Del Mar (Friday-11/13/2026) By Dean Keppler

Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner

BEST BET: 4-Majestic Palisades (Race 7)

Race #1: Selections: 6-1-3

6-Bold Type finished a much-improved second as the odds-on beaten chalk in start number two for Team Baffert and now makes the all-important third career try. The $500k son of Violence has speed and should appreciate getting off the rail and moving outside. 1-Ala Sawab lost all chance in a 4-horse field on debut back in the summer over this main track when stumbling badly out of the gate and unseating jockey Joes Roasrio. The Flightline colt was well-backed that afternoon for Sadler and has trained exceptionally well since the mishap. 3-Et Al is one of two O’Neill juveniles in here and moves back to dirt on the turnback. He had a sharp bullet synthetic work Nov. 1.

Race #2: Selections: 7-6-2

The Mark Glatt-trained 7-Keep Movin’ On is winless since August 2024 but drops in for a career-low claiming tag this afternoon with the best late pace figure in the field in a race that’s projected to have some spirited early splits. A voided claim back on Sept. 27, 6-Tessuto, drops all the way down to today’s $8k level as the likely frontrunner for conditioner Peter Miller. The 5-year-old gelding has never been off the board at today’s one-mile trip (5-1-1-3). 2-Big Juanito secured the place spot in front of the top choice in last, and the Hess gelding likes the Del Mar main track (5-2-1-1).

Race #3: Selections: 3-6-5

3-Gallant Jack finished a disappointing fifth and last on debut at Los Al on Sept. 18 and now moves to grass in start number two while switching to Hernandez. The juvenile colt is by multiple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher, an impressive (17-5-3-1) with turf sprint runners, according to DRF Formulator. Improvement likely. 6-Ocean Club (Ire) saw a Beyer boost of 35-plus points with his recent runner-up effort on the turnback Oct. 11 over at Santa Anita. If the import can run back to that lofty (79) speed figure for Papaprodromou, he’s the obvious one to beat here. 5-Forest Warrior (by Jackie’s Warrior) debuts for trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Emisael Jaramillo off a steady worktab. This jockey-trainer duo teamed up with two turf debut winners this summer at Del Mar: Piedra Fria (8/1; 11-1) and Little Opal (7/24; 5-2).

Race #4: Selections: 2-4-7

2-Bowtie Boys is 0-for-7 at Del Mar but removes the blinkers today, with solid gate speed, and reunites with winning pilot Kazushi Kimura. 4-Ballyhooligan steps up in class today but has to be respected off his back-to-back (72) main-track Beyers and a 12 ¾-length maiden romp over this course last year. 7-Mia Bambino goes turf-to-dirt on the class drop but finished a well-beaten third at this level at short odds over this strip three-back when breaking slowly and claimed.

Race #5: Selections: 4-5-6

A 4 ¼-length maiden turf winner last seen in June 2025, 4-Tees Touch (GB) returns off an extended layoff for trainer Phil D’Amato but has worked steadily at San Luis Rey for his long-awaited return to racing. This barn is 8-for-30 (27%) with a $3.91 ROI, with grass sprint runners at Del Mar returning off >180 days in the past four years. His stablemate 5-Arctic Power (Ire) is also returning off a break (eight months), albeit not as long as the top choice. The 4-year-old gelding finished a good third behind a next-out winner when last seen in March, facing winners. 6-Throwthefirstpunch finished a disappointing eighth and last at 36-1 on Oct. 30 when stepping up in class for Team O’Neill, but switches to Hernandez today, who is off to a fast start this meet, clicking close to 40%.

Race #6: Selections: 1-6-4

Two sprints to a route 1-He’s Got Fire makes career try number nine today for the Papaprodromou barn but has had several close finishes at this level, including a most recent runner-up on Oct. 16 over a trio of today’s returning rivals. The 3-year-old gelding gets his fifth different jockey this afternoon but did come back to fire a “best of 36” bullet five furlongs in :59.3 Nov. 6. Perhaps today is the day he breaks through on the stretch out. 6-Lucky Sniper exits back-to-back seconds as the beaten favorite in last pair at this level and distance for trainer Dan Blacker. 4-Halninethousand adds blinkers back on for start number nine and was a solid second over this racetrack three-back with a competitive Beyer.

Race #7: Selections: 4-5-2

The $5 Late Double starts here. 4-Majestic Palisades drops a notch off an even fourth on Oct. 30 for trainer Librado Barocio, where the gelding earned the field’s best last-out Beyer (83). The 5-year-old should trip out nicely today with a favorable stalking trip, with Hernandez climbing back aboard. 5-Sogno Di Vino moves back to dirt, having won two straight turf routes, and has already proved he can successfully handle the main track. 2-Keithing Thunder has speed, moves inside, and makes the third start of the form cycle today for trainer Brendan Galvin off an improving Beyer pattern.

Race #8: Selections: 4-3-6

Trainer Michael McCarthy sends out a pair of MDSW to Maiden Claiming droppers in the Friday afternoon nightcap, and I’d be inclined to use both on my pick five tickets. 4-Preclude (Ire) had little chance from a tough outside post in last but gets a better draw today and finished a close-up fourth, two-back over this turf course. The sophomore filly has worked five times since that last Sept. 6 race. Her stablemate 3-Chair’s Coin makes her third start off the bench today, exiting back-to-back (70) turf Beyers with an even fifth-and-sixth-place finish in last pair. 6-Silkie Sevei (Ire) sat a perfect ground-saving trip, finishing third last out, and looked poised to come up the rail for the win before getting blocked and steadied, losing all chance in the deep stretch. The filly makes start number 11 today and has now lost three straight as the public’s choice.