Check out my Saturday (8-8-26) Del Mar Race 2 analysis below.
DMR 2 (Str-OC-50k, 8T) – Post Time 5:34 PM ET
Primary – #1 ETERNAL REIGN, #3 Nikolina
Secondary – #2 Hannah Buckle, #4 Wildfire Princess
Horse Comments:
#1 Eternal Reign (5-2) is 2-for-15 with five runner-up finishes and four show finishes. She wired the field as the strong favorite at 8T April 24 and chased from second, led, and missed by a head at 8T as the chalk June 5. She reconnects with her winning rider Juan Hernandez and she sports three local moves for this.
#3 Nikolina (6-1) was part of the exacta in her first three turf sprint attempts at SA (2 wins), and she was 5th of 8 at 6T June 15. She stretches out and reconnects with her winning rider Kazushi Kimura.
#2 Hannah Buckle (3-1) is 2-for-5 with a runner-up finish at DMR and both of those local wins were at 8T. She drops into an easier spot and is entered for the $50k tag. Leonard Powell is 0-for-20 at DMR and Armando Ayuso is 0-for-11 with this outfit.
#4 Wildfire Princess (8-1) might be the one to catch. She graduated at this course/distance last fall and wired the field at 8T May 22. Mike Smith is her new rider and she likes this trip (5 2-1-1).
Wagers:
#1 to win
Exacta box 1-3
Trifecta 1-3/1-2-3-4/1-2-3-4
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
July 15 – Mr. Hooligan ($4.80)
July 16 – Max Money/Into the Light/Palacios Trifecta ($108.04)
July 20 – Quiet Street ($11.20), Trifecta ($103.20)
July 25 – Amorita ($12.40)
July 28 – Cocktail Kisses ($17.00)
Aug. 1 – On the Whim ($6.80)
Aug. 3 – Lost and Found ($3.00)
Aug. 7 – Long Mayshe Reign ($3.80)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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