How to bet the 2023 Seabiscuit Handicap

An excellent field of eight will run 1 1/16 miles on the Del Mar lawn in Saturday’s $200,000 Seabiscuit H. (G2). Conditioner Phil D’Amato has a trio of prime contenders in the heat and I expect his runners to shine. 

Seabiscuit Wagers

• $30 exacta 2 with 4 ($30)
• $12 exacta 2 with 3 ($12)
• $5 trifecta key 2 with 3,4 ($10)

#2 Easter (3-1) has been excellent when traveling at the one-mile distance and exits a fine tally in the Lure S. at Santa Anita in his initial outing in California most recently, Now in the hands of D’Amato, the five-year-old will make his second run since August and seems well spotted in the field. The son of Exosphere will be fine with an extra sixteenth of a mile on Saturday, and the powerful late runner also lands in a field where the pace is expected to be swift and contested. Antonio Fresu will be in the silks. 

Defending champ #4 Hong Kong Harry (8-5) is the deserving morning-line choice for D’Amato. The consistently excellent son of Es Que Love has won or placed in eight of his last 10 outings, with six of those coming at the graded stakes level, and the chestnut also dons a sharp 3-2-1-0 mark on the course, as well. Irish-bred six-year-old came off of a four-month layoff to annex the City of Hope Mile S. (G2) in his latest performance and has trained well in the interim, led by a bullet move on this lawn most recently. Juan Hernandez will guide the obvious win contender. 

D’Amato’s #3 Balnikhov (8-1) is not especially consistent but he is more than capable on his best day. The one-run closer was a close third in the Eddie Read S. (G2) on the surface three back and would be a major threat with something repeating that showing in this spot. The dark bay son of Adaay shows a pair of solid morning moves on this green as of late and will be doing his best work inside the final furlong with strong turf pilot Hector Berrios in the stirrups.