The stakes action continues on Friday afternoon at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club with a competitive and challenging rendition of the $75,000 Osunitas Stakes on tap.

The mile and a sixteenth restricted event for fillies and mares is headlined by the turf debut of multiple graded stakes winner #1 Paradise Woods. The daughter of Union Rags has won 3 of 10 over the dirt for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, including victories in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and the Grade 1 Zenyatta in 2017.

has the pedigree to be effective over the lawn, but I think she is worth taking a shot against in this spot for a few reasons. Firstly, she is likely to take a lot of support at the windows based on her class and resume, but I rarely endorse a horse at a short price trying something new for the initial time. Additionally, there appears to be an awful lot of early zip signed on in this spot over a turf course that tends to play towards runners from off the pace when the temporary rails are down. Her best races have come when she has had things all of her way, I am not sure that happens on Friday afternoon.

#7 Compelled is listed as the 4-1-second choice on oddsmaker Russell Hudak’s morning line and fits quite well on both the Optix EQ Standard and Surface/Distance Plot. However, she has not really moved forward as a four-year-old for trainer Tom Proctor. I certainly can see her winning or getting a piece, but the price is a bit too low to get me excited.

#11 Midnight Crossing is the first of two Richard Baltas runners entered in the Friday feature. The daughter of Dark Angel won her first start in Southern California back in late December and ran second in the Grade 2 Santa Ana in late spring, but has been overmatched in her last two. Baltas takes the blinkers off and legs up Corey Nakatani for the initial time. If C Nak can avoid significant ground loss from the outside draw and can sit just off the early leaders this Irish bred has a huge chance to get back to the winners’ circle at a solid 8-1.

#6 Lynne’s Legacy was 2 for 20 going into a conditional $35K claimer at Santa Anita Park on May 5^th and ran second, but has been a different horse since being purchased out of that race by trainer Doug O’Neill. The daughter of Unusual Heat was moved up in class by O’Neill and she has come through with consecutive last to first victories versus optional claiming foes. She takes another hike up the class ladder on Friday, but I love the way she finished last time out. She should get the pace she needs to be at her best. At 12-1 I like her chances to hit the board at the very least.

#2 Melissa Jane is another price horse worth inclusion in the Osunitas. The British bred filly has yet to win in three starts in the States for trainer Leonard Powell, but she has run on late for second twice, including last time out in the Pennies From Heaven Starter Handicap on June 24^th. If she can get out of the gates in good order she can certainly outrun her 20-1 morning line price.

#4 Pantsonfire is the second of the uncoupled Baltas entry and cuts back in distance after a pair of third place finishes at Santa Anita Park. I have not been overly impressed visually with the diminutive daughter of Sir Percy, but she has shown an affinity for the sod and retains the services of . She certainly makes sense to be in the mix late.

Suggested Wagers:

$2 Exacta Box

2+6+11 = $12

$1 Trifecta Key

11 with 2+4+6+7 = $12

$1 Trifecta Wheel

2+4+7+11 with 6 with 2+4+7+11 = $12

$1 Trifecta Wheel

2+4+7+11 with 2+4+7+11 with 6 = $12

Total Budget = $48