Best Bet: Amy C can sharpen her game in Daisycutter Handicap

Friday’s seventh race at Del Mar is the $100,000 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares dashing five furlongs on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 10 p.m. EDT.

Click here for Del Mar entries and results.

No. 5 Amy C (5-2) rallied to win a trio of turf sprints at 6 1/2 furlongs and two of those were stakes races. She was a close third in the Intercontinental at six furlongs on turf last time. Umberto Rispoli has booted her home three times and she should get pace to chase. This trip might be a bit sharp for her.

No. 1 Twilight Gleaming (2-1) was up the track in the King’s Stand at Ascot on June 20. Wesley Ward’s speedy filly is 2-for-2 at Del Mar. She won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2021 and captured this race last summer. She should be all over the pace from the inside post under her new rider Mike Smith.

No. 4 Unbridled Mary (6-1) is a four-time turf sprint winner. She graduated in her career debut at this course and distance, and exits a five panel stakes score at Lone Star under Friday’s rider Hector Berrios. John Sadler’s filly is in good form and should be heard from in the late going.

No. 8 Tony Ann (6-1) captured four of her last five starts but she has not been seen since November 2022. Phil D’Amato’s lightly raced mare cannot seem to stay healthy but she runs well fresh and has tactical speed. Her new rider Kent Desormeaux should have her in a good spot from the outset. She is 2-for-3 with a close third at Del Mar and her last win was at this distance.  

Wagers

No. 5 to win

Exacta box 1-5

Trifecta 1-5/1-4-5-8/1-4-5-8

Recent Best Bet winners

July 3 – Surly Furious ($4.20)
July 5 – Nobody Listens/Latigo exacta ($26.20)
July 6 – Katie M’lady/Trail Ridge Road exacta ($7.60)
July 7 – Coastal Charm ($6.80)
July 9 – Katonah ($4.60), exacta ($13), trifecta ($111.20)
July 11 – Bengala Joy/Lovely Ever After exacta ($16.40), trifecta ($38)
July 16 – Clovisconnection/Lloyd’s Logic/Jin Tong trifecta ($12.40)

Saturday – Warrens Candy Girl ($22.20)

Sunday – Du Jour ($11.60)