Check out my Saturday (11-7-26) Del Mar Race 8 analysis below.
DMR 8 (The Chosen Vron, CA-bred, 7f) – Post Time 7:03 PM ET
Primary – #5 BIG CITY LIGHTS, #1 Man O Rose
Secondary – #4 Pure Madness, #6 Special Club
Horse Comments:
#5 Big City Lights (2-1) got the wrong trip and setup in the California Flag at 6.5T Oct. 10, and he got no pace help in a show finish as the favorite in the local G2 Pat O’Brien at 7f Aug. 29. He has a good overall record on fast dirt (19 9-4-3), and he likes this course (7 2-2-2) and distance (8 3-2-3).
#1 Man O Rose (3-1) is a 13-for-22 win type exiting a flat mile victory as the favorite in a state bred stakes race at LRC. He won this race as the chalk last fall and should impact the pace from the inside post under his winning rider Edwin Maldonado.
#4 Pure Madness (6-1) was in too deep in the G2 Eddie D on turf last time. He was part of the exacta in all four starts on the main track including a trio of good efforts at DMR (3 1-2-0). I like his early-pressing versatility and his winning rider Armando Ayuso stays put.
#6 Special Club (12-1) fired exacta shots in his last five outings and has gotten faster since Papaprodromou claimed him for $25k July 18. He dueled and prevailed by a half-length in a local 6.5f affair Sept. 4 (OC-20k/1x, CA-bred), and he missed by a half-length and was 7+ clear of the rest in a good runner-up finish at 6f Oct. 17. Joel Rosario hops aboard the sharp, versatile gelding. He likes this oval (5 2-1-1).
Wagers:
#5 to win
Exacta box 1-5
Trifecta 1-5/1-4-5-6/1-4-5-6
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Oct. 12 – TIRUPATI ($8.00)
Oct. 13 – Celestial Speed/Rock Tune Exacta ($6.00)
Oct. 14 – JACK AND JIM ($7.44)
Oct. 15 – SHOWA ($12.44), Exacta ($23.68), Trifecta ($69.36)
Oct. 16 – KOOL MARIAH ($5.40), Trifecta ($44.00)
Oct. 17 – TIMAYYYY ($4.60)
Oct. 18 – Known Idea ($6.00), Exacta ($16.00)
Oct. 22 – Atropa/Maria Louise Exacta ($35.48)
Oct. 23 – HEY LIL LASY ($3.80), Exacta ($16.00)
Oct. 25 – CHISELED IN STONE ($7.40), Trifecta ($81.40)
Oct. 29 – White Whale/Guardian Exacta ($11.28)
Nov. 2 – Welovemollynteddy/Flying Free Exacta ($3.80)
Nov. 3 – Nikki’s Charm/Okie Den Den Exacta ($13.00)
Nov. 4 – BEING MYSELF ($13.08)
Nov. 5 – TWO EAGLES RIVER ($6.42), Trifecta ($41.68)
Nov. 6 – Green Carrera/Deucari/Jordi Bear Trifecta ($74.00)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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