Saturday's Best Bet: Mackinnon rebounds in Del Mar Derby
Saturday's ninth race from Del Mar is the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby for 3-year-olds traveling 1 1/8 miles on the turf course. Post time is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Del Mar entries and results.
No. 7 Mackinnon (3-1) exits a flat 4th as the even money favorite from the inside post in the Oceanside Stakes, and that was his first start in more than five months. He ran well in a trio of local flat mile turf races last year and the dual turf route stakes winner should work out a forwardly placed trip in a race lacking front end speed. Juan Hernandez strings along and he owns two local turf route wins. He will probably offer a hint of value this time.
No. 1 Cabo Spirit (4-1) won as my top choice in the local La Jolla (G3) Aug. 7, and that was his first start as a gelding. He always runs his race on turf and should save ground behind the speed for the productive Joe Bravo and George Papaprodromou team.
No. 3 War At Sea (6-1) won his last three turf routes at Santa Anita including the Cinema Stakes at this distance. He projects an early-pressing trip under his winning pilot Mike Smith.
No. 9 Balnikhov (5-2) rolled home from off the pace in the restricted Oceanside on opening day at one mile July 22. Umberto Rispoli rode him perfectly last time and he figures to be patient again from the outside post in this longer event. This race might not set up for him.
No. 5 Dandy Warhol (4-1) was a troubled 6th of 13 in the Oceanside and got plenty of pace help in a late running nose victory vs. optional claiming company at one mile on turf Aug. 13. Mark Glatt shows a profit with his third after a layoff starters and Flavien Prat takes the call.
Wagers:
No. 7 to win
Quinella 7/1-3
Trifecta 1-3-7/1-3-5-7-9/5-9
Recent Best Bet winners
Aug. 5 – Ready to Purrform ($9.80), trifecta ($469.00)
Aug. 6 – Nations Pride/Annapolis exacta ($29.20)
Aug. 7 – With the Moonlight ($4.30), exacta ($7.50)
Aug. 8 – Loyalty ($7.00), exacta ($23.80)
Aug. 10 – Running Bee ($6.70)
Aug. 12 – Bankit/Sea Foam/Brooklyn Strong trifecta ($378.00)
Aug. 14 – Slew's Tiz Whiz ($8.80)
Aug. 17 – Legends Can't Die/Mackillop/Mo Rewards trifecta ($480.48)
Aug. 20 - Spenderella/Bellabel exacta ($16.20)
Aug. 22 - Carpenters Call ($4.40), exacta ($52.80)
Aug. 23 - Best Actor ($7.00), trifecta ($278.20)
Aug. 24 - Nimble Beast/Uncle Buddy/Tribal Notion trifecta ($45.00)
Saturday - Gufo ($10.80)
Monday - Comedic Timing/Cash Now exacta ($59.60)