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Del Mar Picks & Predictions — August 13, 2026

August 13, 20268 racesAll Del Mar picks

Del Mar is serving up an 8-race card this Thursday with clouds rolling in off the Pacific and temperatures sitting at a comfortable 76°F — about as good as Southern California racing gets in the heart of summer. No scorching sun baking the turf, no headwinds off the ocean pushing times wide. Conditions like these tend to play fair, and that means your homework matters more than the weather.

Five of the eight races are run on the grass, which is the story of the day. Del Mar's turf course has been a haven for pace-pressers and stalkers lately, so keep that in mind as you build your tickets. The dirt races round things out with a pair of maiden events and a one-mile claimer that could produce a big overlay or two.

We've got full breakdowns on three free races to get you started — Races 1, 2, and 3 — with Mr. A.P. standing out as our marquee selection early on the turf. Subscribers get the complete picture across all 8 races, including pace projections and exotic ticket structures.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A clear top-two emerge on paper in this 1 1/16-mile turf allowance optional claimer, but the morning line suggests bettors will have to pay up for the favorites — setting up a competitive exacta race between Mr. A.P. and Iriseach.

win5Mr. A. P.ML 8/5

Mr. A.P. is the class of this field by our TrackWiz rating (89.12) and comes in at the 8/5 morning line for good reason. Joel Rosario in the irons is never a bad thing on the turf, and the 20% career win rate shows this horse knows how to get to the wire first. At a mile and a sixteenth on grass, pace scenario should suit a horse with this level of tactical ability — the modest speed numbers from rivals like Vitruvian Man and Zeus's Echo suggest Mr. A.P. won't be under pressure early. Hard to beat at any price.

place1IriseachML 3/1

Iriseach has the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field (85.3) and gets Umberto Rispoli, who has been sharp around the Del Mar turf course. The 3/1 morning line offers decent value for a horse capable of pressing or stalking — and if Mr. A.P. gets into any trouble on the hedge-lined course, Iriseach is right there to capitalize. At 14% career wins, it's not a closer who fades; it's a horse that competes.

show4Zeus's EchoML 7/2

Zeus's Echo (7/2 ML, TrackWiz rating 67.04) is the third piece of this puzzle, and Juan Hernandez gives it a strong pilot. The 9% career win rate won't light up a spreadsheet, but at 7/2 in an exacta-friendly spot, Zeus's Echo projects as a solid stalker in a race where the top two could gun for each other early. Worth including in trifectas under the top pair.

Race 2

9:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

All six horses are winless — that's maiden claiming on the dirt in a nutshell — but Ghostwritten separates itself from the pack on raw ratings, and the pace looks soft enough to allow the top pick to dictate terms.

win1GhostwrittenML 8/5

Ghostwritten carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 89.12, a meaningful edge in a maiden claiming field where the spread between horses can be vast. Joel Rosario aboard is a major weapon in these lower-level dirt sprints — he knows when to move and when to conserve, and an average speed figure of 54 projects competitively here. Tim Yakteen is a trainer who keeps his horses sharp, and in a field where no one has broken their maiden, this one enters as the most proven commodity on form. Tough to fade at 8/5.

place3YautownML 3/1

Yautown gets a confidence-boosting Umberto Rispoli engagement for trainer Michael McCarthy, and at 3/1 on the morning line, there's some value here. The 56.67 TrackWiz rating ranks third in the field, but the 55 average speed figure — tied for the top mark alongside Gallatin — suggests this one brings competitive fractions to the table. If Ghostwritten gets into any traffic or misses the break, Yautown should be right in the mix.

show5GallatinML 5/2

Gallatin (5/2 ML) fills out the show slot and is a logical exacta partner. Trained by Peter Miller, who consistently fields ready runners, and ridden by Victor Espinoza — a veteran who can extract every last bit from a maiden. The 54.59 TrackWiz rating and matching 55 speed figure put it right in the hunt, and the 5/2 price suggests the market agrees. Use it underneath in trifectas.

Race 3

10:01 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

A big, messy field of maidens going five furlongs on the turf with a scratch already in — this is exactly the kind of race where a overlooked runner with strong underlying numbers can steal a big price, and Sauced Up fits that profile perfectly.

win1Sauced UpML 8/1

Sauced Up is our top pick at a juicy 8/1 morning line, and the TrackWiz rating of 79.79 is the highest in this field by a healthy margin — a full 22 points above the next-closest active runner. Felix Rondan isn't a household name at Del Mar, but Alfredo Bautista takes the mount and gives this one a capable pilot for a five-furlong turf sprint where early positioning is everything. The 55 average speed figure is solid in this context, and when a horse's metrics are this far ahead of the field in a maiden sprint, you have to play it. Eight-to-one is a gift.

place7Less PleaseML 5/2

Less Please sits just behind Sauced Up at a 57.50 TrackWiz rating and has the morning line favorite backing of 5/2 — the public clearly respects this one. Antonio Fresu takes the mount for trainer Edward Freeman, and a 55 average speed figure is competitive at five furlongs on the grass. In a wide-open maiden sprint, this horse's consistency of speed metrics makes it a natural fit for the place pool.

show10First Time ListingML 4/1

First Time Listing is an interesting inclusion — a debut runner (no avg speed figure on record) trained by Simon Callaghan, who has a strong reputation for getting first-timers ready on the Del Mar turf. Umberto Rispoli climbs aboard, which is always a signal worth noting for a debut runner. The 4/1 morning line on a horse with no past performance data suggests the connections like what they've seen in training, and Callaghan/Rispoli combos on turf debuts deserve respect. A sneaky show-slot play.

