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Del Mar Recap for Thursday (10-30-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One dueling front running sprint winner at 6f on dirt. On the turf course, an 18-1 closer graduated in the flat mile opener, a 4-1 front runner graduated at one mile, a 3-1 stalker tallied at 8.5f, 10-1 stalker Tempus Volat won the Let It Ride at one mile, and a front running favorite won the flat mile finale (rail at 30 feet).

Mirco Demuro guided home the final three winners on the card (2 turf route wins). Armando Ayuso (dirt sprints) and Antonio Fresu (turf routes) both brought home two winners. Leonard Powell saddled two turf route winners.

Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 10-30-25

Let It Ride (8T): Friendly Confines was the even money favorite and he made the lead under Prat. He stayed clear turning for home but stalker Tempus Volat ($23.40) kept on grinding away and won by 3/4ths of a length. Friendly Confines held the place by a nose over closer Lyle the Crocodile (IRE). Hiding in Honduras, Bodi Zafa, Mescalero, and Geometry also ran. Mirco Demuro rode the winner for Leonard Powell. Fractions: 22.65, 46.38, 1:11.13, 1:23.29, 1:31.31.

Oct. 30 Claims: Race 2 – Far Western ($12.5k, Jesus Mendoza), Western Freedom ($12.5k, Mark Glatt). Race 4 – Cultural ($25k, Sergio Morfin).

The opening day $2 Pick 6 pool was $47,182 and there were no tickets with six winners. Tickets with five winners paid $189.40. The Pick 6 carryover amount is $28,807.

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Thursday (10-30-25)
DMR 2 Western Freedom/Winds of Freedom Exacta ($18.20)
DMR 3 Brigante/Honey’s Choice Exacta (DMR Best Bet, $14.60)
DMR 5 CORPORAL VIOLETTE ($8.00), Exacta ($45.20), Trifecta ($245.00)
Double (races 4-5, $25.60)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $109.80)
Double (races 5-6, $76.80)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $169.80)
DMR 9 Ribbons/Ambaya Exacta ($31.20)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.

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Del Mar Recap for Friday (10-31-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at 1 1/16 miles on dirt (Super Corredora). On the turf course, Conducted wired the field at 1.70-1 odds in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at one mile, race favorite Queen Maxima rallied to win the Senator Ken Maddy at 5f, 5-1 stalker Cy Fair captured the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at 5f, 20-1 closer Ballantina (IRE) won the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at one mile, and Gstaad closed from post 14 to win the BC Juvenile Turf at one mile.

Hector Berrios guided home three winners including Super Corredora in the BC Juvenile Fillies. John Sadler saddled two stakes winners (Mohaven – Golden State Juvenile Fillies, Super Corredora – BC Juvenile Fillies).

Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 10-31-25

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (2yo, 8T):  Conducted ($5.40) took control right out of the gate and was never seriously threatened. He won by a length and a half for Hector Berrios and John Sadler. Proton chased from second and landed the place, and race favorite Plutarch edged Dr. Agne for the show. Caro Buono (FR), Migo, Itza Lock, and Italio also ran. Fractions: 23.69, 48.77, 1:13.15, 1:24.79, 1:36.53.

Golden State Juvenile Fillies (CA-bred 2yo fillies, 7f): Post time favorite Mohaven ($5.60) was clearly best for Hector Berrios and John Sadler. She stalked while out in the clear from post 8, and she struck the front and kicked away from Cashed to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Liberation stalked wide from the outside post and was best of the rest in third. Miss Kona, Too Sassy, Cara Rose, Pasalubong, My Kat, Crunchy, Lino’s Angel, and Strong Morals also ran. Fractions: 21.90, 44.61, 1:10.23, 1:23.88.

Senator Ken Maddy (5T): My top choice Shoot It True stalked wide, led, and looked good in the stretch, but race favorite Queen Maxima ($4.80) was smartly handled and got up late to win by a length under Juan Hernandez. Shoot It True was second in a good effort and Nay V Belle landed the show. Great Venezuela, Marian Cross (GB), Omnipontet (BRZ), and Jungle Peace (IRE) also ran. Jeff Mullins saddled the winner. Fractions: 22.32, 45.29, 56.57.

Golden State Juvenile (CA-bred 2yo, 7f): Ocean Bear ($6.60) stalked inside and always looked like a winner under Umberto Rispoli. He reeled in Sammy Davis and won by 3/4ths of a length as my top choice. Can’t Help Myself rallied to finish a clear third and Thirsty Rebel stalked and finished fourth. Fionello, Mo Holland Drive, Fumano’s Magic, Southern Melodee, Love the Pressure, and Pavlovian also ran. The latter stumbled at the start and dropped rider Juan Hernandez. George Papaprodromou saddled the winner. Fractions: 22.32, 44.95, 1:10.10, 1:23.38.

