By Joe Quillen
Del Mar Saturday December 2, 2023
Happy December and Happy Meteorological Winter one and all! Okay, my weather geek knowledge is coming out as we head into the final month of the year, or the Saturday picks of Quills Picks winners, I’m not going to go with one, but two races today. First we’ll take a look at the first race of the day, the Grade III Jimmy Durante, which is a mile race on the turf for two-year-old fillies, and then we’ll look at the seventh race, the Hollywood Derby, which is a Grade III going a mile and one-eighth on the turf.
Let’s begin with the first race mentioned. Juveniles go a mile on the turf in the Jimmy Durante. I’m going to go here with the 9 Go With Gusto (4/1 morning line). She had some traffic issues in her previous start at Santa Anita in a more compact field. But I think she won’t have as much in the way of traffic issues here despite more horseflesh in this race.
The 8 Lady de Berry is the morning line favorite here (5/2 ML). She broke her maiden (i.e. won her first career race) at the end of the October Keeneland meet, and you always have to respect Chad Brown.
For third, I’m going with the 3 Yatta (6/1 ML). She broke her maiden at Kentucky Downs in early September, and has been closing in her next two starts out. Don’t be afraid to play her if you don’t like my other two choices. I’ll go 9-8-3 in the Jimmy Durante.
Then race 7 is the Hollywood Derby for 3-year-olds going a mile and an eighth. Nine horses are entered here in the Grade 3 race. The 9 Seal Team won the Twilight Derby last time out at Santa Anita, outkicking the 1 Silver Knott and the 5 Webslinger. Also keep an eye on the 4 Watsonville afther he stumbled at the start of the Twilight Derby.
This race looks likes a reply of that November 4 race at Santa Anita. This time, I think Silver Knott exacts revenge on Seal Team and Webslinger. I’ll go 1-5-9-4 in the Hollywood Derby.
Plays for Saturday:
Del Mar Race 5: $10 to win on the 9 Go With Gusto
Also: 50 cent pick 3 8,9 with ALL (7 horses entered) with 1,4,5,9 = $28 ticket
Del Mar Race 7: $10 to win on the 1 Silver Knott
Good luck in all your wagers!
