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Free Del Mar Picks & Predictions — September 4, 2026

September 4, 20268 racesAll Del Mar picks

Results are in — see the official Del Mar chart and payouts (our top pick won 0 of 2)→

Labor Day weekend isn't quite done with us yet. Del Mar rolls out an 8-race Friday card under picture-perfect Southern California skies — clear, 76°F, and zero excuses for the horses. Conditions like these tend to reward speed horses who can get loose on the front end, so pace scenarios are going to matter today.

The card is a nice mix of surfaces, with turf sprints bookending the day in Races 1 and 4, a Stakes race in Race 6 headlining the afternoon, and a full-mile turf maiden in Race 7 that could produce some eye-catching prices. Three races are open to everyone; five more are waiting for you in the premium breakdown.

3 Free Races at Del Mar

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 fur · Turf

A clear class standout tops this 5-furlong turf allowance, but the secondary spots are genuinely competitive with three horses bunched within a point of each other in the ratings.

win4Yours SincerelyML 8/5

Yours Sincerely is the most dominant number in this field by a wide margin — an 89.12 TrackWiz rating that towers over the next-best contender. The Philip D'Amato/Antonio Fresu combination is a sharp one on the Del Mar turf, and a 37% career win rate gives you confidence this horse knows how to finish. Installed as the 8/5 morning-line favorite, she's probably going to be bet down further, but the rating gap justifies the short price.

place5Mo' Em DownML 3/1

Mo' Em Down brings a 40% career win rate into this spot, which is among the best in the field, and trainer Peter Miller is consistently dangerous on the Del Mar grass. At 3/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 66.61 and an average speed figure of 56, he profiles as the most logical horse to slot in behind the favorite and offers a reasonable price for the place slot.

show6Camila CatalinaML 8/1

Camila Catalina at 8/1 is a legitimate show-ticket inclusion for exotic players. Trained by Robert B. Hess Jr. and drawn in the six-hole, she owns a 28% career win rate and a solid 58.04 rating — third-best in the field — making her a logical fit in trifectas and superfectas at a price that enhances your payouts.

Race 2

9:30 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden field on the dirt at 6½ furlongs with first-time starters and lightly raced runners making this one of the trickier plays on the card — but one horse's numbers separate her from the chaos.

win2Genuine GraceML 3/1

Genuine Grace is the clear top selection here with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — by far the highest in the field — and she gets Joel Rosario in the irons, one of the most accomplished jockeys in the sport. Trained by Anthony K. Saavedra and posted at 3/1 on the morning line, she figures to be a solid favorite by post time. In a maiden field where form is thin across the board, her rating edge is the kind of separation that matters most.

place8AnyaML 15/1

Anya is the longshot angle that TrackWiz analysis surfaces as a legitimate place contender at 15/1. Despite her generous morning-line odds, her 64.85 rating is second-best in the field — a significant gap below Genuine Grace but well clear of the rest. Trainer Gloria Haley has her ready to run, and if the favorite hits any traffic trouble in a big field, Anya has the numbers to capitalize.

show9Acclaim PerfectionML 5/2

Acclaim Perfection draws the nine-hole under Juan J. Hernandez for the Sadler barn, and that trainer-jockey pairing carries plenty of weight at Del Mar. At 5/2 on the morning line with a 57.5 rating, she'll likely attract plenty of public money, but her inclusion in the show slot is justified as a safer hedge in trifectas given the barn's strong local presence.

Race 3

10:02 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Into the Hall's rating dominates a competitive allowance optional claiming field on the dirt, but the presence of Toaster — a Bob Baffert-trained horse with a perfect record — makes the pace scenario and exacta picture genuinely interesting.

win4Into the HallML 3/1

Into the Hall carries an 87.08 TrackWiz rating, the best figure in this field by a notable margin, and draws the services of Antonio Fresu for trainer Peter Eurton. At 3/1 on the morning line, there's real value for a horse with this kind of numerical edge in a six-furlong dirt sprint. A 14% career win rate might give some bettors pause, but the rating strength here is the story — he's simply running better than his rivals by the numbers.

place3ToasterML 2/1

Toaster is one of the more intriguing horses on the card — a Bob Baffert trainee with a perfect career record and a 2/1 morning line that makes him the public's likely favorite. Juan J. Hernandez picks up the mount, and a 58.33 rating keeps him squarely in the mix. Even if Into the Hall is the stronger play on the numbers, Toaster's unbeaten record and elite connections make him the horse most likely to run second or better.

show1Scary Fast RideML 5/1

Scary Fast Ride at 5/1 gives this trifecta some shape with a 57.97 rating and a 22% career win rate under Andy Mathis. Drawing the rail in a sprint can be a mixed blessing, but Drayden Van Dyke is a capable tactical rider who can navigate those first few furlongs. At the price, he's a smart inclusion to round out exotics.