BC Juvenile Turf Sprint (2yo, 5T): I made Schwarzenegger my top choice and he made the lead as expected but could not hold on. Cy Fair ($12) stalked from post 9 under Irad Ortiz Jr. and she hit the front in the lane and won by 3/4ths of a length. She exited a stakes win at WO. Overseas invader Brussels (GB) broke slow and rallied for the place from the inside post, and Aspect Island (GB) rallied for the show at 28-1 odds. The 2-3 finishers last raced at Newmarket. Obliteration chased the pace and finished fourth, and Schwartznegger weakened to 5th. Later Than Planned (IRE) split the 12-horse field from the outside post and was followed by Lennilu, True Love (IRE), Intricate Spirit, Mission Central (IRE), Royal Testament, and Havana Anna (GB). George Weaver saddled the winner. Fractions: 21.64, 44.33, 56.02.

BC Juvenile Fillies (2yo fillies, 8.5f): This was a 2-horse race from the outset. Race favorite Explora had a sharp beginning but Super Corredora was intent on the lead and the chalk backed off and tracked the pace. Super Corredora ($19.60) stayed on top throughout and beat Explora by 3/4ths of a length. The latter saved ground, came after the leader, and was clearly second best. Percy’s Bar (bumped) rallied for the show and just edged Meaning. Tommy Jo made a wide move and flattened out, and Bottle of Rouge, La Ville Lumiere, La Wally, and Iron Orchard (distanced, walked off) also ran. Hector Berrios rode the last-out maiden winner for John Sadler. Fractions: 22.42, 45.63, 1:10.15, 1:36.58, 1:43.71.

BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (2yo fillies, 8T): Morning line favorite Precise (IRE) scratched. The pace was honest and patient runners were best. Balantina ($43.20) got a nice closing trip  from post 10 and won by a length and a quarter for Oisin Murphy and Donnacha O’Brien. She was exiting a 5th place finish at the Curragh. Pacific Mission (GB) rallied from post 12 to land the place and the overseas invader finished 2nd in her prep for this at Duncaster. Ground Support stalked, led, and missed the place by a neck. Imaginationofthelady, Ultimate Love, Infinite Sky, Queen of Hawaii (IRE), Celebrity Warrior (IRE), Final Accord, Time to Dream, Switch in Love (JPN), and Brave Deb also ran. Fractions: 22.33, 45.96, 1:11.01, 1:23.18, 1:35.07.

BC Juvenile (2yo, 8.5f): Blackout Time and Civil Liberty scratched and that left a 6-horse field. Brant made the lead as expected and strong favorite Ted Noffey tracked from the outside post as anticipated. Ted Noffey ($3.60) gradually wore down Brant and held off a late bid from 20-1 longshot Mr. A. P. to win by a length. The latter stalked the pace and ran his heart out, and Brant ran out of gas in deep stretch and held the show by a neck over his stablemate Litmus Test. Intrepido broke slow and never got seriously involved and Comport trailed. John Velazquez rode the winner for Todd Pletcher. Fractions: 23.46, 46.99, 1:10.82, 1:35.76, 1:42.25.

BC Juvenile Turf (2yo, 8T): Strong favorite Gstaad ($4.40) broke slow and raced wide from post 14, and he overcame all of that and was much the best by 3/4ths of a length. Christophe Soumillon rode the winner from Aidan O’Brien and he was exiting a runner-up finish at Newmarket. 58-1 longshot and local hope Stark Contrast stalked the pace and was second best. North Coast (IRE) was best of the rest in third. Street Beast, Heeere’s Johnny, Turf Star, Ardisia (IRE), Argos, Bottas, Hey Nay Nay (IRE), Let’s Be Frank, Third Beer, Gordon Pass, and Outfielder also ran. Fractions: 22.20, 46.52, 1:11.45, 123.52, 1:34.93.

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $876,645 and tickets with six winners paid $89,201.40. Tickets with five winners paid $238.20.

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Friday (10-31-25)
DMR 2 CONDUCTED ($5.40), Trifecta ($51.80)
DMR 3 MOHAVEN ($5.60)
Double (races 2-3, $22.60)
DMR 4 Queen Maxima/Shoot It True Exacta ($10.60), Trifecta ($23.20)
Double (races 3-4, $17.00), Pick 3 (races 2-4, $48.00)
DMR 5 OCEAN BEAR ($6.60)
Double (races 4-5, $17.40), Pick 3 (races 3-5, $86.40)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $242.40)
Double (races 5-6, $34.40), Pick 3 (races 4-6, $138.40)
DMR 7 Super Corredora/Explora Exacta (DMR Best Bet, $58.80) – BC Juvenile Fillies
Double (races 5-6, $91.20), Pick 3 (races 4-6, $591.00)
DMR 9 TED NOFFEY ($3.60) – BC Juvenile
Double (races 9-10, $10.80)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.

