The spotlight card for closing week at Del Mar comes with Sunday’s Del Mar Futurity Day program. After this, we’ll get one more shot where the turf meets the surf on Monday’s Labor Day finale. The entry box is stuffed with 6 of 11 races having double-digit contenders before scratches. First post is a half-hour earlier at 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT.

Del Mar Race 1 | starter optional claiming
In a turf sprint field that’s 0-14 combined on the local lawn, can’t take too short of a price. #10 Miles Finch has a class edge on the field and is dropped in for the $50,000 claiming price in order to be eligible here. Post is no gift, so demand 5-1 or more despite top connections of Sadler-Rosario. Like the big gap #1 Broheim put on the field in his maiden win (10+ lengths to third) and has run well on grass in past. Picks: 10-1-4-2

Del Mar Race 2 | maiden
Morning-line chalk #7 Quattro Passi debuted second behind Baffert barnmate Holmby, who would go on to win the Sorrento Stakes in her next start. She doesn’t look to be an elite type for this barn and the works have been spread a bit since the debut at the meet’s beginning. Willing to try and beat her. Juan Hernandez is on the Baffert rookie #1 Prospect of Love, who had trained at Los Al away from the barn’s best stock most of the summer and needed 2 local gate works for the debut. I’m not willing to buy there at a short price, either, from the rail. #5 Royal Pearl spent a good deal of her Aug. 9 debut in makeup mode after a bad start and paid the price against one of the more talented 2F of the meeting in Miss Monica. I’ll give her the nod with a perked-up work since. 5-1-7-8

Del Mar Race 3 | claiming
#10 Ah Jeez looks like a reliable 5-2 morning line favorite in search of a third straight turf claiming win for leading trainer Doug O’Neill. Capacity field size gives some intra-race exotics options to explore without trying to reinvent the wheel. #3 Living Life and #7 City Exile are the logicals underneath but won’t provide big value in the tris and supers. A good chance to wheel the second spot and feather that pair in third and/or fourth perhaps, but value may be found in singling in multi-race bets where the public is more apt to include a few contenders given the field size. Picks 10-3-7

Del Mar Race 4 | $300K Del Mar Futurity
Nothing fancy whatsoever here as Baffert’s odds-on chalk Hughes should add to his Best Pal win. If there’s any chink in the armor, it did take him 22 days to return to the workout tab since that score, while barnmate Domus has been busy and blossoming in the morning. But Juan Hernandez doesn’t get on the wrong one of these for Baffert and he’s with Hughes. Picks 4-5-1.

Del Mar Race 5 | maiden
We get back to some potential price action here with #8 Got the Ring, an appealing 8-1 morning line offering. This one ran a strong second here last summer while in the same form cycle – second start and moving sprint to route. The Peter Miller barn has been going well to close the stand and he gets Juan Hernandez, a big riding plus. Look for inside speed from #4 Brazoria (5-1 ML) and this pair to control what could be a modest tempo. Picks 8-4-3-6

Del Mar Race 6 | claiming
A strong early space could set up nicely for the finishers even though mile races often are taken up top on dirt locally. #2 Shady Tiger was entered for an $81,000 purse Friday but couldn’t draw into the field on the also-eligible list, now dropping in class here for $34,000 and getting a great set-up. Could be a better closing sprinter, but that sprint background might keep him in touch with the leaders and that’s never a terrible thing at a Del Mar dirt mile. Favorite #1 Pioneer Prince’s best races have come with the lead and it could be contentious, so I’ll shop for options. Picks 2-3-9-1

Del Mar Race 7 | allowance optional claiming
The pace looks more honest with #4 Delightful Laura and #1 Lady Rider than what #10 Lady in Paris has seen in her 2 domestic starts. She’s come with her run regardless and any additional pace help increases her chances under Antoni Fresu. #8 Upcharge is good exotics value at 12-1 morning line if that race shape unfolds as I see it. Much respect here for Quick Kate off of her last 2 turf mile stakes tries vs. Cal-breds. Picks 10-11-8-4

Del Mar Race 8 | $125K Shared Belief
That 9-5 favorite #3 Desert Gate has been shopped around in easier spots since March isn’t a rousing endorsement when lucrative races like the PA Derby are around the corner. He’s been beaten at 4-5 and 9-5 in his last 2 for Baffert and I’ll try to beat him here. #4 Essos is improving and has put together 99 and 95 BRIS late pace figures in his last 2, making him this field’s best finisher with a win over the track to boot. Picks 4 over 8-3-2-5

Del Mar Race 9 | $100K Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf
#2 Ogle is beautifully drawn after an impressive debut turf mile rally – no easy task to do without foundation. Her 93 BRIS late pace figure should have her rolling late under Juan Hernandez once again. Give me 6-1 in the morning line. #4 Vanta is the 2-1 morning line favorite as Jeff Mullins’ sprint-to-route turf performers have been on point all meet. Umberto Rispoli chooses this one over Ogle, but I was more impressed by the 2-turn debut winner and we’re looking at a better price. Two-deep in the multi-race bets. Picks 2-4-5-7

Del Mar Race 10 | maiden
Keep an eye on the also-eligibles at scratch time because #12 D’s Four Thumps Up and #14 Angel’s Ember would both be considerations here if in. #7 Golden Club ran into a bear of a Cal-bred last time in Golden Senry and likely doesn’t find anything close to that Sunday. Strong lean at 3-1 morning line second choice. Rookies #6 Halo Howie and #8 Nashville Champ worth tabbing the toteboard and pre-race looks. Picks 7-14-6-8-12

Del Mar Race 11 | starter optional claiming
Nice 8-1 morning line price play with #5 Rostovsky to close what could be a very good day for Mark Glatt’s barn if we’re right on a few of his chances. The mile trip was too sharp for this one last time and will appreciate the tempo over 9F in a rebound chance making his second start since May against several common rivals. There’s a 4-1 morning line favorite here, so it’s a toss-up kind of race where you’ll want some coverage in the multi-race bets. Picks 5-6-11