Del Mar Sunday: Formful Feature, Best Pal Stakes Analysis

The Sunday feature from Del Mar appears to be a formful event. The top 2 choices on the morning line in the Best Pal look to cover most of the likely outcomes.

Berrios Breaks Out

One of the big stories in the current Del Mar meet has been the impressive performance of Hector Berrios. The jockey returned to the races in 2018 after a five year hiatus spending a majority of his career at Gulfstream Park.

In 2022 he moved his tack to Del Mar. As of the writing of this article he was 7th in the jockey standings with 6 wins. However, his win percentage stands at 30% and he is hitting the board in over a third of his starts.

Del Mar- Race 1

Post: 2:00 PM PT; $62k Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 7

• #1 YOUTEYOURHONOR (3-1) gets the top selection. She has been in solid form of late.
• #3 VIRULENTE (2-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #5 UNFAITHFUL WAYS (4-1) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #4 SWEET TALKED (4-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot based on speed figures.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 4

Del Mar- Race 2

Post: 2:34 PM PT; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #5 KEYCHAIN GIRL (8-5) is the top pick. She could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #2 KITTEN CALLS (8-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
• #6 SNIP (5-1) should improve off the first start and ran a productive debut effort.
• #1 LA MACARENA (5-2) debuts here and goes out for the Miller barn with Hernandez in the irons.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 6 – 1

Del Mar- Race 3

Post: 3:06 PM PT; $44k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #6 MOOSE MITCHELL (3-1) looks best here. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #8 AXEL STEEL (12-1) is a price horse and has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #7 TURNSANDCONDITIONS (7-2) isn't without hope and will look to stalk and pounce.
• #3 MY HARBORS DREAM (4-1) should be in a position to make things interesting in the later stages of the race.

Selections: 6 – 8 – 7 – 3

Del Mar- Race 4

Post: 3:36 PM PT; $44k Claiming going 5 furlongs on turf; Entries: 8

• #3 LALIC (4-1) gets the top selection. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #4 STORMING LADY (5-2) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #1 ELLIE ARROWAY (2-1) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 RESPECT MY CANDOR (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 3 – 4 – 1 – 5

Del Mar- Race 5

Post: 4:06 PM PT; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 HALOSNHEAVEN (8-5) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. This one will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire.
• #2 AND TELL ME NOLIES (6-1) hit the board and debut and will look to improve on that effort here.
• #7 FLYING CONNECTION (12-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #5 INFINITE DIAMOND (2-1) put in a very solid foundation building debut. The second start should be better and that makes this one dangerous.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 7 – 5

Del Mar- Race 6

Post: 4:36 PM PT; $82k Allowance Optional Claiming going 5 furlongs on turf; Entries: 9

• #2 NEXT FLIGHT (5-1) looks best here and will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire.
• #5 LOVESICK BLUES (5-2) has to be respected going out for the combination of Miyadi and Hernandez.
• #6 EVENEREVENWORSE (3-1) could get the right setup in this race.
• #1 PYEONG CHANG (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 6 – 1

Del Mar- Race 7

Post: 5:07 PM PT; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 14

• #13 STAY IN THE GAME (5-1) gets the top selection. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #11 BUCK OWENS (7-2) debuts here and gets Juan Hernandez for the ride.
• #12 REIGN OF SPEED (4-1) has races good enough to win in this spot.
• #3 SMOKEM HOWARD (20-1) is a price horse that has run against some decent types.

Selections: 13- 11- 12- 3

Del Mar- Race 8

Post: 5:37 PM PT; $82k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 9

• #7 APPLECROSS (5-1) is the top pick to upset for the Papaprodromou barn.
• #5 WARRENS CANDY GIRL (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She looks to be the class of the field.
• #9 FANTAIL (4-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #3 SELF ISOLATION (5-1) should be competitive in this spot. She should be part of the early pace here.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 9 – 3

Del Mar- Race 9

Post: 6:10 PM PT; $200k Best Pal S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 11

• #10 HAVNAMELTDOWN (9-5) should improve off the first start and looks best here. He has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #2 ARMAN (5-2) ran a bang up debut and should benefit from the inside draw.
• #11 KANGAROO COURT (6-1) runs evenly based on the debut and that grinding style could pay off in the lane.
• #7 MAN CHILD (10-1) is a price horse who could get the right setup to hit the board.

Selections: 10- 2 – 11- 7

Del Mar- Race 10

Post: 6:38 PM PT; $43k Starter Allowance going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 13

• #7 NATIONAL ROAD (3-1) gets the top selection. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 FLINT STROLL (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #13 MO THEM DOWN (8-1) may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #3 CAISSON (6-1) has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 13- 3

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