Saturday's Racing Picks 11/9: Del Mar
Day two of the 15-day Bing Crosby season at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club features a 9-race card, highlighted by the $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes for restricted 3-year-olds over one mile on the turf.The short field of six leaves the gate for race 8 with an approximate post time of 7:03 p.m. ET.
#6, Carnivorous, Mario Gutierrez, 3-1
Carnivorous is 4-1-2 in 10 starts this year and has win three of his last four races, all allowance optional claimers, including a ½ length win over Tiger Dad on Oct. 18 at Santa Anita. This will be his fifth career start at Del Mar (2-0-1), highlighted by two straight triumphs here in August. Mario Gutierrez gets the call in the saddle today for trainer Steve Knapp. His recent success here will prove prosperous for his connections today. The pick.
#1, Proud Pedro (FR), Rafael Bejarano, 7-2
Proud Pedro returns today after a four-month layoff, where he was sidelined with stringhalt, a condition that typically affects horses while they walk (often after exercise), and generally disappears when they canter or gallop. Proud Pedro returns after finishing in the money in four of his last five starts, with his last win coming in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita in May. Trainer Leonard Powell goes to Rafael Bejarano for today’s ride, taking over for Flavien Prat, who is serving a three-day suspension. Runner-up.
#5, Bob and Jackie, Heriberto Figueroa, 5-2
The morning-line favorite, Bob and Jackie, returns today from a layoff due to a bone injury. He has won two straight races, including his last, by one length in the $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 28, 2018. He also won by a neck over Breeders’ Cup runner, Omaha Beach, in a maiden special weight race in his lone start at Del Mar on Nov. 18, 2018. Regular rider Heriberto Figueroa returns to the saddle for the fourth straight time aboard for Bob and Jackie’s first start this year for trainer Richard Baltas, who has admitted that his horse is better on grass than dirt. Contender.
#2, Dueling, Drayden Van Dyke, 4-1
Dueling has finished in the money in three of his last four starts, including a 1 ¾ length win last time out in an allowance optional claiming race at Fresno on Oct. 13. He is 0-3-0 in his last four starts at Del Mar and looks to make up for a disappointing sixth-place finish in his last here in an allowance optional claimer on Aug. 18. Drayden Van Dyke is in the irons for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. In the mix.
PICKS: 6-1-5-2
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By Lou Monaco