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Del Mar Recap for Saturday (11-1-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6f, 6f, 9f). On the turf course, a 4-1 closer won the 8.5f opener, stalking favorite Special Wan (IRE) won the Goldikova (G3) at one mile, Shisospicy wired the field at 5-1 odds in the BC Turf Sprint at 5f, 27-1 closer Ethical Diamond (IRE) pulled off a big upset in the BC Turf at 12f, closing favorite Notable Speech (GB) captured the BC Mile, and 9-1 midpack closer Gezora (FR) took the BC Filly & Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles.

Hat trick for Flavien Prat (2 BC winners – F&M Sprint, Dirt Mile). Irad Ortiz, Jr. booted home a pair of BC winners (Turf Sprint, Sprint). Joel Rosario guided home two turf route winners (G3 Goldikova). Bob Baffert saddled two BC winners (Filly & Mare Sprint, Dirt Mile) and Prat rode both. Jose D’Angelo saddled two BC winners (Turf Sprint, Sprint) and Ortiz Jr. rode both.

Del Mar Stakes Recaps for 11-1-25

Grade 3 Goldikova (8T): Special Wan ($5.20) was best as the favorite. She stalked from second, took over, and won by a length and a quarter. Breath Away (GB) rallied for the place and my top choice Medoro was along for the show. Crevalle d’Oro, Deep Satin, Public Assembly, Temptable (GB), Nadette (FR), Lady Claypoole (IRE), Liguria, and Violets M also ran. Joel Rosario rode the winner for Brendan Walsh. Fractions: 22.82, 46.29, 1:11.04, 1:22.65, 1:34.26.

BC Filly & Mare Sprint (7f): Fee Blanche (JPN), Sweet Azteca, and Tamara scratched and that left a 7-horse field. Hope Road was the favorite and she dueled with Haulin Ice and was best of the rest in third. Hope Road’s stablemate Splendora ($7.80) swallowed up the early leaders from post 2 and won by 4 3/4 lengths for Flavien Prat and Bob Baffert. Valva rallied for the place. Hope Road was 4+ clear of Zeitlos and Richi (CHI), Haulin Ice, and Praying also ran. Fractions: 22.12, 44.64, 1:09.29, 1:21.79.

BC Turf Sprint (5T): Arizona Blaze, Incanto, No Nay Hudson, and Yellow Card scratched. Shisospicy ($12.60) dominated these on the front end from post 9 for Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Jose D’Angelo. The sophomore filly was always in the clear and won by 2 1/2 lengths. Ag Bullet stalked the pace and landed the place, and Khaadem (IRE) rallied for the show under Frankie Dettori. Reef Runner and Motorious (GB) rounded out the top five. Fractions: 21.75, 43.86, 55.24.

BC Sprint (6f): Valiant Force scratched. Another sharp display of speed with Bentornato ($5.40) running them off their feet from post 10 and winning by 2 1/2 lengths for Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Jose D’Angelo. Imagination edged Dr. Venkman for the place and American Stage and Kopion rounded out the top five. Fractions: 21.48, 44.14, 56.02, 1:08.20.

BC Distaff (9f): Scottish Lassie scratched. Post time favorite Seismic Beauty had a stutter-step start, grabbed a quarter, chased the pace, eased, and walked off. With the favorite and expected front runner out of the serious running, Scylla ($17.20) scooted to the front from post 4 and ran away with this race by 5+ lengths for Junior Alvarado and Bill Mott. She ended a long winless streak in this event and took some of the sting out of Sovereignty’s scratch in the Classic. Nitrogen stalked from the inside post and settled for the place, and Regaled, Clicquot, and Dorth Vader rounded out the top five. Fractions: 22.27, 45.75, 1:10.02, 1:35.29, 1:48.07.

BC Turf (12T): This was a bigger upset than the price. Overseas shipper Ethical Diamond ($57.40) stepped up to face a strong, international Grade 1 cast and finished full of run from post 14 to win by a length and a quarter for Dylan McMonagle and William Mullins. Two-time BC Turf winner Rebel’s Romance (IRE) settled for the place and El Cordobes (IRE) rallied for the show at 17-1. Amiloc (GB) was fourth and Gold Phoenix (IRE) completed the Super High 5. Beaten favorite Minnie Hauk (IRE) closed, led, and weakened to 6th. Fractions: 23.22, 47.53, 1:11.99, 1:37.04, 2:01.98, 2:25.45.

BC Classic (10f): Sovereignty scratched. The top contenders all got to run the race they wanted and Japanese shipper Forever Young ($9) tracked the pace from post 5 and held off last year’s Classic winner Sierra Leone to win by a half-length. Fierceness stalked from the inside post and was a clear third. Journalism was an even fourth and was followed by Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian, and Contrary Thinking. Ryusei Sakai rode the winner for Yoshito Yahagi. Fractions: 23.04, 45.97, 1:10.48, 1:35.70, 2:00.19.

