fewer than four rating points at the top, and the pace scenario could be the deciding factor.

win3GazonML 4/1

Gazon earns the top TrackWiz score in this field at 85.62 and has the best published average speed figure of the contenders at 57 — a meaningful edge in a short turf sprint. Joel Rosario takes the mount for John Sadler, and that partnership on the Del Mar grass is among the most productive on the grounds. His 14% career win rate is honest in a claiming context, and at 4/1 on the morning line, there's real value for a horse our model rates at the top of the field.

place6Urban RulerML 5/1

Urban Ruler is the standout value candidate in the place slot — a 25% career win rate is the highest among the top contenders, and the Doug O'Neill barn has been firing at Del Mar. At 5/1 on the morning line with an 83.53 TrackWiz rating just a tick below the top pick, Urban Ruler screams place-price value. Emisael Jaramillo stays on for a horse that clearly knows how to hit the board.

show1Comedy TownML 7/2

Comedy Town opened this meet with a strong showing pattern and brings an 18% career win rate into a field where consistency matters in exotics construction. The 81.28 TrackWiz rating keeps her firmly in play, and at 7/2 on the morning line, Edgar Payeras has been solid in the irons. If the pace collapses between the top two and a closer sneaks through, Comedy Town is the most likely to benefit.

Race 6

11:40 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Dirt

An intriguing stakes sprint with three undefeated runners — Ruiva, Holmby, and Crazy Hot Mess all carry a perfect 100% win rate — setting up a showdown between Wesley Ward's barn and Bob Baffert's operation.

win4RuivaML 7/5

Ruiva opens as the 7/5 morning-line favorite for Wesley Ward, who has built a career on unveiling sharp first-out juveniles in exactly these kinds of short stakes sprints. Her 59.33 TrackWiz score tops the field, and with a 100% career win rate, the record speaks for itself. Ward horses at Del Mar on the dirt sprint is a pattern TrackWiz tracks closely, and the connections here give no indication this filly is anything but ready.

place5HolmbyML 8/5

Holmby is Bob Baffert's answer to Ward's speedball, and at 8/5 on the morning line, the public has these two virtually locked in a match race. A 100% career win rate and a 57 average speed figure suggest she's done everything right in training, and Juan J. Hernandez rarely gets on a Baffert stakes runner without cause. If Ruiva stumbles or gets into a pace duel, Holmby is perfectly positioned to capitalize.

show1DashML 6/1

Dash might be the overlooked runner in this field at 6/1 — Michael W. McCarthy sends her out with Ricardo Gonzalez up and she posts a 56 average speed figure that's competitive with the top two. Her 51.67 TrackWiz rating is well below the leaders, but in a three-horse sprint where pace pressure between the undefeated favorites could set things up for a closer, Dash is an interesting trifecta inclusion at a price.

Race 7

12:10 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A full field of eleven in a five-furlong turf AOC where the top two on our board are clear standouts, but the third pick at 8/1 offers serious exotic appeal in a wide-open race.

win7Pavel Is AppealingML 2/1

Pavel Is Appealing sits atop the TrackWiz leaderboard at 86.77 — the highest rating in this race — and carries a 33% career win rate that is outstanding for a horse at this level. Umberto Rispoli takes the mount for Doug O'Neill, and the 2/1 morning line reflects genuine public confidence. On a five-furlong turf dash, an honest 56 average speed figure gives him the tactical pace flexibility to win ugly or win pretty.

place6Tiger of the SeaML 6/1

Tiger of the Sea earns an 82.71 TrackWiz score and gets Joel Rosario in the irons for Brian Koriner — a booking that elevates a horse with a modest 10% career win rate into a legitimate place contender. At 6/1 on the morning line, there's clear overlay potential in the place pool. The 56 average speed figure is right there with the field's best, and in a race this full, a clean trip off the pace could be the difference.

show8Come On OmML 8/1

Come On Om is a 33% career winner — matching Pavel Is Appealing's hit rate — and opens at 8/1 on the morning line for Sean McCarthy with Tyler Baze up. That price represents serious value for a horse with that kind of career win percentage. A 74.46 TrackWiz score and a 56 average speed figure keep her firmly in the exotic conversation, and in a field this large, a trifecta including all three of these runners looks compelling.

Race 8

12:40 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A six-and-a-half furlong dirt AOC where one horse stands well apart from the field on TrackWiz's model, despite opening at an attractive 4/1 on the morning line.

win6Pocket VenusML 4/1

Pocket Venus dominates this field with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — a 32-point gap over the second-ranked horse is enormous in a field of seven. Joel Rosario takes the call for Mark Glatt, and Glatt's 25% career win rate with this filly is exactly the kind of stat that translates to confidence at the windows. At 4/1 on the morning line, this is a spot where our model identifies a significant disconnect between public perception and actual form.

place4Kinzlee'scharismaML 6/1

Kinzlee'scharisma rates second in the field at 53.46 with a 14% career win rate, and Cesar Belmont has been quietly effective at Del Mar this meet. At 6/1 on the morning line, she offers solid place value in a race where the top pick should be well-backed. The 55 average speed figure is competitive at this level, and Daniel Jensen keeps horses fit and ready.

show2Shared FutureML 4/1

Shared Future brings a 20% career win rate and a 48.88 TrackWiz score for trainer Mark Rheinford, who works with a smaller stable but places horses well. At 4/1 on the morning line — the same price as the top pick — there's something to be said for using her underneath in exotics to manage risk. The 53 average speed figure is on the lower end, but her career win percentage suggests she knows how to hit the board.

Race 9

1:10 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A full eleven-horse field in a one-mile turf starter optional claiming race loaded with graded experience — the top three on TrackWiz's model are separated by fewer than ten points, making exotics the real play here.

win7Moonlit SonataML 5/1

Moonlit Sonata earns the top TrackWiz grade at 83.68 and gets Umberto Rispoli for Tim Yakteen — one of the more reliable rider-trainer tandems on the Southern California turf circuit. At 5/1 on the morning line, there's genuine overlay potential for a horse our model rates as the clear top selection. The 55 average speed figure is solid for a one-mile turf route, and Yakteen's horses tend to improve with each start, which is exactly what you want in a starter-condition race like this.

place2RostovskyML 4/1

Rostovsky is trained by Mark Glatt and gets Emisael Jaramillo in what looks like a live place play at 4/1 on the morning line. His 75.38 TrackWiz score is a clear second in the field, and an 8% career win rate — while modest — is the kind of number that often improves dramatically in softer starter-condition spots. The 54 average speed figure is consistent with the field, and Glatt rarely misses when targeting turf routes at Del Mar.

show5MaximonML 12/1

Maximon opens at a massive 12/1 on the morning line despite a 73.96 TrackWiz score that ranks third in the field — a disconnect our model flags as potential value. A 33% career win rate is the second-highest in the race among active runners, which is a significant stat for a horse at this price. Armando Ayuso gets the mount for Peter Eurton, and a 56 average speed figure gives Maximon legitimate closing punch over a mile of turf.

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Clear skies, fast turf, and a card with range — from maiden openers to a dirt stakes race. Our top free plays are Pentle Bay (R1), Miss Monica (R2), and Red Cherry (R3). If you want the pace breakdowns, exotic tickets, and full analysis through Race 9 — including our take on the stakes in Race 6 — it's all waiting for you with a TrackWiz subscription. Good luck out there, and enjoy the day at Del Mar.

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