Late Pick 4 Play on Del Mar opener

Excitement surrounds Del Mar’s opener and the Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds highlights a challenging 10-race program. TwinSpires is offering an opening-day contest on the Late Pick 4, “Out Cap Da Shap,” where players will try to outperform handicapper Scott Shapiro and I’ll give it a go.

Analysis

Race 7, a 5-furlong maiden test for 2-year-old fillies, features the most likely winner in my estimation, #7 Brill. Conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer, the $1 million daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has received glowing workout reports in advance of her debut and drew well in post 7. We probably won’t get anything close to her 5-2 morning line price, but I will single Brill in the first leg of the Late Pick 4 sequence.

A full field with an abundance of early speed will contest the Oceanside, a one-mile turf affair carded as Race 8, and I like #2 Texas Wedge in his second start of the year. The Peter Miller-trained son of Colonel John concluded 2017 with a sharp score on Del Mar’s turf, rallying to win his turf debut going away in convincing fashion, and offered a fine turn of foot to just miss when returning down the hill in a Santa Anita turf sprint on June 8. Texas Wedge should appreciate the added ground with his pedigree and appears to be developing into a quality performer on the sod. Miller wins at a 24% clip the second start back from the layoff and Texas Wedge looks poised to move forward with a favorable pace set-up and a ground-saving inside post.

#5 Desert Stone has the right run style for the Oceanside and enters on the upswing for Richard Baltas, who tied for leading trainer during the 2017 Del Mar summer session. I’ll add Desert Stone to the Pick 4 ticket.

Race 9, a one-mile starter allowance, appears fairly contentious and I will use the following six horses: #3 Fawree, #5 Closing Time, #6 Super Duper Cooper, #8 Blame Joe, #9 Aurora d’Oro and #10 Impression.

If alive to the finale, Race 10, I will be rooting for chaos. #6 Henry County looks interesting making his second start and turf debut for Richard Mandella, but I will use the entire 12-horse field.

50-cent Late Pick 4 Ticket

7 with 2,5 with 3,5,6,8,9,10 with all ($72)

Good luck!