Graded stakes spot plays for Pacific Classic day

As “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for the Nov. 6-7 Breeders’ Cup World, the Pacific Classic (G1) and Del Mar H. (G2) are the major racing highlights Saturday at Del Mar.

But there are three other graded stakes races on the action-packed card, so if you want to build your bankroll in advance of the feature events, here are some spot plays to get you started.

Race 3: Green Flash H. (G3, 6:05 p.m. ET)

#1 Sparky Ville (5-2) is favored, after he rallied to win a July 26 allowance over this course and distance, but I’m more interested in #7 Chaos Theory (7-2), a newcomer to California.

A capable graded stakes performer in 2019, Chaos Theory has come back strong in 2020. He finished second in the 5 1/2-furlong Colonel Power S., then rallied to win a 5-furlong optional-claiming allowance at Churchill Downs.

Claimed for $62,500 by trainer John Sadler and Hronis Racing, Chaos Theory has cranked out fast workouts since he arrived in California and even took a spin over the Del Mar turf course Sunday, when he clocked a half-mile in a bullet :47.40.

With Del Mar’s leading jockey, Umberto Rispoli, in the saddle, Chaos Theory can run down the pacesetters and spring a mild upset in his local debut.

$12 to win on #7 Chaos Theory
$1 trifecta: 7 with 1 with ALL ($6)
$1 trifecta: 7 with ALL with 1 ($6)
Total: $24

Race 4: Torrey Pines (G3, 6:36 p.m. ET)

#2 Secret Keeper (7-2) has shown a ton of potential sprinting. Under the care of hot trainer Clifford Sise (3-for-7 at Del Mar), Secret Keeper rallied to victory in her debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita, then transitioned to Del Mar and employed pace-tracking tactics to beat #7 Merneith (5-1) and #6 Provocation (9-2) in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance dash.

With Brisnet Speed ratings of 93 and 96, Secret Keeper is among the fastest fillies in the Torrey Pines. As a daughter of Into Mischief, out of a Candy Ride mare, the stretch out to a mile should be within reach for Secret Keeper, and she figures to sit a clean, stalking trip from post 2.

We’ll play Secret Keeper on top of all our tickets.

$12 to win on #2 Secret Keeper
$1.50 trifecta: 2 with 3,5 with 3,5,6,7 ($9)
$1.50 trifecta: 2 with 3,5,6,7 with 3,5 ($9)
Total: $30

Race 9: Del Mar Oaks (G1, 9:06 p.m. ET)

A four-time stakes winner on turf, #10 Laura’s Light (3-1) won the 1-mile San Clemente (G2) over this course July 25 and is the filly to beat. With her abundance of tactical speed, Laura’s Light can make her own racing luck, even in a large field.

But 1 1/8 miles might stretch the limits of Laura’s Light’s stamina, and there are some intriguing newcomers in the Del Mar Oaks field.

#3 Miss Extra (9-2) won the Prix de Sandringham (G2) in France and also contested the prestigious Prix de Diane (G1), which gives her a class advantage, and picked up Rispoli for her U.S. debut.

Fellow French shipper #8 Neige Blanche (5-1) nabbed the Prix Cleopatre (G3) and will be ridden by Flavien Prat in her stateside debut, while #6 Trickle In (12-1) has gone 3-for-4 and ships in off a frontrunning score in the Christiana S. at Delaware Park.

I’m going to spread around with exacta tickets, with the hope to beat Laura’s Light.

$4 exacta: 3,6,8 with 10 ($12)
$2 exacta Box: 3,6,8 ($12)
Total: $24

Good luck!