Del Mar’s five-day closing week for the summer meet gets underway Thursday and races through Labor Day Monday. Eight races are on tap to open the action as favorites have scored well below the national average this season (32%) and the average winner has been a shade under 6-1 odds. Through 7 weeks our Del Mar selections remain in the black, showing a $279.80 return on 132 plays in this space ($2.12 back on each $2 bet; average winner paid right at $10.00) – but we’ve given away a decent chunk of the profits the past 2 weeks and look to right the ship.

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 – featuring the Del Mar Futurity).

Del Mar: Race 4 | 6:37 pm ET
#4 Not A Sinner (3-1 morning line odds) lures Antonio Fresu away from the morning line favorite and projects to get a dynamite trip a few lengths behind what appears to be an inside speed duel. The Simon Callaghan barn hasn’t been what you’d expect in 2026, but has perked up in recent days at Del Mar and this consistent mare has been knocking on the door. Picks 4-1-3.

Del Mar: Race 6 | 7:42 pm ET
#1 Corporate Violette (8-1 morning line odds) gets a complete flip in posts from the far outside draw last time when overused early to a rail draw Thursday. Jockey change to Antonio Fresu can’t be overstated here from Aguilar and consider Fresu’s 4: 2-0-2 record on this mare when able to stalk and pounce under his hands. She’s another in a line of Starspangledbanner offspring who have run well over the Del Mar turf. Among several class droppers looking for paydirt at the end of the meet. Picks 1-4-2-7.

Del Mar: Race 7 | 8:12 pm ET
#4 Pavel Is Appealing (7-2 morning line odds) can continue what’s been one of Doug O’Neil’s better Del Mar summers. Stretches out in trip off a series of turf sprints and tries a dirt route for the first time in 9 starts. O’Neill has been a sharp 6: 2-1-2 this meeting moving turf to dirt. The Pavel offspring have been beyond fantastic at the meet with 36% wins from 22 dirt starts and a $3.42 ROI for every $1 bet – and his filly She’s No Quant almost stretched out to win the stakes last weekend. Morning-line chalk Christel Clean is 1-for-5 as the favorite and has had plenty of chances while often coming up short. Picks 4-2-6.