BC Mile (8T): Woodbine Mile hero Notable Speech ($7.20) was the favorite and he won as expected. He sat back from post 2, stayed inside, slipped through in the stretch, and won by a length and a half for William Buick and Charles Appleby. Course specialist Formidable Man rallied for the place and The Lion in Winter (IRE) finished third. Rhetorical and Sahlan (IRE) rounded out the top five. Fractions: 22.59, 46.76, 1:10.84, 1:22.44, 1:33.66.

BC Dirt Mile (8f): Mystic Dan and White Abarrio scratched. 3-year-old speedster Citizen Bull set a fast pace from post 6 and almost won it, but his chalky stablemate Nysos ($3.40) stalked inside from post 3 and kept on fighting and got the bob by a nose under Flavien Prat. Chancer McPatrick rallied for the show and Tumbarumba, Full Serrano (ARG), Goal Oriented, Will Take It, and Touch of Destiny (URU) also ran. Bob Baffert saddled the winner and runner-up. Fractions: 21.74, 44.96, 1:09.08, 1:21.67, 1:34.71.

BC Filly & Mare Turf (11T): Atsila (IRE) scratched. Overseas shipper Gezora ($20.20) sat in midpack from post 4 and got up late to win by a half-length. She Feels Pretty chased from post 12, led, and was run down late in a game effort. Diamond Rain (IRE) ran on for the show and 90-1 longshot Cathedral and 11-1 closer Bedtime Story (IRE) completed the top five. Mickael Barzalona rode the winner for Francis-Henri Graffard. Fractions: 24.36, 47.43, 1:11.17, 1:35.66, 2:00.43, 2:12.54.

Nov. 1 Claims: Race 2 – Ghost of Midnight ($50k, Librado Barocio), Red Flag ($50k, Jeff Mullins).

The $1 Pick 6 pool was $2,047,421 and tickets with six winners paid $83,335.10. Tickets with five winners paid $290.80.

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Saturday (11-1-25)
DMR 1 SUCHET ($10.40)
Double (races 1-2, $36.60)
DMR 3 Special Wan/Breath Away/Medoro Trifecta ($174.00)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $101.40)
Early Pick 4 (races 2-5, $561.00)
DMR 6 Bentornato/Imagination Exacta (DMR Price Play, $38.20) – BC Sprint
DMR 9 Forever Young/Sierra Leone Exacta (DMR Best Bet, $34.60), Trifecta ($120.40) – BC Classic
DMR 10 NOTABLE SPEECH (DMR Best Bet, $7.20) – BC Mile
Double (races 9-10, $26.60)
DMR 11 NYSOS ($3.40), Trifecta ($96.80) – BC Dirt Mile
Double (races 10-11, $11.80)
Pick 3 (races 9-11, $61.20)
Double (races 11-12, $36.20)
Pick 3 (races 10-12, $96.00)

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Del Mar Recap for Sunday (11-2-25)

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (8f, 6f). On the turf course, a closing favorite graduated at 8.5f, a 7-2 front runner earned his diploma at 5f, a front running favorite tallied at 5f, a 2-1 closer went last-to-first at 11f, and a stalking favorite won the 5f finale (rail at 30 feet).

Hat trick for Umberto Rispoli (2 turf route wins). Juan Hernandez booted home two turf winners. George Papaprodromou saddled two maiden winners on the main track.

Nov. 2 Claims: Race 2 – Doo Wop Don ($16k, Jeff Mullins). Race 6 – Saint Mihiel ($16k, Charles Treece), Thirsty Trickster ($16k, Jeff Mullins). Race 9 – Proof He Rides ($50k, Jeff Mullins).

The $2 Pick 6 pool was $227,426 and tickets with six winners paid $3,076.20. Tickets with five winners paid $27.40.

Del Mar Full Card Highlights for Sunday (11-2-25)
DMR 3 Track Tiger/Cactus Charlie Exacta (DMR Best Bet, $34.40), Trifecta ($65.60)
DMR 4 BALLYHOOLIGAN ($3.40), Exacta ($5.10), Trifecta ($15.40)
Double (races 3-4, $20.40)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $138.60)
DMR 5 BACIO ($3.80), Trifecta ($67.60)
Double (races 4-5, $5.40)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $53.40)
Early Pick 4 (races (2-5, $232.40)
Early Pick 5 (races 1-5, $827.80)

*Full card highlights based on $2 wagers unless otherwise noted.

Please visit The Runaway Horse Shop to purchase my Del Mar full cards.

Jarrod Horak

Jarrod Horak posts stakes recaps from Del Mar and Santa Anita Park, along with full card recaps and free stakes picks from Southern and/or Northern California.