Free Del Mar Picks & Predictions — September 4, 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.