I hope you guys have the winner in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga, and now we will head to Del Mar for their three stakes races. We have the Daisycutter Handicap on the turf for fillies and mares, the San Diego Handicap which is the local prep race for the Pacific Handicap near the end of the summer meet, and the Bing Crosby Stakes for sprinters on the dirt. Let’s go through the sequence here and get some winners.
Del Mar Race 7 – Daisycutter Handicap
Our first race at Del Mar is the Daisycutter Handicap where the fillies and mares will spring five furlongs on the turf course. The 5 Elm Drive (5/2 morning line) is favored here returning from an almost three-month layoff. She was last seen at Churchill Downs on a yielding turf course. She doesn’t have her usual kick, and it may have been the wet ground that she was on here. She should love the firm turf here as she will be stalking the leaders and looking to make her move as she turns for home.
An Interesting mare here is the 2 Connie Swingle (3/1 ML). She has never missed the board in her career (six wins, three seconds, one third in 10 races) but she hasn’t races in almost two years. The trainer is very good with horses coming off a long layoff, but how long of a break counters the good stats that Phil D’Amato has?
Connie Swingle appears that she might stalk, but she’s been gone so long, who knows what she does. Looks like the 3 Itzel (6/1 ML), the 8 Runninwiththeboyz (9/2 ML) and the 9 Stay and Scam (7/2 ML) should be dueling on the front end setting things up for the late running fillies and mares.
The 1 Antifona (12/1 ML) draws the rail and has shown late speed, but she hasn’t run since early May at Santa Anita. But it will be Elm Drive who holds off Antifona and Connie Swingle here. I’ll call this 5-1-2-9 and my play is $20 to win on the 5.
Del Mar Race 8 – San Diego Handicap (Grade 2)
This race is all about the 4 Arabian Knight (3/5 ML) as he returns to the races after last being seen in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November. He is going to go to the front, and this looks like a glorified workout. It’s possible if the 5 Newgrange (6/1 ML) goes with Arabian Knight on the front end to try to tire him out.
If the 1 Express Train shows up that won the San Diego three years ago, he could be up there. But he has only run once in the last 21 months, a third at Santa Anita in April in a sprint race. He will like the extra distance, but Arabian Knight is running.
The 2 Katonah (15/1 ML) returns after winning the Pleasanton Mile last year. He is training well here, but I’m concerned with the long layoff.
The 3 Dr. Venkman (9/2 ML) finished second in the Grade 2 Triple Bend. He will go two turns for the first time in his career, but his sire is Ghostzapper who did win the Breeders’ Cup Classic many moons ago.
Like I said, this is all about Arabian Knight here. If you think Arabian Knight has a chance of losing tonight, I recommend looking at the place and/or show pools. You might have bridge jumpers, that is, bettors who load the place and show pools ten to hundreds of thousand dollars to make the racetrack lose money having to pay a $2.10 minimum to place or show when it should have paid $2.02 for example. That small amount doesn’t seem much, but imagine having to pay thousands upon thousands of dollars to that bettor to take advantage of the minimum payouts.
For the first time in QPW history, I have no play here, BUT I will have my eyes on the place and show pools to take advantage of some bridge jumping in the event that Arabian Knight finishes off the board.
Del Mar Race 10 – Bing Crosby Stakes (Grade 1)
Each racing day at Del Mar traditionally begins with “Where The Turf Meets The Surf” and today, the horses will run in this sprint named in Bing Crosby’s honor as eight horses will go postward in the Bing Crosby Stakes going six furlongs on the main track.
Favored in this race is the 8 The Chosen Vron (6/5 ML) who returns after a two-month break after winning the Thor’s Echo at Santa Anita. He can be on the lead and also be a couple of lengths off the pace. He has won five of six races at this distance and is three for five with a second at Del Mar lifetime. He is going to be very tough to beat here.
The 7 Happy Jack (3/1 ML) took advantage of front end speed in the Triple Bend winning the Grade 2 race at Santa Anita at the beginning of June against a field of four horses. He was off the pace and just missed in his first race of the year against The Chosen Vron. This will be Happy’s third race back and should be off the pace here.
The 3 Straight No Chaser (6/1 ML) only knows one way to run and that is running on the front end. He tired last time out in his 2024 debut at Aqueduct but returns to the races at Del Mar back under the care of Dan Blacker. He could be on the lead here, but he could have the class of the field passing him in deep stretch.
The horse I am interested in is the 9 Jackstown. How often do you get a Bob Baffert horse 15/1 on the morning line in a California race? Other than a Breeders’ Cup race, probably never?
This horse is screaming your typical Baffert horse. Won his maiden two years ago at Del Mar and then did not reappear until mid-June drawing off in an allowance optional claiming race. This script, granted without the almost two-year layoff has worked numerous times during Baffert’s career that I would not be surprised if Jackstown is at the hip of Straight No Chaser or The Chosen Vron here.
I am going to take the bait here. I’ll take the Baffert horse, hoping for a great price. I’ll go 9-8-7-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 9.
Note that since I will be at the Phillies game today with my high school classmates, I may not be able give an alternate selection. If I can, I will, but it will not be guaranteed for today. But whatever happens today, best of luck in all your wagers!
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.