Week 3 of the Del Mar summer meet gets underway with an 8-race card that boasts 11 or more entries in each of the day's final 6 races. My key plays come early and late on the card.

Del Mar - Race 1

#1 Virat: Like that he's quick enough to get in the mix from the fence but can also tap the brakes just a touch if necessary. Should trip out up top in a short field.

#3 Sorrento Sky: His better stuff would do the trick here, and he's back fresh after a few months off while coming down from Grade III company. Wouldn't argue with you.

#5 Sumter: He has been in with some pretty tough customers in recent starts, too, but I worry that he's going to give a couple of them a little bit of a head start, and that may be the difference here.

Race Summary: Virat and Sorrento Sky lead the way for me in the opener, but the former feels like the right one with a good draw to mix things up early.


Del Mar - Race 7

#10 Vibez: She has been in a couple good spots over the last several months, and she's a good fit with this crew with a good spying trip likely waiting for her. Edge.

#8 Rugelach: Loved the score off the claim last out, and she should be in the thick of things up top again today. Mild worry that she has enough company to make things tough.

#4 Hopeful: Solid effort to score at Santa Anita when racing fresh last month, and that probably leaves her a little bit of reasonable upside in the second start back. Seems like one of the ones.

Race Summary: Vibez has a class edge on a lot of these and should find a good spot to watch things unfold. Would be happy to take something like the 6/1 ML offering.


Del Mar - Race 8

#12 Victory Cat: Debuter draws well to avoid any early scrum down toward the fence, and he seems to be coming into this pretty forwardly for a horse at this level.

#2 Lord Dunmore: Logical player has been consistent enough with better on the turf, and he seems like an OK fit with this group if he can transfer that form over to the dirt.

#8 Eagles Dare: Feel like it'd be hard for me to hang my hat here, but the last one wasn't all bad, and there are a couple lines on the page that would at least be good for a thrill here.

Race Summary: Victory Cat goes first out in a race without a whole lot of serious form on paper, so take a look at him on the tote and track ahead of this.