Del Mar Thoroughbred Picks & Betting Analysis for November 13

The 2021 Breeders' Cup ended last week, but the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's Bing Crosby Season is in full swing! Carding contests through the end of the month, it will be full of graded stakes action. This is the place to be for turf racing, so get your binocs out grass fans!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered with selections for every contest on the card! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! 

If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Saturday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below.

Most Likely Winner: (Race 4: Phantom Dance (ON) #5, 2/1):

Here is one of those runners that came to SoCal from the barn of Gail Cox up at Woodbine in Canada. Phil D’Amato initially put this Ghostzapper gelding on the grass, but switched to the MT at Santa Anita back in April. He then proceeded to rattle off 3 wins in-a-row, which had to please ownership—Agave Racing Stable. Ricardo Gonzalez gets the call once again, and he was hot yesterday at Del Mar. This looks like a nice winning combination going 1 mile on the dirt.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #5

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 9: Rocks and Salt #7, 10/1):

We have some Cal breds mixed in this finale, and one of them, trained by the excellent Carla Gaines, caught my eye. Nothing easy about a turf race like this, so thinking broadly is probably the best bet. Part of an uncoupled entry, this gelding by Acclimation might only have 1 win in 10 starts, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the turn-of-foot to get the job done. Running out West in a combination of MSW and OC Co., he dropped down to the Clm ranks last time, and just missed being right in the middle of the “minors.” The able-bodied Tyler Baze, a steady hand, gets the call once again, and he is looking for his 1st win of the Meet. At odds of 10/1, this one is a great play, and could notch us an “across-the-board” graduated score. Let’s play …

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #7 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 8: Dirt, 6½F, Desi Arnaz S. $100k, 2F):

Here is one race to circle on the Bing Crosby Season Calendar that is always sure to bring some notoriety. This is one of those “stepping stone” races where entries are looking to bump up in class. The “Desi” this time around only has 5 participants, so one hopes that there are not any scratches.

Of course, Bob Baffert comes with a strong hand, as he sends an uncoupled entry to the post. This is his backyard, and we would not expect any less. Under the Stars #3 is well-bred out of Pioneerof the Nile, and though she missed breaking her maiden at the end of October at Santa Anita, it was a solid effort. Most will point to the energy that she exhibited at the end, as a sign of good times to come. Abel Cedillo, who regularly rides for the HOF-er, is the pilot of this one who get “blinkers on.” As for the other Baffert runner, this one is the shortest price on the M/L at odds of 3/5. Eda #5 by Munnings, gets Flavien Prat, and is coming off a signature score in a 75k “Non-G” contest. She led all the way in front-running fashion, and won easily against 4 others. Posting a speed fig of 93, if she can pull that off again, she will probably win the day.

Opposing the Bafferts, are a couple of options … one entry, from the barn of John Shirreffs, is Lady T #1. By Into Mischief, she was trying to catch Eda #5 in that BT race at Santa Anita back on 24 October. Victor Espinoza is going to have to make sure that she doesn’t get too far away after the break. Otherwise, this will be a repeat performance from last time. The Moss Family thinks they have a good one on their hands, and they could be right. As for one other runner that deserves a gander, why not back Doug O’Neill’s Tonito’s #4? By Blame, this filly won her debut on the grass with a powerful rally late in the game. Mario Gutierrez at 7/1 had all sorts of gears left, and he used them … enroute to a 1-length lead. I like the switch by the crafty O’Neill, because switching surfaces is not an easy call. The conditioner is rolling the dice, and you never know … maybe this will lead to a winning score. I especially like the M/L price of 8/1. Nothing like one that rallies on the dirt … what a deal! I am not afraid of that short stretch … let’s see if we can take on Baffert!

Wagering Recommendation: Trifecta Wheel, 4 w 1/3/5

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Enjoy both the Turf and the Surf! Best of luck on another run at Del Mar!