Betting the 2024 Red Carpet Stakes

A well-matched field of eight fillies and mares will travel 1 3/8 miles on the Del Mar green in Sunday’s $100,000 Red Carpet S. (G3). The field lacks a standout with none of the octet having broken through in the graded stakes ranks to date, so it appears to be an attractive betting event from a value standpoint. 

Red Carpet Wagers

• $1 superfecta 2 with 5,8 with 4,5,8 with all ($20)
• $1 superfecta 5,8 with 2 with 4,5,8 with all ($20)

I feel that the Brendan Walsh-trained #2 Forever After All is the most likely top-two finisher in the affair and will key her in multiple wagers. By Connect, the mare ran a winning race in defeat in the Dowager S. (G3) at Keeneland most recently in what was her initial marathon turf trip on the sod. The dark bay five-year-old is a Grade-1 placed Kentucky-bred with consistency on her side, and she has performed well at numerous venues in advance of her local bow, as well. She has a nice post close to the rail to save ground with some speed to her inside, and the Dixiana homebred will also have Juan Hernandez in the irons, too. 

#8 Queens Command had a solid prep for this affair when contesting a one-mile allowance race on the Santa Anita lawn and will appreciate the added ground in her second run since returning to this outfit. The War Command five-year-old was second best behind a real good one in the Santa Ana (G3) at 1 1/4 miles in February, and if she puts in a similar type of run on Sunday, then the Phil D’Amato trainee will be in contention late while making her first appearance at Del Mar. Irish-bred bay has posted four nice morning drills to prepare for this encounter and will have Antonio Fresu on board.

Dowager fourth #5 Mrs. Astor gives the impression of a filly who will grind out a good result in the race for conditioner Jonathan Thomas. The Augustin homebred has improved her Brisnet Speed number in three straight tilts and also comes in with a bullet move on the local lawn in preparation for her third run off the bench. Lookin At Lucky lass will likely be at her best with similar distances going forward, and she looks like a nice exotics piece with Vincent Cheminaud coming out to ride her. 

California-bred stakes heroine #4 Moment’s Pleasure is a wild card at the distance after proving to be a nice middle-distance runner leading up to this experiment, and it’s hard to omit her. Clubhouse Ride sophomore sports a 4-2-2-0 mark on the oval and brings good form to the field with Kazushi Kimura taking the reins.