BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: July 27, Del Mar

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Monday, July 27

Del Mar, Race 4: Maiden special weight (1 1/16 miles on turf, 6:30 p.m. ET)

With 14 entries, including three also-eligibles, this 1 1/16-mile maiden race looks competitive on paper. Rather than favor a short-priced runner, I’ll take a chance with #7 Power Source (15-1 on the morning line), who is eligible for improvement in his first start of the season.

As a 2-year-old in 2019, Power Source showed potential in his native Ireland, where he finished sixth by just 1 3/4 lengths in a 7-furlong maiden race won by future group stakes winner Crossfirehurricane. Subsequently transferred to the U.S., Power Source pressed the pace in a 1-mile turf maiden race at Del Mar, before he weakened to finish sixth, behind future stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-up Billy Batts.

Power Source will return from a year layoff Monday, but he has turned in a steady string of fast workouts for trainer Richard Baltas, who strikes at a 19% rate with horses who return from lengthy breaks. Baltas has been hot at Del Mar this summer, going 4-for-15 (27%) to start the meet, and he has been particularly successful with jockey Heriberto Figueroa. Over the last 60 days, they’ve gone 3-for-4 together.

Assuming Power Source’s enticing 15-1 odds hold up, let’s bet this Slam Dunk Racing runner to win and place.

$10 to win on #7 Power Source
$15 to place on #7 Power Source

Good luck!