How to bet Friday’s Rancho Bernardo Handicap

A field of eight fillies and mares will travel 6 1/2 furlongs on the Del Mar dirt in Friday’s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo (G3).

Rancho Bernardo Analysis

#3 Mother of Dragons is the inside speed of the field and will be sent from the break. #4 Artistic Diva and #5 Sneaking Out, will be forcing a swift pace from the start, as well.

Rancho Bernardo Contenders

#1 GINGHAM (6-1) -- Sophomore from the Baffert barn enjoyed the cut back in trip last time out when eclipsing the Angels Flight S. at Santa Anita. Quality Road filly will face her elders for the initial time, but if she moves forward off of her latest performance, the $420,000 purchase could be dangerous from off the pace. Mike Smith will be in the controls.

#2 INTO CHOCOLATE (8-1) -- Into Mischief filly was a sharp allowance vixen at Belmont Park most recently and has since returned to the Sise barn. Kentucky-bred has run pretty well in each of her three previous assignments on the course, and she will be rallying from off the pace under Cedillo.

#3 MOTHER OF DRAGONS (12-1) -- Speedy sort rides in on a two-race win streak as the expected early leader in the cast. First Dude mare faces a tough class hike, however, and she would be a surprise on Friday with Gonzalez in the stirrups.

#4 ARTISTIC DIVA (8-1) -- Interesting lass takes the blinkers off and goes turf-to-dirt for Sadler. Lightly raced Munnings mare lacks overall consistency, but she is more than capable on her best day, and she could move up with the equipment change in her local debut, as well. Bay is training well on the oval as of late.

#5 SNEAKING OUT (8-5) -- Horse to beat comes off a fine tally in the Great Lady M (G2) for Hollendorfer. California-bred sports a 4-1-2-0 mark at Del Mar, and she is a perfect two-for-two at the distance, too. Daughter of Indian Evening figures to get a dream trip forcing the pace while in the clear beneath Rispoli. 

#6 AMUSE (5-1) -- Mandela pupil didn’t fire in a turf dash locally and returns to the dirt as a top-three contender in this spot. Claiborne homebred has obvious ability, and she could contend if she repeats her third-place showing in the Great Lady M two back. Drayden Van Dyke will rally the Medaglia d’Oro mare from off the pace.

#7 MUCHO AMOR (15-1) -- Dark bay from the barn of Blaine Wright has never proven capable at this level, and she also shows spotty 2020 form in advance of her Del Mar bow. Stakes winner looks to be in a very difficult spot in the Rancho Bernardo.

#8 UNIQUE FACTOR (4-1) -- Exotics contender has faced some good ones since joining the Miller shedrow and might appreciate the class relief of sorts on Friday. The Factor 4-year-old was an even sixth in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland last time out, and improvement is expected with Prat taking the reins.

Rancho Bernardo Wagers

• $20 Exacta: 5 with 1,4 ($40)
• $5 Exacta: 1,4 with 5 ($10)