Track Update: Del Mar for Breeders' Cup Week

With Breeders' Cup weekend on the horizon, let's check in with some of the trends at Del Mar. Though the World Championship races feature connections from all over the world, this can help you play the undercard races and beyond

Jockeys

During last year's Bing Crosby meet, three jockeys hit double-digit wins: Abel Cedillo (19-for-103, 18%), Flavien Prat (14-for-69, 20%), and Umberto Rispoli (11-for-79, 14%). 

Prat dominated the lawn with 11 victories (11-for-40, 28%), and a strong +46% flat-bet ROI. He was particularly lucrative at two turns on grass (7-for-27, 26%, +71% ROI).

Shifting to dirt, Tiago Pereira (6-for-29, 21%, +69% ROI) and Mike Smith (4-for-11, 36%, +32% ROI) were often worth a second look at one turn. Long on dirt, the up-and-coming Jessica Pyfer (3-for-9, 33%, +44% ROI) was not only tied for most dirt route wins in last year's fall meet but did so in the fewest starts and with the best ROI.

Trainers

Two trainers cracked double digits at the 2020 Bing Crosby meet at Del Mar, Richard Baltas (11-for-52, 21%, +7% ROI) and Philip D'Amato (10-for-42, 24%, +34% ROI). Two barns were right behind them with nine wins, and also positive flat-bet ROIs on that meet: Richard Mandella (9-for-27, 33%, +8% ROI) and Peter Miller (9-for-50, 18%, +19% ROI).

On the grass, Baltas (8-for-43, 19%, +13% ROI) and D'Amato (6-for-29, 21%, +33% ROI) led the charge. However, trainer Chad Brown came strong with his shippers: 4-for-8 (50%), with a +105% ROI, with all of those raiders going long on the grass. Keep him in mind for turf stakes, particularly later in the meet.

On dirt, Bob Baffert (6-for-15, 40%, -9% ROI) and Peter Miller (5-for-22, 23%, +53% ROI) topped the standings. All of Miller's firepower (5-for-20, 25%, +68% ROI) appeared in dirt sprints, with Robert Hess (3-for-14, 21%, +121% ROI) also playable at one turn on dirt. In main-track routes no trainer won more than two, but Sal Gonzalez won two of three starts, with his winners paying $106.60 and $39.00.

At a Glance

To see the latest trends at tracks across the country, read the latest At a Glance reports, only at Brisnet.