Thursday’s Best Bet: Devil Moon is set to shine at Del Mar
Thursday’s sixth race at Del Mar is a starter allowance event for 3-year-olds and up dashing five furlongs on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Del Mar entries and results.
No. 1 Devil Moon (3-1) might enjoy this abbreviated trip. The 1-for-13 gelding finally got his first win at six furlongs on turf, and he did it the right way. He pressed and scored by 4 3/4 lengths under Umberto Rispoli that day. Last time, he stalked from second, led and just missed the place at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt. His winning rider stays put, and he should be all over the pace from the inside post.
No. 11 Tom Horn (4-1) easily handled California-bred maiden claiming dirt sprinters as the favorite at Los Al on July 1. Grazen is a decent turf sire and the dam has tossed a turf winner. He should attend the pace from the outside post under his winning pilot Tiago Pereira.
No. 8 Lansdowne (5-2) has been an underachiever since arriving in this country in 2021. In seven stateside starts, he won once and was the beaten favorite on four occasions. Ramon Vazquez is winless with Phil D’Amato recently, and I like this one more underneath. He likes picking up minor awards.
No. 3 Single Track Mind (4-1) graduated in his 10th career start in a turf sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs as the favorite on June 9. He adds blinkers but loses his winning pilot Rispoli, and this trip might be a tad sharp. Juan Hernandez takes the call.
Wagers
No. 1 to win
Quinella 1-11
Trifecta 1-11/1-3-8-11/1-3-8-11
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)
Wednesday – Amanda's Folly/Sweet Mystery exacta ($9)