Horse Racing: Garrity's Sunday Stakes heads to Del Mar for the Wickerr and the Cougar II
We are headed West today, to Del Mar Racetrack in northern San Diego County, where we have three plays on this summer Sunday. The weather will be perfect, the dirt fast, and the turf firm. Let’s go.
Del Mar, Race 7, 8 pm ET
$80,000 Wickerr Stakes, 1 mile, Turf, 3 & Up
Eight go in the Wickerr. The pick is 8-Next Shares, who has not exactly been a win machine, with his last victory being all the way back in 2019, but almost all of his races have been in Grade 1 and Grade 2 stakes, and we think he will appreciate the lesser competition here. His last start was in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita, when he finished a good third; a repeat of that effort should be enough to beat this field. We will bet him to win at 5-1. The bet: Del Mar, Race 7, $35 to win on 8-Next Shares.
Del Mar, Race 9, 9 pm ET
Allowance/Optional Claiming, 5 furlongs, Turf, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up
This turf sprint drew eleven entrants, and the size and composition of the field make it an excellent betting race. We like long shot 3-Majestic Steps, a 3-year-old filly who cuts back in distance and drops back into first-level allowance company after two unsuccessful tries in graded stakes route races. We think she will appreciate the class relief, and we also think she will appreciate the shorter distance. We will bet her to win at 12-1. The bet: Del Mar, Race 9, $35 to win on 3-Majestic Steps.
Del Mar, Race 10, 9:30 pm ET
Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes, 1 ½ miles, Dirt, 3 & Up
The Cougar II is a graded stakes at a mile and a half on the main track, a rare occurrence in American racing. The pick is favored 6-Tizamagician, who finished second in the Brooklyn Handicap, also a 12-furlong race, at Belmont Park on June 5. Tizamagician lost the Brooklyn to a horse named Lone Rock, who ran off-the-charts good that day; since this field lacks a horse of that caliber, Tizamagician is going to get his picture taken. We will bet him to win at 8/5. The bet: Del Mar, Race 10, $40 to win on 6-Tizamagician.
That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.