Sunday's Best Bet: Newgrange takes the plunge in Native Diver
Sunday’s eighth race at Del Mar is the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes for 3-year-olds and up traveling 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The scheduled post time is 7 p.m. EST.
Click here for Del Mar entries and results.
No. 4 Newgrange (5-2) exits a big front-running win at one mile on dirt. He won a pair of graded stakes for Bob Baffert earlier this year, and he is on the upswing for his current trainer Phil D’Amato. The sophomore colt owns early-pressing versatility.
No. 2 Tizamagician (4-1) fired exacta shots in seven of nine local starts and reconnects with his winning rider Flavien Prat. He is classy and fast enough to compete with these, but he might want more ground.
No. 5 Defunded (6-1) stole the Awesome Again (G1) under quality speed rider Edwin Maldonado last time. He might not get an easy lead this time with other speedsters signed on, but he does not need the lead to be effective.
No. 1 Azul Coast (6-1) rallied to win this race last year, and he might get a good setup again. I am concerned about his recent form. He was a distant last in his Awesome Again return, and Newgrange drilled him in an optional claimer at Santa Anita last time. John Velazquez hops aboard.
Wagers:
No. 4 to win
Quinella 2-4
Trifecta 2-4/1-2-4-5/1-2-4-5
Recent Best Bet winners
Nov. 6 - Hero Status/Street Ruckus exacta ($14.80)
Nov. 10 - Siege of Boston ($4.90)
Nov. 12 - Our Flash Drive ($5.20), trifecta ($104.90)
Nov. 13 - Rvalentina ($4.20)
Nov. 17 - Sheriff Bianco/Unique Unions/Advanced Strategy trifecta ($111.48)
Monday - Tivis ($5.20), exacta ($13.40), trifecta ($57.80)
Tuesday - Bella Runner/Kirstenbosch/Corrina Corrina trifecta ($28.00)
Saturday - Hong Kong Harry ($5.20)