Week 7 of 8 at Del Mar gets underway with an 8-race card on Thursday as we look to bounce back from a subpar handicapping week ($1.21 back on each $2 bet, our second losing week against 5 winning weeks at the meet). Managed to close with a couple of Sunday winners at short prices and still hold a strong $2.31 return on every $2 win bet from 112 Del Mar summer plays in this space. Let’s regain momentum for the final few weeks.

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 Sunday – providing more focus away from Travers Saturday at Saratoga).

Del Mar: Race 3 | 6:01 pm ET
#4 Movingwithpurpose (8-1 morning line odds) tries to buck a forgettable summer meet for trainer Richard Baltas, who clearly hasn’t been as effective as he once was. But 2-year-old maiden turf sprinters are a spot where he has shown up huge in the past, 12: 4-2-3 at Del Mar in recent years, including 10: 3-2-3 with first-time starters like this. Works are fast at San Luis Rey away from the cameras and note Baltas’ success with Twirling Candy offspring of all ages turf sprinting locally – 11: 3-4-2 and his star Ag Bullet is 0-2 with a couple of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint placings among those defeats. Win bet #4. Exacta key-box 4 with 6,8,10 (also eligible). Picks 4-6-8

Del Mar: Race 5 | 7:03 pm ET
#4 Jet Black Jewel (3-1 morning line odds) looks like the strongest play on the card and multi-race single. Switches to Juan Hernandez and makes the maiden special to maiden claiming drop in what looks like go time for Bob Hess Jr. Split good field last out that included next-out repeat allowance winner Goodies. Win bet #4. Daily Double 4 with 8-2. Picks 4-2-5

Del Mar: Race 6 | 7:34 pm ET
#8 Swaggish (12-1 morning line odds) warrants a longshot look despite a class rise in claiming price. Plenty of pace here that I don’t trust and his 95 BRIS lace pace figure last out was earned in a very fast overall time for the trip when beaten just over a length. Got an excellent trip that day and may need that again, but kept trying throughout and should be finishing best with dangerous #2 Ya’ll Come (7-2 morning line odds). Win bet 8. Exacta box 8-2. Daily Double 8,2 with 1.

Del Mar: Race 7 | 8:05 pm ET
#1 Winika (5-1 morning line odds) removes all variables as rail speed in an apparently paceless race and can take advantage of the infield elbow chute start that’s pseudo 3 turns. Steps up off maiden claiming tally but love to see Jeff Mullins’ charge back on work tab just 9 days after winning and apparently bounced out of the race great. Barn has been aces in turf races this summer. Half this field of rivals exits the same race July 30 in which the winner came back and ran sixth in a state-bred allowance last week. Win bet #1. Picks 1-4-7