How to bet the Del Mar Debutante and Del Mar Derby

The penultimate day of summer racing at Del Mar features two competitive graded stakes events—the Del Mar Debutante (G1) for 2-year-old fillies and the Del Mar Derby (G2) for 3-year-olds.

A $50 budget should be sufficient to enjoy a lucrative day if we can cheer the right runners home on top.

Race 9: Del Mar Debutante (G1, 8:10 p.m. ET)

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the Del Mar Debutante eight times and will saddle two fillies in search of a record-equaling ninth victory. #4 Princess Noor (8-5) sold for $1.35 million earlier this year and dominated her Aug. 22 debut at Del Mar, leading all the way to score by 2 1/2 lengths without ever being asked to run.

But her stablemate #5 Illumination (4-1) also warrants respect. Though she was beaten at 7-10 when second in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden sprint at Del Mar, Illumination is bred to run long and should relish the 7-furlong distance of the Del Mar Debutante. Baffert will equip Illumination with blinkers on Sunday, replicating the strategy he employed with 2019 Del Mar Debutante winner Bast, who likewise added blinkers off a runner-up effort in her debut.

Illumination will retain the riding services of Abel Cedillo, who has gone 5-for-11 (45%) with Baffert over the last 60 days. At 4-1, this $900,000 yearling purchase is worth betting to win. We’ll also use Illumination with Princess Noor to kick off a double.

$8 to win on #5 Illumination
$2 double: 5 with 4
$10 double: 4 with 4
Total: $20

Race 10: Del Mar Derby (G2, 8:40 p.m. ET)

The East Coast shipper #4 Pixelate (3-1) will be formidable in this 1 1/8-mile turf test. The son of City Zip hasn’t missed the trifecta in 10 starts, including seven consecutive stakes events. Last time out he rallied gamely to finish second in the 1 1/8-mile Kent (G3) at Delaware Park, sprinting the final furlong in a rapid :11.46 to miss by half a length. The victorious Gufo returned to finish second in the rich Saratoga Derby, while distant third-place runner Vanzzy came back to win the Jersey Derby.

Pixelate should find the competition a bit easier in the Del Mar Derby, and trainer Michael Stidham has gone 2-for-5 (40%) in turf routes at Del Mar since 2018, winning graded stakes with Elsa and Alms. With Del Mar’s leading rider Umberto Rispoli in the saddle, Pixelate is clearly the horse to beat.

$20 to win on #4 Pixelate
$5 exacta: 4 with 2,10 ($10)
Total: $30

Good luck!