Our three free selections today cover a nice cross-section of the card. Mr. A.P. opens things up in the Race 1 Allowance Optional Claiming sprint on turf (1 1/16 miles) and comes in as our highest-rated pick among the free races with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — matching Ghostwritten in Race 2, who we like on the dirt in a Maiden Claiming mile. Two top-rated plays in the first two races is not something you see every day, and the cloudy, mild conditions suit both scenarios.

Race 3 shifts things to a short 5-furlong turf sprint for Maiden Special Weight runners, where Sauced Up catches our eye at a juicy 8/1 morning line. A 79.79 rating in a maiden field is plenty competitive, and that price alone makes this worth a closer look — anytime you can get a TrackWiz top pick at double-digit territory in a maiden event, the value case starts writing itself. All three free picks are available now, no subscription required.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:32 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

This one-mile dirt claimer features a clear class standout hiding in plain sight at a fair price — Mega Moon's rating towers over the field, and a pace scenario that could get messy up front only helps a horse with elite numbers.

win3Mega MoonML 5/2

Mega Moon is the standout here, posting an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — 15 points clear of the next-best runner. Juan Hernandez rides for Ronald Ellis, and the 56 average speed figure is the best in the field, suggesting Mega Moon brings better raw fractions than anyone else in this spot. The 5/2 morning line is fair but not generous — that said, when the ratings gap is this wide in a claimer, you don't argue with the data. This looks like a wire-to-wire type or a horse who can stalk and kick.

place4Pioneer PrinceML 3/1

Pioneer Prince is the value play in the exacta at 3/1, backed by a 23% career win rate — the highest of any horse in this field. Peter Miller sends out another live one with Emisael Jaramillo up, and the 72.99 TrackWiz rating places Pioneer Prince comfortably in the top half of the field. A horse who wins nearly one in four starts is a dependable place finisher even on an off day.

show6TessutoML 7/2

Tessuto (7/2 ML) rounds out our ticket with a 69.55 TrackWiz rating and gets Kyle Frey for trainer George Papaprodromou, who has developed a nice book of business at Del Mar. The 55 average speed figure is second in the field, and at 11% career wins, this is a horse that hits the board more often than it wins outright — making it a logical show play and trifecta anchor.

Race 5

11:03 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

With two scratches thinning the field and wide-open ratings across the board, this five-furlong turf claimer is ripe for a longshot bomb — and Twisted Humor, posting a top-level rating despite a double-digit morning line, makes the value case.

win4Twisted HumorML 10/1

Twisted Humor leads our TrackWiz ratings among all active runners with an 87.88 — yet somehow goes off at 10/1 on the morning line, which is the kind of disconnect that gets handicappers excited. Ricardo Ramirez takes the mount for trainer Jesus Uranga, and the 55 average speed figure is among the best remaining in the field post-scratches. In a five-furlong turf sprint that rewards early tactical speed, a horse with this rating profile at double-digit odds is exactly the kind of value play that makes exotics worth playing. Don't sleep on this one.

place12Angelica BayML 4/1

Angelica Bay is a sharp play at 4/1 — Kazushi Kimura has been one of the hottest jockeys at Del Mar for several seasons running, and Doug O'Neill is the kind of trainer who has his horses firing in sprints. The 76.69 TrackWiz rating and 14% career win rate give this one legitimate credentials, and in a field where the top two picks are separated by mere fractions on the ratings scale, Angelica Bay is a strong place contender.

show6Elsa DuttonML 5/1

Elsa Dutton slots in at 5/1 with a 74.79 TrackWiz rating and gets Kent Desormeaux aboard — a Hall of Fame rider who knows how to navigate five-furlong turf sprints at Del Mar better than almost anyone. The 11% career win rate is modest, but the 55 average speed figure is right there with the best in the field. In a race this wide open, Elsa Dutton's consistency of numbers makes it a reliable show-ticket component.

