Quills Picks Winners – Thursday 10/31 – Del Mar Race 8

We head to “Where the Turf Meets the Surf” for the start of the Breeders’ Cup/Bing Crosby season at ol’ Del Mar. The big races are on Friday and Saturday, but we open the meet with nine races on the Thursday card. Featured here today is the eighth race on the card, where three-year-olds will race one mile on the turf course.

Del Mar Race 8 – Let It Ride Stakes

Favored in the race is the 10 King of Gosford (5/2 morning line). He had to alter course last time out in the Eddie D running down the hill at Santa Anita. There is some class relief here running in a non-graded stakes here. But he did close well despite the traffic issues in the stretch. He did finish second going longer at Del Mar in August.

Del Mar

The 7 Take Me To Church (3/1 ML) makes the cross country trip to Del Mar for this race after a third at Aqueduct. He has been part of slow paces on the NYRA circuit since coming to America. He has been closer to the pace, but he could be a few lengths further back if the pace is faster than he has seen in New York.

The 4 Heart Headed (7/2 ML) will be close to the pace as well like he was when he won at Santa Anita last month. He defeated several horses entered in this race today and could do so again today even with the move forward into stakes company here.

Keep an eye on the 5 Sketchy (8/1 ML) who has the possibility to be alone on the lead. Also look at the 2 Siennois (10/1) who is a stone cold closer who is returning as a gelding after a two-plus month layoff. 

Joe’s Pick

King of Gosford has a built in excuse for his last race having traffic trouble last time out. But the issue is the fact that he has not won at two turns yet in his career. Take Me To Church also had a few issues at Aqueduct earlier in the month. But I will go with Heart Headed to win this race. I’ll call this 4-7-2-10 and my play is $20 to win on the 4. Best of luck everyone!

Breeders’ Cup

This weekend is Breeders’ Cup and I will be live with a sidecast on my Twitch page. I am tentatively planning to stream from 5 to 8:30 pm Eastern time on Friday and 2:30 to 8:30 pm Eastern time on Saturday. 

Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” Monday through Thursday at 9 pm Eastern Time on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up. Also, catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.