Our three free races give you a strong cross-section of today's action. Yours Sincerely opens the card as an 8/5 morning-line choice on the turf — a price that reflects real ability, not just hype — while Genuine Grace brings a TrackWiz rating of 87 to a 6½-furlong dirt maiden that looks genuinely winnable at 3/1. Round out the free trio with Into the Hall in Race 3, another 3/1 shot in an Allowance Optional Claiming sprint who rates nearly as highly as Genuine Grace on our model.

One thread connecting these early picks: all three races are dirt or turf sprints under 7 furlongs, which means early pace is king. On a clear, fast afternoon at Del Mar, horses that can put themselves near the front without burning up — or closers with a tight enough trip — are going to have a big edge. Keep that in mind as you structure your tickets.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:34 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

Sweet Gal of Mine owns the top TrackWiz rating in this 5-furlong turf allowance optional claimer, but a deep nine-horse field with multiple live longshots — including Ninia at 15/1 — sets up a wide-open exotics race.

win6Sweet Gal of MineML 4/1

Sweet Gal of Mine has the second-best average speed figure in the field at 57 and an 82.72 TrackWiz rating that leads all comers. Richard Baltas is a sharp turf trainer, and Juan J. Hernandez gives her a live rider with strong Del Mar connections. The 4/1 morning line represents fair value for a horse whose numbers suggest she's the most likely winner, though her 7% career win rate is a flag worth noting in full.

place5Tiger of the SeaML 6/1

Tiger of the Sea profiles as a dangerous closer in a 5-furlong turf sprint that could set up for a late run. Joel Rosario picks up the mount for Brian J. Koriner, and a 74.97 rating slots him in solidly between our win and show picks. At 6/1 on the morning line, there's real place value here — he's a horse who can sit off a pace and pounce if the front-runners set it up.

show8NiniaML 15/1

Ninia is the value play of the race at 15/1 morning line, and her numbers quietly demand attention. An 80% career win rate is remarkable — nearly unmatched in this field — and her 69.58 TrackWiz rating is third-best. Kazushi Kimura gets the call, and Ninia's average speed figure of 56 is competitive on this turf sprint. This is the kind of hidden qualifier that makes trifectas and supers worth playing deep.

Race 5

11:06 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A sprawling 14-horse maiden claimer at 5½ furlongs on the dirt — the kind of race where the numbers do the heavy lifting, and TrackWiz analysis finds a clear top two separated from a very crowded middle of the pack.

win5Thirsty CaitlinML 9/2

Thirsty Caitlin tops this field with a 75.09 TrackWiz rating and draws jockey Wandryck Cardoso Franco for trainer Edwin G. Alvarez. At 9/2 on the morning line, she's priced as a mid-range contender, but her rating edge over the field is more decisive than that odds range implies. An average speed figure of 54 is right in line with the competitive portion of this field, and her profile suggests she's ready to break her maiden here.

place3PoticaML 6/1

Potica catches the eye with the best average speed figure among the top-rated horses in this race at 55, and a 64.25 TrackWiz rating puts her firmly in the second tier. Trainer Ryan Hanson sends her out with Adrian Escobedo up, and at 6/1 there's genuine place value. In a field this big, speed figures that grade out above the cluster are worth following for exacta positioning.

show7Big BroadcastML 3/1

Big Broadcast is Tim Yakteen's entry with Joel Rosario — a pairing that gets serious attention at any price. His 56.67 rating is the third-best in the field, and the 3/1 morning line reflects public confidence in that barn and jockey combination. He's the show horse that's probably going to get overbet, but the talent is real enough that including him in trifecta tickets is the right call.