Race 6

11:34 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Thirteen runners — with a big field of winless maidens going a mile on the dirt — and two horses clearly separate themselves from the pack on TrackWiz ratings, suggesting this could play out as a two-horse show at the top despite the crowd.

win13Duke of OrleansML 3/1

Duke of Orleans sits atop the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 and draws Juan Hernandez for trainer Francisco Rodriguez — a pairing worth following. At 3/1 on the morning line, this is the public's choice too, but the ratings back it up: in a field of first-time winners hopefuls, an 87-level rating is a significant edge. The 53 average speed figure doesn't separate it from the pack on raw fractions, but in maiden claiming, superior overall form often wins out over any single speed dimension.

place12My Man Joe RoldanML 4/1

My Man Joe Roldan gets Joel Rosario — and that's a sentence worth underlining on any race card. The 72.77 TrackWiz rating puts it comfortably second-best in this field, and trainer Aggie Ordonez has positioned this runner well in the betting at 4/1. Rosario rarely wastes trips in maiden routes, and a horse with a 54 average speed figure over a mile of dirt should be able to press or stalk without burning out.

show6Desert HawkML 4/1

Desert Hawk is an intriguing show play at 4/1 — the 70.09 TrackWiz rating is third-best among our picks and puts it in legitimate striking distance. Francisco Monroy takes the mount for Jose Hernandez Jr., and while this is a horse with no career wins yet, the rating profile suggests it's been unlucky or lightly raced rather than overmatched. In a 13-horse maiden claiming field, show overlays are available, and Desert Hawk at 4/1 is one of the cleaner ones.

Race 7

12:05 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A tight five-furlong turf allowance optional claimer where the top three rated horses are separated by just 11 points — this is a genuine three-way battle between Miss Mandalay, Lee's Baby Girl, and Rethink, with the winner likely decided by pace shape.

win3Miss MandalayML 4/1

Miss Mandalay tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and brings a 25% career win rate — a horse that genuinely knows how to win races, not just run close. Umberto Rispoli takes over for trainer Robert Hess Jr., and the 57 average speed figure is tied for the best in this field. In a five-furlong turf sprint, a high average speed combined with an elite career win percentage and a top-caliber pilot makes Miss Mandalay the one to beat. The 4/1 morning line represents real value relative to the ratings.

place6Lee's Baby GirlML 5/1

Lee's Baby Girl at 5/1 is a strong play in the exacta — Kazushi Kimura is a natural fit on the Del Mar turf, and trainer Carla Gaines has a knack for placing horses where they can hit the board. The 78.13 TrackWiz rating and 21% career win rate speak to a horse that competes hard every time out. In a sprint, Lee's Baby Girl's speed figures (56 avg) suggest it can press the pace and hold on for second.

show5RethinkML 6/1

Rethink rounds out the ticket for Philip D'Amato, who also saddles Kuwaitya — having two in the race keeps D'Amato's options open and suggests he's confident in both. The 74.48 TrackWiz rating and an impressive 28% career win rate make Rethink legitimately dangerous in this spot, and Antonio Fresu is more than capable of finding a winning trip at five furlongs on the grass. At 6/1, the show price is a gift if the top two get into a pace war.

Race 8

12:36 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A competitive six-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt where two horses with near-identical high TrackWiz ratings create a compelling top of the ticket — with a massive longshot lurking underneath to round out a potentially lucrative trifecta.

win7Papa SantosML 8/1

Papa Santos goes at 8/1 on the morning line despite posting a 79.79 TrackWiz rating — tied for tops in the field — and that's an angle worth pressing. Tiago Josue Pereira takes the mount for trainer Daniel Dunham, and a 55 average speed figure is right there with the best in this race. In a maiden special weight — where horses are typically more lightly raced and form can be inconsistent — the horse with the strongest underlying metrics at a value price is exactly what we're targeting. Papa Santos checks every box.

place1Van Gogh StyleML 4/1

Van Gogh Style is the other 79.79-rated runner in this field, which makes the top exacta combination a natural. Tyler Baze rides for Sean McCarthy, and the 4/1 morning line suggests the public is on to this one too. The 54 average speed figure trails Papa Santos slightly, but in a six-furlong sprint, positioning and rate of acceleration matter as much as raw fractions — and a horse with this rating in a maiden field is always a threat to run big.

show4CornealeusthegreatML 15/1

Cornealeusthegreat at 15/1 is the TrackWiz longshot special of this race — a 60.91 rating that outranks several shorter-priced rivals, including the morning-line favorite Mickey (55.83). Jeremy Laprida takes the mount for Edwin Alvarez, and the 54 average speed figure is competitive in this group. In a maiden sprint where pace can get chaotic up front, a stalker with a hidden rating edge at 15/1 is exactly the type of price horse that makes trifectas pay. Worth a few dollars underneath.

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Today's Del Mar card is a turf-lover's afternoon with a couple of intriguing dirt underlays mixed in. Mr. A.P. and Ghostwritten are our top-rated free plays, and Sauced Up at 8/1 is the kind of value angle casual bettors tend to miss. For the complete card — pace projections, exotic structures, and every angle on all 8 races — subscribe to TrackWiz premium. Good luck out there, and may the turf be good to you.

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