Cal-bred juveniles clash in the $100,000 Graduation Stakes to top the Friday card at Del Mar. The Race 7 feature likely runs through heavy favorite Early Encore for red-hot connections that we’ll try to catch at a better price on the undercard. Carryovers in the pick 6 ($28,078) and super hi 5 ($17,891) add some spark. First post for Friday’s 8-race card is 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT.

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
#5 Eva Lea (4-1 morning line odds) won fresh here in her debut in November and was a winner when last seen 3 months ago at Santa Anita. Trainer John Sadler had 5 wins last week, jockey Joel Rosario 8 wins (both most in their respective ranks), including 3 in tandem. Modest speed figures could help hold her price. Win bet #5. Picks 5-1-6.

Del Mar: Race 4 | 6:34 pm ET
#5 Opus Uno (3-1 morning line odds) has faced much tougher competition than this both locally and at Oaklawn this winter. Should be near the front throughout in a short field size. Steady workout tab for return. Really like what I’m seeing on video at 1st.tv in recent works and looked stronger than barnmate / race rival #6 Marcos Performance in their team drill. Win bet #5. Picks 5-1-6

Del Mar: Race 6 | 7:36 pm ET
#3 Pro Payne (20-1 morning line odds) narrowed the gap between her and morning line favorite Make Me Money from their first to second starts and has delivered a sharper-than-par for her workout Aug. 1 since then. Extra distance won’t hurt in her third showdown. The Val Brinkeroff barn went from 0-16 at the meet to notching a pair of victories last week and everything seems to be perking up, perhaps tipped by her Aug. 1 drill. Win-place bet #3. Picks 3-10-2.