Free Picks For Del Mar -8/16/20

Race 1 - Maiden Special Weight (Purse - $55,000)

Six 2-year-old fillies, with four being first-timers, will go one mile on the turf. #4 Frazzled is one of the first-timers and I’m taking him to win as she is in a better situation than her debut, where the daughter of Outwork finished eight after getting off to a slow start. The reason being is that while I believe that Frazzled will get off to a better start, she will also have at least three fewer horses to compete with. I also like #1 Basilia here as she showed massive improvement in her second outing. However, Basilia is racing for the third time in just over a month and has yet to hit the ticket. #2 Sweetest Angel appears to be the readiest of the first-time starters though I wouldn’t be surprised if #5 Chicks Dig Munny is involved as well.

Picks: I like a #1, #4 exacta box. I will also make a win bet on the #4 along with a show bet on the #2.

Race 9 - Maiden Special Weight (Purse -$55,000)

Seven 2-year-old colts will go five-and-one-half furlongs on the dirt. There really are some great names in this field. While I want to go with #1 Defunded as my pick to win the event, I just can’t due to the fact that he is on the rail, but I will use him as part of an exotic bet. Defunded has trained well under Bob Baffert’s tutelage and has some very good lineage. So, I will go with #7 Mega Mischief, who is of course a son of Into Mischief. Trainer Jeff Bonde has a 19% strike rate with 2-year-old males on the dirt. #3 North Pole has to be good after being bought at auction for a little over $1 million. #6 Man Friday is another Bob Baffert horse and has trained decently well.

Picks: I will go with a win bet on the #7. I will also go with a exacta/trifecta box of #7, #1, #3, #6.

Race 10 - CTT and TOC Stakes (Purse -$75,000)

This one and three-eighth mile stakes race is for fillies and mares. I believe that there will be an intense battle for the top spot, between #3 Don’t Blame Judy and #10 Pretty Point, and the bottom of the ticket. Pretty Point has run well and is coming off a half-length victory in a $40,000 allowance optional claiming event on July 25. The 4-year-old Kentucky filly, who will have HOF’er Mike Smith on board, has reached the podium in 60% of her turf races which includes two victories. Don’t Blame Judy has also raced well recently, registering an Espeed of at least 100 in each of her last three starts, is coming off a strong third-place effort in the $65,000 one mile Osunitas Stakes. Don’t Blame Judy runs well at Del Mar, cashing in four of six events. I also like #5 Siberian Iris, #9 Ms. Peintour, and #1 Meal Ticket to battle for the bottom of the ticket.

Picks: i like a win bet on the #10. I also like an exacta box of #10, #3, #5.