Del Mar (Saturday-11/07/2026) By Dean Keppler

Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner

BEST BET: 7-Little Hidden Port (Arg) (Race 3)

Race #1: Selections: 1-2-3

1-Call Me Sir moves inside to the rail after several outside draws, which may be enough to get this gelding back in the winner’s circle for Glatt off a series of close finishes. The Sir Prancealot 4-year-old was runner-up over a trio of today’s returning rivals in last. In a race that clearly lacks early zip, perhaps 2-Lyle The Crocodile (Ire) can secure an early upfront position and get his first Stateside win for trainer Phil D’Amato. The gelding has lost ten straight, however, but does fit on raw speed figures. A disappointing beaten even-money favorite last time, 3-Divisible By returns to the Del Mar lawn, where he was a sharp wide winner from off the pace back in August.

Race #2: Selections: 5-3-6

A tough trip fourth in last 5-Driftinganddreaming has good positional speed and is back at Del Mar, where the gray Volatile colt was a maiden winner on debut this summer. He drops in class and can bounce back for Sadler. 3-Scene by Me goes turf to dirt off the Sean McCarthy claim, and although he’s never tried the main track, this gelding has run well enough on grass to merit consideration against this suspect group. 6-Saul Elliott moves back to dirt for his second try off a 10-month layoff, and can improve for Miller after a speed-and-fade eighth-place effort Oct. 3.

Race #3: Selections: 7-2-1

7-Little Hidden Port (Arg) looked visually impressive when drawing off several of these on Oct. 9, winning at a mile at Santa Anita, and was claimed that afternoon by conditioner Simon Callaghan. This 5-time winning mare should be tough if able to replicate that effort for the new connections. 2-Kikuride has been flat in her last three turf tries, but gets some class relief this afternoon, dropping out of the Solana Beach S. into this $25k claimer, and is reunited with winning pilot Juan Hernandez. 1-Corporal Violette (Ire) is a multiple winner over this track and distance and exits the same aforementioned Oct. 9 event as most of these. The veteran mare can land a share once again.

Race #4: Selections: 5-6-3

Trainer Bob Baffert sends out a pair of 3-year-old colts in this MDSW 6 ½-furlong main track sprint. 5-Duntov is a $575k Keeneland purchase by multiple Grade 1 winner Maxfield who gets an ordinary 11% with 3-year-old & up debut runners. He’s trained well for his long-awaited unveiling and has the barn’s go-to pilot, JJ Hernandez. His stablemate is the experienced 6-Huber who hasn’t been out since August 2025. This pricey $700k colt by Omaha Beach finished second when last seen before hitting the sidelines and returns with Lasix off a spirited worktab. The Mandella-trained 3-Noble Testament returns off a four-month freshening and has been training exceptionally well for his return to action. The Constitution sophomore was a much-improved second with the addition of Lasix and blinkers in start number two and looks ready to fire off the bench.

Race #5: Selections: 2-10-8

Trainer Bob Baffert isn’t known for winning with turf-debut runners, but he did so with 2-Deluge, who won on debut back on Aug. 28 and then faded badly when switched to dirt and stepping up to face graded stakes competition in the Oak Leaf (G2). The juvenile filly returns to sprinting on grass back at Del Mar and can get back on track. 10-Blame Ashley has demolished fields by a combined 11 ½ lengths in both career main track tries for trainer Hector Palma when yet to be challenged, and although it’s uncertain how she’ll handle turf, she must be respected off those dominating performances. The daughter of Upstart, 8-Falling Creek, ships in from Horseshoe Indy off a game maiden win on Oct. 12 for trainer Jonathan Thomas and could fall into a favorable outside pressing trip with this afternoon’s outside draw.

Race #6: Selections: 1-10-5

A wide-open N2L $12,500 claimer kicks off the late pick four. 1-Monsieur Big coasted away to a 6 ¼-length maiden win on Oct. 9 and has enough speed to get hustled away from the rail by Rosario for his first crack against winners. 10-Big Reflections has run back-to-back seconds with competitive main track Beyers of 74 and 75, which is above par for this class level. The gray gelding will need to work out a trip with today’s outside draw. 5-Sterling Sea goes turf-to-dirt and takes a sizable class drop for trainer Victor Garcia. Hernandez hops on here and merits a chance at this level. This barn is 0-for-10 with second off the claim runners, however.

Race #7: Selections: 2-5-3

2-Acclaim Perfection drew off to a convincing 4 ½-length maiden turf sprint win at 6-1 on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita when Sadler switched her to grass, and looks well-placed for her first crack against winners. 5-Alittletoofabulous has run well in both grass starts for conditioner Carla Gaines and shortens back up to five panels off the one-mile maiden win. The gray Liam’s Map filly continues to work well in the a.m. since that last start and still offers plenty of upside. 3-Billie Holiday was nailed by the winner late in what was a sharp initial turf attempt for Miyadi, and the cut back to five furlongs probably helps her chances. Rosario takes over for Kimura, who opts for second-choice Alittletoofabulous.

Race #8: Selections: 1-9-5

Last year’s winner 1-Man O Rose got back on track with a win in the E. B. Johnston S. at Los Al on Sept. 10 and looks primed to take another edition of The Chosen Vron. The 6-year-old gelding is 13 for 22 lifetime, makes his third start of the form cycle, and will look to work out a trip from the rail. The Grade 1-winning 9-Lovesick Blues has regrouped since his disappointing try in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), adds blinkers today, and has been working in the a.m. like he’s back to his old self. 5-Big City Lights has run his best races on this track, as shown by his 7-2-2-2 mark at Del Mar, and is in a good spot to get back on track for Mandella third off the bench. The 7-year-old likes seven furlongs too and lures Hernandez off the bench.

Race #9: Selections: 3-1-11

A 7-2 morning line favorite tells the tale of the competitiveness of the Saturday afternoon nightcap. 3-Waiting For You (GB) was an even fourth behind Soul Sister and Dare Greatly in last, but could get a better race flow to outkick that pair today and was a good runner-up two-back over this grass course. 1-Daring Pursuit has speed and the rail and shortens back up to a mile for trainer Dan Blacker. Although this Not This Time sophomore has other speed to deal with, jockey Hector Berrios will likely work out a decent journey from the fence. 11-One Sweet Girl ships into Southern California for a new barn and has the best late pace rating in the field in what’s expected to be a live race flow. This filly has multiple wins at a mile.