Race 6

11:38 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Dirt

A competitive six-furlong dirt stakes with a heavy cluster of horses sharing identical morning-line odds, but Stay Bossy's TrackWiz rating stands well above the field — making this one of the stronger single-horse bets on the card despite the stakes-level competition.

win9Stay BossyML 6/1

Stay Bossy owns an 81.28 TrackWiz rating that dwarfs the field in this stakes — the next-best figure is Daytona Diamond at 57.5, a gap of nearly 24 points. Juan J. Hernandez takes the mount for trainer Steven Miyadi, and at 6/1 on the morning line, that's an overlay for a horse who grades out this far above his competition by the numbers. A 33% career win rate adds to the confidence that this horse can seal the deal when it counts.

place7Daytona DiamondML 5/2

Daytona Diamond at 5/2 is the public's second choice and the logical place contender based on a 57.5 rating and a strong connection with Kazushi Kimura for trainer Carla Gaines. A perfect career win rate — while likely based on a limited sample — adds intrigue, and the distance and surface match her profile. She should secure a check if Stay Bossy gets loose on the front end.

show2Palo Alto BabyML 7/2

Palo Alto Baby draws Joel Rosario for the Peter Miller barn — a combination that rarely goes overlooked at Del Mar — and a 55.83 rating and 100% career win rate keep her relevant in the show discussion. At 7/2 morning line, she'll be well supported, and in a stakes where several runners have 8/1 or longer odds on the morning line, she provides trifecta reliability at a manageable price.

Race 7

12:10 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Turf

Two scratches thin this maiden special weight turf mile field to 11, and with no horse cracking a 56 rating and a handful of first-time starters and lightly seasoned runners, it shapes up as a classically murky MSW on the grass.

win2Dream SeekerML 7/2

Dream Seeker gets the nod with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating, good enough to lead the active field, and draws Juan J. Hernandez for the Michael W. McCarthy barn — one of the sharper operations when pointing horses to turf routes. At 7/2 on the morning line, he's a reasonable overlay in a thin field where no one has a commanding edge. An average speed figure of 54 is consistent with what we're seeing across the board, making his connections the real differentiator here.

place10WildcatterML 9/2

Wildcatter is the Richard Mandella entry with Joel Rosario — a combination that speaks for itself in turf routing. His 54.17 rating slots him just behind Dream Seeker, and an average speed figure of 54 is in line with the competitive set. At 9/2 on the morning line, he represents solid place value, and Mandella's patient development approach with first-off-the-bench types often pays off at this distance.

show4BliksemML 5/1

Bliksem brings the best average speed figure in this race at 57 — notably above the field average — which is worth flagging in a maiden turf route where pace shape is hard to predict. The Jeff Mullins barn sends him out with Kyle Frey, and a 5/1 morning line makes him an interesting show play and trifecta component. That raw speed number could make him a factor early and give him enough cushion to hold third.

Race 8

12:42 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A 14-horse allowance optional claimer at 6½ furlongs on the dirt — the deepest and most chaotic field of the day — but Special Club's 86.35 rating stands as one of the clearest top numbers on the entire card.

win7Special ClubML 7/2

Special Club is a strong single in this spot with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating, the best figure in a very large field by a comfortable margin. Umberto Rispoli takes the mount for trainer George Papaprodromou, and his top average speed figure of 57 confirms that the rating has real-race backing. At 7/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for a horse with this kind of numerical separation — and in a 14-horse field where chaos is a real factor, his class edge should be decisive.

place10Lucky N SmartML 5/1

Lucky N Smart comes in with an 76.15 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win rate — the best win percentage among the key contenders — and draws Antonio Fresu for the Carla Gaines barn. At 5/1 on the morning line, there's genuine place value in a big field where the favorite can't run them all down. His average speed figure of 56 puts him right in the pack of live threats, and a barn that knows Del Mar is a real plus.

show9Van Gogh StyleML 12/1

Van Gogh Style at 12/1 is the longshot show play that TrackWiz analysis keeps circling back to in this field. A 66.64 rating is third-best in the race, and Drayden Van Dyke is a sharp pick-up for trainer Sean McCarthy. His average speed figure of 54 is modest, but his rating outperforms it — suggesting there may be more ability here than the public price reflects. In a race this size, getting 12/1 on a horse with genuine credentials is exactly the kind of show overlay worth playing.

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It's a clean, well-constructed card at Del Mar today — great weather, a Stakes headliner, and legitimate value scattered throughout. Start with Yours Sincerely, Genuine Grace, and Into the Hall on the free side, then let our premium analysis guide you through the back half of the card where the real exotic money gets made. Full breakdowns, pace projections, and ticket strategies are all waiting for subscribers — see you at the windows.

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