Friday's Best Bet: Eylara can relax in CTT and TOC
Friday’s seventh race at Del Mar is the $100,000 CTT and TOC Stakes for fillies and mares traveling 1 3/8 miles on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 9:30 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Del Mar entries and results.
No. 7 Eylara (5-1) moved to the Phil D’Amato barn and looked good stalking and scoring in a local optional claiming affair at this distance on July 27. This is her second start after a long layoff and she will probably work out another comfortable tactical trip under Umberto Rispoli.
No. 6 Neige Blanche (5-2) won this event in 2021 and captured the local Red Carpet later that same year. She won two turf route stakes at Santa Anita last year and was 5th as the beaten chalk in this race in 2022. She raced wide in the Rodeo Drive last fall and returned with a victory in the Possibly Perfect on June 18. Diego Herrera got to know her last time and this classy mare is fresh, sharp, and versatile.
No. 4 Queen Ofthe Temple (3-1) is a consistent mare with running style versatility. In four stakes starts this year, she won the Santa Barbara and completed the exacta in the Astra, Santa Ana, and Possibly Perfect.
No. 3 Oakhurst (8-1) went back on Lasix in a local optional-claiming affair at 1 1.8 miles on turf in her July 23 return, and she rallied from far back to get up by a nose. Umberto Rispoli opted for Eylara in this spot and her new rider Hector Berrios wins races with Phil D’Amato.
Get Jarrod’s Del Mar analysis.
Wagers
No. 7 to win
Exacta 6-7/4-6-7
Trifecta 3-6-7/3-6-7/4
Recent Best Bet winners
Aug. 4 – Bus Buzz ($5.80), trifecta ($82.80)
Aug. 5 – Carmelita's Man ($13.60), trifecta ($199.20)
Aug. 6 – Maltese Falcon/Panic Alarm/Agency trifecta ($173.40)
Thursday - Rose Barton/Pegs A. K. Girl Quinella ($14.80)