The dos and don’ts at Del Mar are not always obvious year in and year out but there are certain unwritten rules that should be addressed in order to make the betting experience the most profitable.
Let’s go over what one should avoid and embrace during this seaside stand.
- Be careful about betting just off Santa Anita form. The main track at Santa Anita is a totally different animal and it may take the runners time to acclimate.
- Do pay strict attention to where the winners are coming from on a daily basis. Winning styles can change rapidly and if a horse seems to handle the Del Mar surface in a morning workout there is no guarantee that the runner will excel in the afternoon when the money is down.A perfect example of a horse working well at Del Mar and just not being good enough to win is Dortmund, who ran second at Del Mar last Saturday. He posted a second best of the morning 1:12 flat 6-furlong drill before the San Diego Handicap, and although he set the pace, he could not hold off the eventual winner.The reason for this could very well be the climate at Del Mar. Traditionally, the weather will be very overcast in the mornings and early afternoon and the sun usually doesn’t come out brightly until after 3 p.m. after this affects the track because of the composition of the dirt.
- Don’t get caught up in the chalk fiesta and jump on all the short prices you’ll see. Younger fans that are in mass at this meet just want to cash tickets, and some don’t care if the price is 3-5 or 3-2. They just get a thrill of cashing. That’s why short prices abound.
- Do focus on all types of styles, as you can’t get caught up with speed and only the speed. Many fans have a myopic view of the game and have not yet adapted to the intricacies of how a race unfolds, so take advantage of the ability to view things out of the box.
- Don’t forget the human element. The owners that make the trek down for the meet want action and you cannot keep a decent claiming horse in your stable unless you padlocked him to the stall. Pay attention to upper echelon sophomores that have been freshened for this meet. The fact that they have not been through a hard grind all year gives them an opportunity to put 2 or 3 super races together against a tired crew.
- Do take notice of the runners in the paddock and post parade if at all possible. Many a bad bet has been stopped from being made and many a winning bet has been made by just casual observation of the runners as they enter the track and even in the warm-up period on the track. Remember, these athletes and they don’t always perform the same way. They need to get the blood flowing and to get the cobwebs out.
- Don’t be scared to take a shot with Northern California shippers.The clever trainer Andy Mathis saddled Freddies Dream at Del Mar last Thursday and he was all smiles after the race. Freddies Dream was coming off a fourth at Golden Gate near San Francisco in his prior start but he rallied to take the lead in a $32,000 claimer on Thursday and paid a juicy $26.Bill Morey brought down a horse from NoCal Saturday and won. His charge Easter Fever was third in her prior start at Pleasanton but completed the early daily double on Saturday.
- Do get involved into the turf racing. Remember, the turns are tight and players need to find agile, shifty runners than can quicken in a hurry. As the meeting goes on, speed on the grass will be more dangerous as the turf course gets pounded down.
- Taking a shot at foreigners or runners that are coming off layoffs and using them in the exotics is a good way to turn a short price winner into huge dividends. When gambling on some longshots, try to put the best connections, trainer and jockey, in your favor.
- Don’t lose focus. One day does not make a difference. Keep an even keel and take care of the bankroll as it is a long meeting and one cannot get discouraged because of a couple of bad days.
Finally, if one is lucky enough to be in attendance at the track, do not dare leave the track without trying a margarita. There is no better way to soothe a tough beat or celebrate a juicy trifecta hit.
