Del Mar: How to bet the Solana Beach Stakes

At first glance, #4 Mucho Unusual looks tough to beat in Saturday’s $125,000 Solana Beach S. at Del Mar.

The daughter of Mucho Macho Man has competed in eight consecutive graded stakes races and won the 2019 San Clemente (G2) over the same course and distance as the Solana Beach.

Mucho Unusual has suffered seven straight defeats, but her losing streak includes a runner-up effort in the 2019 American Oaks (G1) and a close, third-place finish in the 2020 Gamely (G1).

The drop in class for a minor stakes restricted to California-breds should help Mucho Unusual bounce back to the winner’s circle for trainer Tim Yakteen (3-for-11 at Del Mar) and jockey Flavien Prat (21-for-86).

But Mucho Unusual’s losing streak can be at least partially attributed to the fact that she is a late runner without much tactical speed.

With that in mind, Mucho Unusual’s stablemate, #2 Cordiality, could be poised to take advantage and spring a mild, frontrunning upset.

A 7-year-old veteran, Cordiality won the 2018 Solana Beach by 2 1/4 lengths, after she stalked the early pace. Though she has only run twice in the last year, her recent form is strong. On July 12 at Del Mar, Cordiality wired the 1-mile Osunitas S. and sprinted the final quarter-mile in :23.19 to post a snappy final time of 1:33.61.

This effort produced a 100 Brisnet Speed rating, which exceeds the career-best 95 posted by Mucho Unusual. Cordiality has cracked the exacta in five of her six starts over the Del Mar turf course, and she looks like the quickest of the speed horses entered in the Solana Beach. With luck, she’ll secure an uncontested lead under hot jockey Umberto Rispoli (22-for-82 at Del Mar) and take this field all the way on the front end.

Let’s bet Cordiality to win and play her on top of Mucho Unusual in a cold exacta. We’ll also add a couple small trifectas, with #1 Sedamar and two-time stakes-winning sprinter #3 Big Sweep underneath.

$20 to win on #2 Cordiality
$10 exacta: 2 with 4
$2 trifecta: 2 with 4 with 1,3 ($4)
$3 trifecta: 2 with 1,3 with 4 ($6)
Total: $40

Good luck!