Del Mar Racetrack Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Saturday, August 8

Del Mar Racetrack Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Saturday, August 8

Written by on August 6, 2020

The featured races at Del Mar on Saturday are a couple of Grade 2 events, the Best Pal Stakes and the Yellow Ribbon Handicap. Check out analysis and free picks for those two horse races as well as a pick for Race 5, an interesting $80,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 mile turf event. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Del Mar Racetrack for Saturday, August 8. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Del Mar Racetrack Horse Racing Picks

  • When: Saturday, August 8 at 5:00 pm ET
  • Where: Del Mar, CA
  • Weather: Partly cloudy

Del Mar Racing Picks for Saturday, August 8

Race 5 – 7:00 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf – $80,000 Allowance Optional Claiming

Simon Callaghan has a sharp horse ready to take the fifth on Saturday in Mind Out. The Tapit sired 3-year-old filly has just a maiden win to her credit. But she hasn’t finished off the board in 4 starts. This is the perfect spot for the 3/1 morning line top choice to get her second victory. 

Bob Baffert trained Merneith tries grass for the first time. The 5/2 morning line chalk should love the lawn. Baffert trained Triple Crown winner American Pharoah sired. Pharoah has shown a knock for producing top turf runners. She finished third in the Santa Anita Oaks back in June. If Bob puts her on the turf, that’s where her future lies.

15/1 on the morning line Roadrunner’s Honor could get into the trifecta. The Doug O’Neil trained runner hasn’t raced on the turf since March. Her form appears to be turning around. She finished third in an optional claiming dirt race going 6 furlongs in her last at Los Al. Give her a chance to fill out the tri. She shouldn’t beat either Merneith or Mind Out, though.

  • Win: Mind Out 
  • Place: Merneith 
  • Show: Roadrunner’s Honor

Race 6 – 7:30 pm ET – 6 Furlongs Dirt – $150,000 Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes

Wesley Ward trained Roderick could be the best 2-year-old in the nation. The Into Mischief sired runner broke his maiden at first asking. He did it with style, blasting his competition by 8 ½ lengths while going 5 furlongs over Belmont’s main track. Unless he didn’t ship well, Roderick should take this on Saturday.

The hottest sire in the U.S. is Tiz the Law’s dad, Constitution. Law’s father sired Doug O’Neil trained Ambivalent, a 5/1 morning line choice who appears capable of upsetting Roderick if that one falters. Ambivalent finished second in his lone race. O’Neil is much better with horses running in their second races than their first. This one has a chance.

You’ve got to like Peter Miller trained Herd Immunity. After breaking his maiden at first asking, Miller entered the Union Rags sired 2-year-old into the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs. Herd Immunity finished third as a close to 13/1 shot. Now back in California, the Miller runner could surprise if neither Roderick nor Ambivalent are at their best. 

  • Win: Roderick 
  • Place: Ambivalent
  • Show: Herd Immunity

Race 9 – 9:00 pm ET – 1 1/16 Miles Turf – $150,000 Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap

Richard Mandella trained Jolie Olimpica almost went wire-to-wire in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on July 11. Jolie couldn’t hold off top grass runner Rushing Fall. This field is much softer than what she faced in the Jenny Wiley. Gate-to-wire is a real possibility.

On paper, 6-year-old mare Beau Recall had no shot against the Grade 1 Just A Game field in her last. All she did was finish second behind Chad Brown trained monster Newspaperofrecord. This is a drop in class because although it’s a Grade 2, no horses like Newspaperofrecord or Uni are signed on for this. With some luck, she can beat the top choice.

Tonahutu ran well enough in her last race to win this. It’s a major step up from $62,500 claimers to a Grade 2, though. She’s the best longshot. So, if you’re not sold on Jolie or Beau, go for it!

  • Win: Jolie Olimpica
  • Place: Beau Recall
  • Show: Tonahutu