How to bet the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar

A total of nine juveniles who were bred or sired in the Golden State will dash 5 1/2 panels on the Del Mar dirt in Friday’s $100,000 Graduation S. I’ll take a shot with a maiden who has run a pair of good ones to kick off his career. 

Graduation Wagers

• $10 win and place #7 I’m A Bad Boy ($20)
• $5 exacta key box 7 with 3,4 ($20)

The Luis Mendez-trained #7 I’m A Bad Boy was a close third in a swiftly run race on debut at Santa Anita in May, and the gelding was last seen missing by a nose in a game performance on this surface. 

By Stay Thirsty, the solid prospect has speed and showed heart in battling back after being passed last time out. That trait could come in handy Friday in a field with a lot of early gas. I expect him to track the pace from the second flight while always in striking range under Ricardo Gonzalez. 

#4 Bodacious earned a whopping 102 Brisnet Speed figure from his debut win in the spring at Santa Anita and will be a major threat with anything resembling that outing. This dark bay son of Smokem dueled on the front end before giving way in the lane in the Bashford Manor S. during his latest venture and will improve second off the bench. 

This Jorge Periban pupil also gets a lot of class relief compared to his last appearance, and the colt might be the speed of the speed under Victor Espinoza. 

The other major contender in the field is #3 R Heisman, one of a trio of smart two-year-olds in the dash for conditioner Peter Miller. The $70,000 son of Far From Over was a clear runner-up to Bodacious in his initial offering prior to moving to this outfit and graduating with relative ease in his second engagement.

He finished clear in second in a recent stakes heat at Pleasanton and has posted a trio of local morning moves in the interim, led by a swift half-mile drill most recently. The colt has been sent to post at odds-on prices in each try and will offer more value in this spot. Juan Hernandez will ride.