Del Mar Recap for Thursday (8-7-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. One dueling front running winner at 6f on dirt. On the turf course, a 4-1 front runner graduated at 5f, a 5-2 stalking favorite scored at one mile, a 4-1 stalker called at one mile, and a 10-1 closer won the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Diego Herrera booted home two winners on turf.
August 7 Claims: Race 4 – Curvino ($50k, Sean Williams). Race 8 – Hey Demps ($25k, Mark Glatt), Lady of Power ($25k, Mike Puype).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $61,771 and tickets with six winners paid $6,285.80. Tickets with five winners paid $45.00.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Thursday (8-7-25)
DMR 2 TOO SASSY ($10.80)
Double (races 1-2, $66.80)
DMR 3 TWILIGHT EMPIRE ($5.20), Trifecta ($65.20)
Double (races 2-3, $27.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $118.00)
DMR 4 TARIFF (DMR Best Bet, $7.20)
Double (races 3-4, $20.80)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $140.60)
Double (races 4-5, $25.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $66.60)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $427.20)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $148.80)
DMR 7 YOUNG LOVE ($5.00)
Double (races 6-7, $44.40)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $133.80)
$5 Late Double (races 7-8, $193.50)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Friday (8-8-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners scored on the speed friendly dirt oval (8f, 6f, 5f). On the turf course, a 5-2 front running first timer graduated at 5f, another front running first timer broke his maiden as the chalk at 5f, a stalking favorite earned his diploma at one mile, and a stalking favorite captured the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).
Antonio Fresu (routes) and Juan Hernandez (turf sprints) both booted home a pair.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-8-25
Graduation (CA-bred 2yo, 5f): Hero Or Zero was the strong favorite from the outside post but he messed up the break and was away last. My top choice Sammy Davis ($5.80) took full advantage of the chalk’s early misfortune and he sped to the front and never relinquished his advantage in a sharp victory by 2 1/4 lengths. Peter Miller’s filly Whats a Good Name chased from second and stayed there throughout in a solid effort. Hero Or Zero made a wide run from off the pace, moved to the inside in the stretch, and missed the place by a length while well clear of the rest. Fionello and Trump Era trailed. Hector Berrios rode the winner for John Sadler. Fractions: 22.33, 45.35, 57.92.
Aug. 8 Claims: Race 1 – Ghazaaly ($40k, Doug O’Neill). Race 3 – Miracle Ball ($25k, Librado Barocio).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $160,485 and tickets with six winners paid $774.40. Tickets with five winners paid $9.70.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (8-8-25)
DMR 3 MIRACLE BALL ($3.80)
DMR 4 HE’S A KNOCKOUT ($3.40)
Double (races 3-4, $6.40)
Double (races 4-5, $51.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $97.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $131.40)
DMR 7 SAMMY DAVIS ($5.80), Trifecta ($33.80)
Double (races 6-7, $17.60)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $161.20)
DMR 8 WORD PLAY (Best Bet, $4.20)
$5 Late Double (races 7-8, $48.50)
Late Pick 4 (races 5-8, $666.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Saturday (8-9-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 6f). Stalkers and pressers won the other three dirt races. On the turf course, a 17-1 stalker won the 5f opener, a 5-2 front runner graduated at 5f, a 9-2 stalker won by 8f, a 3-1 stalker tallied at one mile, and front running favorite Heredia stole the Yellow Ribbon (G2) at 1 1/16 miles (rail at 18 feet).
Outstanding day for jockey Juan Hernandez. He guided home six winners including both graded races on the card. Bob Baffert saddled three winners on the main track and Hernandez rode all of them. John Sadler saddled two turf route winners.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-9-25
Grade 3 Best Pal (2yo, 6f dirt): Bob Baffert’s Omaha Beach colt Desert Gate ($2.40) was visually impressive under Juan Hernandez. He dueled from the outside post, put away Punto Forty, and strolled through the stretch and cruised across the line by 8 3/4 lengths at 20 cents on the dollar. Pavlovian rallied in the stretch and landed the place, and Brigante was a clear third. Punto Forty weakened to fourth and St Petersburg trailed. Fractions: 22.26, 45.31, 57.78, 1:10.37.
Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (F&M, 8.5T): There were no confirmed front runners in this race and I went with Heredia (GB) because she closed into slow fractions in a good effort in the De La Rose at Saratoga last time. Juan Hernandez rode Heredia and she was the favorite, and she made the lead, controlled the pace, and was never seriously threatened. If you give a horse with her closing kick an easy lead through slow fractions, you can forget about catching her. She won by 2 1/4 lengths and paid $5.40. Public Assembly edged late runner Watchtower by a nose for the place and the latter ran a quality race considering the race flow. Plus, it was her first start since January. Hang the Moon stalked from the inside post and finished an even fourth in her first start of the year. Mahina, Mission of Joy, Liguria, and Musical Rhapsody (IRE) also ran. Graham Motion saddled the winner. Fractions: 24.93, 49.73, 1:14.25, 1:37.19, 1:42.92.
Aug. 9 Claims: Race 8 – Broadway Unions ($10k, Hector Palma).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $233,454 and tickets with six winners paid $1,377.60. Tickets with five winners paid $18.80.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (8-9-25)
DMR 2 Bottle of Rouge/Super Corredora/Bad Manners Trifecta ($37.00)
DMR 4 DESERT GATE ($2.40), Trifecta ($31.40)
Double (races 3-4, $12.20)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $35.80)
Double (races 4-5, $14.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $91.60)
DMR 6 PRIVMAN (DMR Best Bet #1, $4.00), Exacta ($5.80)
Double (races 5-6, $35.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $24.60)
Double (races 6-7, $18.00)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $113.40)
Middle Pick 4 (races 4-7, $115.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $37.80)
DMR 9 HEREDIA (DMR Best Bet #2, $5.40), Quinella ($16.20)
Double (races 8-9, $10.60)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $59.40)
DMR 10 CHRISTEL CLEAN ($8.40)
$5 Late Double (races 9-10, $77.50)
SAR 9 LAURELIN ($6.40), Trifecta ($179.00)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (8-10-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running sprint winners on dirt (6.5f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a 3-1 stalker won at one mile, a 5-2 dueling front runner scored at 5f, a 6-1 closer went last-to-first at 5f, and a 9-1 front runner graduated in the flat mile finale (rail at 18 feet).
Hector Berrios booted home three winners (2 turf wins). Juan Hernandez and Bob Baffert teamed up for a pair of juvenile dirt sprint wins.
Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 8-10-25
Grade 3 Sorrento (2yo fillies, 6f dirt): Himika ($2.40) was much the best as the strong favorite. She did not have the best beginning from the inside post and she went up between rivals to contest the pace. She put away her pace rivals and was clear in the stretch, and she crossed the line 4 1/4 lengths in front of Mo ‘Em Down. The latter kicked away from the rest in a clear runner-up finish, and maiden Thank You India battled on the pace and was best of the rest in third. My Kat, Stuffy Mist, and Dreaming of Alys also ran, and the latter seemed to resent kickback and never picked up her feet. Juan Hernandez rode the winner for Bob Baffert. Fractions: 22.11, 45.40, 57.64, 1:10.61.
August 10 Claims: Race 6 – West Avenue ($10k, Sean Williams), Zombo Bombo ($10k, Jose Hernandez, Jr.). Race 8 – Devil Among Us ($20k, Antonio Garcia).
The $1 Pick 6 pool was $165,660 and tickets with six winners paid $50,572.50. Tickets with five winners paid $284.10.
Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (8-10-25)
DMR 1 BALBOA ($3.00)
Double (races 1-2, $15.00)
DMR 3 HIMIKA ($2.40), Exacta ($7.80)
Double (races 2-3, $10.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $17.40)
Double (races 3-4, $10.60)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $50.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $24.80)
*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.
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