Del Mar dashes toward the weekend with Friday’s feature being the 7-furlong $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for Cal-breds. Kentucky Derby alum Pavlovian, the Sunland Derby winner and head runner-up in the Louisiana Derby, returns to the west coast in that one. He’ll meet Golden State Juvenile winner Ocean Bear and Cal Cup Derby winner Start the Ride. Give Pavlovian the slight lean there, but we’ve got some more appealing opinions and prices on the program.

The card boasts carryovers in the pick 6 ($31,078) beginning in Race 3 and the super hi 5 ($16,031) on the Race 8 finale.

Each day this summer at Del Mar, I’ll be handicapping the action with my top plays on the card – including full-card selections for a featured program each week (this week’s full-card will be Saturday).

Del Mar: Race 1 | 5:00 pm ET
#4 I’m Otter Here (6-1 morning line odds) was strong in both SoCal turf sprints since coming west to Brian Koriner and didn’t embarrass himself in a pair of miles most recently. Freshened, sharpened with fast, short works and cuts back in trip. Barn off to a great start at meet (5-10 in exacta) and note 4-7 in the trifecta with horses 5-1 or more, so it’s not about short prices. Hector Berrios riding turf as well as any right now locally. Win bet #4. Daily Double 4-4. Picks 4-1-3-5

Del Mar: Race 2 | 5:31 pm ET
#4 Tate Batz (5-1 morning line odds) looks to continue not only the hot start to the meet for Doug O’Neill, but also his sire Pavel – an amazing 7: 5-1-0 with runners at Del Mar the first 2 weeks on dirt. This filly ran second over the track in her November debut and was competitive against open-company claimers when last seen in May. Should fit with these. Win bet #4. Exacta key-box 4 with 5,7. Picks 4-5-7

Del Mar: Race 8 | 8:32 pm ET
#6 Volcanologist (8-1 morning line odds) has improved in each start, moved up on grass and could really move up with the move to Del Mar and around 2 turns. Sire Collected is a Del Mar turf dynamo with 29% local winners in recent years coming into the meet and a 30% positive ROI – and dam broke her maiden on the Del Mar lawn in 2020. Damsire Richard’s Kid screams distance. Win bet #6. Picks 6-5-3