Free Picks For Del Mar -8/15/20

Race 2 - Maiden Special Weight ($55,000)

Six 3-and-4-year-old colts and geldings will go six-and-one-half furlongs in what should be a splendid race. #6 Midnight Mystery has put up a strong Espeed rating of 95 in each of his last two starts, which includes his last outing where the 4-year-old gelding was caught down the stretch by eventual winner Rayray against this level and distance here at Del Mar on July 10. Jockey Abel Cedillo will likely have the son of War Front, who is the fastest horse in the field, set the pace of the race as he did in his last outing where he finished second -- one length behind the winner. Plus, trainer Bob Baffert had the seldom raced horse training well recently. #2 Disco Ball is stretching out one-half furlong after finishing second in his initial 2020 outing at this level at Los Alamitos in June. The 3-year-old son of Orb had a superb last workout, going four-furlongs in 46.8 seconds, and finished third in his first outing at Del Mar going five furlongs last year. I also really like first-time runners #1 Seiche. Another Bob Baffert horse, Seiche is the son of Super Saver and has put up tremendous workouts since moving from Los Alamitos.

Picks: I like a win bet on #6. I also like an exacta box of #6, #2, #1. I also like a show bet on the #1.

Race 3- Maiden Special Weight ($55,000)

Eight 3-and-4-year-old colts and geldings will go five furlongs on the turf. #5 Much More Halo has run well in each of his last three since coming off of a three-month layoff. The 3-year-old colt used a strong to finish second in his last outing at this distance and has four second-place finishes in six career starts on the grass. Trainer Bob Baffert and HOF jockey Mike Smith have a strong working relationship. #4 Most Sandisfactory moves back to the special weight division after four straight top 3 finishes, including a second-place finish against $20,000 maiden claimers in a mile race on the dirt in his last outing. The 3-year-old Kentucky gelding has finished in the money in seven straight events, including each of his three starts on the grass. #6 Graziano is making his debut. Graziano has had some good workouts at Del Mar after posting exceptional training times at Los Alamitos in July. Additionally, trainer Simon Callaghan and jockey Flavien Pratt have won 47% of their races together. #8 Tilted Towers is also an option in exotic bets.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #5. I also like a show bet on the #6 as well as a #4, #5, #6 exacta box.

Race 9 - Solona Beach Stakes ($125,000)

Six female runners, following the scratch of Smiling Shirlee, will go one mile on the turf in this Stakes race. I really like four of the starters a lot. #2 Cordiality looked like she was rounding into form in her last outing, which was just her second appearance in 2020, tying a career-high Espeed of 111 in a wire-to-wire victory at the Osunitas Stakes on July 12. The 7-year-old mare runs exceptionally well at this distance, winning nine meets (43% clip), as well as at Del Mar (38% strike rate). In addition, Cordiality has four victories in nine stakes races on the grass along with a 65% WPS on the surface. #4 Mucho Unusual has been fabulous on the track in highly regarded graded stakes races this year and has been quite consistent over the last eight races, posting an ESpeed of at least 100 in each of those starts. While Mucho Unusual has seven top-3 finishes in 10 stakes races on the turf, she has just three victories. The 4-year-old filly also runs well at this distance and is the fastest horse in the field. #1 Sedamer, who has cashed in 11 of 12 races on the grass, and #5 Pulpit Rider should also hit the ticket.

Picks: I like an exacta box of #2, #4. I also like a show bet on #1.