Del Mar Racetrack, “Where the Turf Meets the Surf”, begins their famous summer meet on Friday, July 10. Although the stakes race on Friday isn’t graded, horse racing bettors can still make a few bucks. We handicap the Oceanside Stakes along with a couple of huge races on Del Mar’s Friday card! Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Del Mar Racetrack for Friday, July 10. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Del Mar Racetrack Horse Racing Picks
- When: Friday, July 10 at 5:00 pm ET
- Where: Del Mar, CA
- Weather: Mostly Sunny
Del Mar Racing Picks for Friday, July 10
Race 7 – 8:00 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf – $62,500 Allowance Optional Claiming
Richard Mandella trained 5-year-old mare Great Return has a real chance to grab first place in this tough $62,500 allowance optional claimer over the lawn. Mandella often releases his top runner at the Del Mar Meet. Not only that, but Great Return has a couple of wins and a couple of thirds from 4 races over the Del Mar sod.
Declaration of War sired 4-year-old filly Strike at Dawn picks up top rider Flavien Prat. Flavien should move the Richard Baltas trainee up a few lengths. If you’re not sold on Great Return, here’s one to consider backing.
Jockey Umberto Rispoli has shown a knack for getting winners home over the grass. Rispoli picks up the reigns on Simon Callaghan trained Maxim Rate. The 4-year-old filly lost her last race, which was at this level, by a head. If she improves, she’s another that can win.
- Win: Great Return
- Place: Strike at Dawn
- Show: Maxim Rate
Race 8 – 8:30 pm ET – 7 Furlongs Dirt – $40,000 Allowance Optional Claiming
Trainer Juan Leyva takes over St. Joe Bay’s training duties for John Sadler. Last year’s Grade 2 San Carlos winner at Santa Anita has 2 wins from 5 races over Del Mar’s dirt. St. Joe Bay can lead or stalk while Leyva must believe he can still run. The winner of over $738k is an 8-year-old horse, not an 8-year-old gelding.
4-year-old gelding Sash should get bet down to nothing. The Mark Glatt charge lost a 1 1/16 mile race at Santa Anita by just a neck in its last. The cut back in distance should help the cause and Flavien Prat thinks enough to ride.
Dreams of Valor goes for trainer Craig Dollase. Valor can either take the lead or track Sash. The ability to do either should give jockey Edwin Maldonado options after they break from the gate.
- Win: St. Joe Bay
- Place: Sash
- Show: Dreams of Valor
Race 9 – 9:00 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf – $100,000 Oceanside Stakes
Trainer Peter Miller does very well with horses he runs at Del Mar. He should have the winner of Friday’s Oceanside Stakes in 3-year-old gelding El Tigre Terrible. The Smiling Tiger sired runner has 3 wins, a second, and a third from 6 lifetime races. Tiger can either take the lead outright or lie right off.
Miller could grab the win money and the place money. In addition to saddling El Tigre Terrible, Peter also saddles City Zip sired gelding Silardi. The second choice broke its maiden in a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint on May 23. Silardi then won its first race against winners. Because City Zip sired, the stretch out makes a ton of sense.
Margot’s Boy had won 3 in a row before finishing third by half a length as the favorite in its last. Although Margot couldn’t keep the winning streak alive, the Clubhouse Ride sired gelding did fight back after being headed. Consider for all slots on your exotic tix.
- Win: El Tigre Terrible
- Place: Silardi
- Show: Margot’s Boy
