The Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon highlights another competitive Saturday, Del Mar card. Keep reading for picks on the Yellow Ribbon along with horse racing betting picks for the non-graded Graduation Stakes and an intriguing 5 furlong turf dash allowance race.
Del Mar Betting Picks for Saturday, August 4
Cambodia back to defend her title in Saturday’s Gr II Yellow Ribbon this Saturday. #StableNotes pic.twitter.com/BXwgglVD1z
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) August 2, 2018
Race 4 – Graduation Stakes, $100,000
5 ½ furlongs-Dirt
There’s a ton of speed in this race. That’s why presser Our Silver Oak is 2/1 on the morning line. Our Silver Oak figures for a top placing. I don’t like him for the win, though. To me, Tap the Wire might be a standout. The Daniel Dunham trainee picks up the services of 24% winning jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Not only that, but Tap the Wire pulled away in a 4 ½ furlong race. Van Dyke can kick him in after the other speed has worn itself out. Our Silver Oak should get a nice trip if the pace is as fast as many believe it will be. Trainer William Morey is winning at 29% at Del Mar. The third place horse should be Luck’s Royal Flush. He’s the speed of the speed. Jockey Gary Stevens will get him to hang on while the other speed folds.- First: Tap the Wire
- Second: Our Silver Oak
- Third: Luck’s Royal Flush
Race 6 – Allowance Optional Claiming, $40,000
5 furlongs-Turf
Doug O’Neil trainee Fight On tries turf for the first time. That’s why he offers 8/1 on the morning line. Can Fight On beat his rivals in this? Absolutely, he can. He should get a decent trip while his sire, Into Mischief, has produced winners on both dirt and turf. Catfish Hunter has 2 seconds from 3 lifetime turf races. Two of those turf races were down Santa Anita’s hill. The other was at a mile. If Tyler Baze can get the Phil D’Amato trainee into a good position early, he could be tough to beat. Third place should go to Oiseau De Guerre. The morning line chalk only has a single win. But, the gelding is 6 for 11 in the money.- First: Fight On
- Second: Catfish Hunter
- Third: Oiseau De Guerre
Race 8 – Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, $200,000
1 1/16 miles-Turf
7/2 favorite Cambodia loves the Del Mar turf. She has 2 wins and a third from 4 lifetime races over Del Mar’s grass. The third was in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She breaks from a bad post, but she’s been working well and this field doesn’t appear to have come up all that tough. Beau Recall gets top turf jockey Corey Nakatani. She’s also one of the few legitimate closers in a race that should be much faster than any believe it will be. Nakatani will have her in a position to win. Second is probably the best she can do with Cambodia in the race. Sophie B won the Grade 1 Gamely two races ago. She had trouble in the 1-mile Grade 3 Wilshire. The longer distance of the Yellow Ribbon should help her tremendously.- First: Cambodia
- Second: Beau Recall
- Third: Sophie B
