Del Mar Odds & Picks July 25-26: San Diego Handicap, Eddie Read Stakes & More
- Maximum Security is back in action Saturday at Del Mar
- Because of last weekend’s racing postponement in San Diego, this Friday-Sunday is stacked with top races
- Where should you look for wagering value this weekend Where the Surf Meets the Turf
Even if Del Mar wanted to race last weekend, they would have had difficulty because of a COVID-19 outbreak among their jockey’s. All of the races slated for last week are now on the docket this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and add that to already solid cards, and you get a big weekend just outside San Diego.
The highlight of the racing is the return of Maximum Security. He’ll face five rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. Maximum Security is returning to America after winning the $10 million Saudi Cup in February, but the purse for that race has been withheld following the arrest of trainer Jason Servis on doping charges. Maximum Security is now being conditioned by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
Also on the slate Saturday is the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes, and Smiling Tiger Stakes. Sunday includes the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes, and the California Dreamin’ Stakes. Let’s go in-depth on the San Diego, and then break down the other big events that you’ll want to keep an eye on.
2020 San Diego Handicap Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Maximum Security | +100 |
| Higher Power | +350 |
| Midcourt | +400 |
| Combatant | +600 |
| Ax Man | +800 |
| Sharp Samurai | +1200 |
Odds taken July 23
In large part handicapping the San Diego Handicap is all about Maximum Security. There are lots of things to like, including the fact he has eight wins in 10 starts with one of the loses being the Kentucky Derby that he finished first in but was disqualified. However, there are reasons to doubt him too.
Top Candidates
Maximum Security is going to be an enormous favorite. That’s what happens when every race you go to the lead and never look back, beating the best horses in the world often easily. His performance in the Middle East on February 29 was once again strong.
If you are looking for reasons to doubt him, there are a lot of issues with Maximum Security. It is very difficult for horses to win their first time back in America after long travel. However, Midnight Bisou, second in the Saudi Cup, returned and won, and the Saudi Cup was almost five months ago. That said, Jason Servis and any cocktails he was serving Maximum Security are gone, and Bob Baffert is in. Obviously Baffert is terrific, but it is still a change.
Speaking of changes, regular jockey Luis Saez has COVID-19, so Abel Cedillo will ride him for the first time Saturday. Finally, the San Diego’s distance of a-mile-and-a-sixteenth is the same length he lost at in last year’s Haskell Invitational. That is his only race at 8.5 furlongs.
So who could beat Maximum Security? Only five horses are entered against him, and only one of them is coming off a victory.
Watch the Gold Cup Very Closely
Top challengers Higher Power and Midcourt both raced June 6 in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Higher Power runs pretty well, a clear second in a good field. Note how Midcourt hops at the start and is never really asked to get involved in the race.
Higher Power’s best race came when winning the Pacific Classic at Del Mar last year. He is second off a layoff and should run well. Midcourt is two for two at Del Mar and if you give him a pass on the Gold Cup, he had won five of seven before that. Trainer John Shirreffs will outfit Midcourt with blinkers on Saturday, which he has worn for the majority of his career, but did not feature for the Gold Cup.
The rest of the field is interesting too. Combatant beat Midcourt in the Santa Anita Handicap before having a tough trip in May’s Oaklawn Handicap. Ax Man is trained by Baffert, ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, and coming off a minor win. Finally, Sharp Samurai is a turf specialist trying dirt but has produced speed figures good enough to put him in the mix if he likes the grass.
Del Mar’s Other Big Races
Saturday
San Clemente Stakes
Trainer Peter Miller has two good shots in this mile contest for three-year-old girls. Laura’s Light is coming off a win in the Honeymoon Stakes May 30 at Santa Anita.
Laura’s Light’s only bad effort came two back, running on a synthetic surface at Turfway Park. She will be forwardly placed. Miller’s She’s So Special should be set up behind Laura’s Light and ready to pounce just past the second turn. The question will be if she can extend excellent sprinting form into a route race.
Up front Laura’s Light will need to contend with the very quick Cheermeister. Each of her four wins have come in wire-to-wire fashion. Excuse her last race, a dull effort at Gulfstream Park because the race was on dirt and she prefers the sod.
Warren’s Showtime has done good work against California bred horses particularly on turf and at the one-mile distance. Now she’s in against open competition. Mike Smith will ride Over Attached, a runner up in her US debut last month.
Smiling Tiger Stakes
Five three-year-olds will sprint six furlongs on the dirt headlined by Baffert and Smith’s Ragtime Blues. He was second last time out in his stakes debut.
Ragtime Blues should be near the lead early, but that could be a crowded spot on the track. Annie’s Boy and Thanks Mr. Eidson will also be forwardly placed. That could be good news for lane running Howbeit. Doug O’Neil’s lightly bred colt has just two wins in eight starts but has run competitively in good races, including finishing right behind Ragtime Blues in the Lazaro Barrera Stakes.
Sunday
Eddie Read Stakes
United is looking for a third straight victory when a field of three-year-olds and up go a-mile-and-an-eighth on the turf. Each of his last two victories have come at a-mile-and-a-quarter including May’s Charles Whittingham Stakes.
Based on the way United just survived the extra distance, a cutback could be a positive thing on Sunday.
While United edged Originaire in the Whittingham, the price will be better on trainer Jeff Mullins colt who doesn’t win a ton but certainly can compete at this level.
Bowie’s Hero was second in his first race of the year, June’s American Stakes. He won this race last year, also took the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, and finished fifth in the Breeders Cup Mile.
California Dreamin’ Stakes
Eleven California breds will go a-mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf. In a race that has a bit of everything, four-year-old Galilean is running well and has upside. On the Triple Crown trail last year, he missed almost 10 months and then finished third a couple of times before winning a stakes race last month.
Galilean beat several of the horses in this race in his Soi Phet Stakes victory.
Two horses who have been keeping good company are Desmond Doss and Ultimate Bango. Though neither is winning consistently, they both have the right to improve off of a sizable layoff in this one.
Dave Friedman has covered professional and college sports for two decades. From ESPN to the Associated Press, Regional Sports Networks, Metro Networks, and many local outlets, he has written about and broadcast major and minor events throughout the country.
