Del Mar Picks Today | Free Picks, Expert Analysis & Premium Handicapping

Del Mar picks, race sheets, track profile, pace projections, and bias-driven betting analysis for Southern California’s premier summer racing meet.

Del Mar Picks and Handicapping Analysis

Del Mar is a demanding track to handicap because surface, distance, pace, post position, and trip can all change the shape of a race. Full fields, strong turf races, competitive dirt events, and high-profile barns make it difficult to rely on speed figures alone. To find consistent Del Mar picks, horseplayers need to understand how each race is likely to unfold today.

Del Mar features a one-mile dirt oval and a 7/8-mile turf course, and those two surfaces create different betting problems. Dirt races often put a premium on early speed and tactical position, while turf races can depend more on trip, timing, finishing ability, and ground loss. The best handicapping approach starts by separating those situations instead of treating every Del Mar race the same.

This page is built for horseplayers looking for Del Mar picks, Del Mar Race Sheets, Track Profile data, post-position trends, pace projections, and practical betting insight. When Del Mar is running, Today’s Racing Digest uses projected FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Final Time Ratings, Race Competition Levels, PER running styles, Track Profile data, Post Position Winners by Size of Field, and trainer/jockey information to identify contenders and possible value horses.

Whether you are playing an allowance card, a stakes program, or a major Del Mar racing weekend, Today’s Racing Digest gives you track-specific handicapping tools built for real wagering decisions. Our Del Mar picks and premium reports are designed to help you evaluate pace, class, form, surface, distance, and race shape before building win bets, exotics, and multi-race tickets.

Del Mar – Del Mar, CA |  DMTC.com

Racing Schedule: Summer Meet: July 17, 2026 – September 7, 2026 | Bing Meet: November 6, 2026 – November 29, 2026

Track Configuration: One-mile dirt main track with 7f and 1¼-mile chutes, plus a 7/8-mile inner turf course with rails set at 0, 12, 18, 24, and 30 feet.

Meet To Date
13,714

Del Mar Free Picks & Analysis

Del Mar Free Featured Play of the Day

This section features free Del Mar picks and race analysis from Today’s Racing Digest. The goal is to show more than a list of selections. We want horseplayers to see why a race sets up a certain way, which contenders fit the conditions, and where potential betting value may exist.

Our Del Mar picks start with the basics: surface, distance, class level, field size, post position, and expected pace. From there, we compare projected FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Final Time Ratings, Race Competition Levels, PER running styles, Track Profile trends, trainer/jockey patterns, and Handicapping Factors.

Free Del Mar picks may include a featured race, top selection, main threats, longshot possibilities, race-shape notes, and suggested ways to approach win bets, exotics, or multi-race wagers.

Use the free analysis as a starting point, then dig deeper with Del Mar Race Sheets, Quick Picks, Fast Figs, Fractional Charting, Consensus, Track Profile, and Post Position Winners by Size of Field when those products are available for the card.

Del Mar – Free Race of the Day

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Race 6  |  Distance: 1 1/16 miles  |  Surface: TURF  |  AOC  |  C  |  Purse: $82,000  |  Field Size: 11  |  Post Time: 4:30PM (PT)

FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $21,000 TWICE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER OR STATE BRED OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $40,000 OR CLAIMING PRICE $100,000. Three Year Olds, 120 lbs.; Older, 125 lbs. Non-winners Of Two Races At A Mile Or Over Since April 23 Allowed 2 lbs. Such A Race Since Then Allowed 4 lbs. Claiming Price $100,000 (Maiden Races And Claiming Races Races For $50,000 Or Less Not Considered In Allowances) (Non-Starters For A Claiming Price Of $25,000 Or Less In The Last 2 Starts Preferred). (Rail at 30 feet).

Upgrade / Downgrade Indicators

  • Top Fast Fig: Ribbons (127)
  • Top CPR: Baltic Fire (140)
  • Fastest closers stretch time: Grecian Goddess, Bojaca Blessing, Pura Vida Princesa, Dreaming of Abba, The White Lady (FR), Canto Della Terra (IRE), Baltic Fire, Surf Song (0)
  • Biggest class drop vs last race: Ribbons (last RCL 190 → today 155)

How We Break Down a Del Mar Race

The tabbed layout above mirrors how we handicap every Del Mar race. We start with today’s race configuration—surface, distance, field size, and projected pace—because those factors determine how a race is most likely to unfold. Del Mar features a one-mile dirt oval with chutes for 7 furlongs and 1¼ miles, plus a 7/8-mile turf course with multiple rail settings that can dramatically influence trip quality, pace, and ground loss. Understanding those differences is the foundation of making profitable Del Mar picks.

On the dirt, our current Track Profile consistently favors horses with early speed and tactical position. Dirt sprints are often controlled by runners that secure the lead or race just behind the pace, while dirt routes continue to reward horses capable of establishing position before the field reaches the far turn. When we handicap Del Mar dirt races, projected pace is always the starting point because horses forced to rally from far back are often working against how the surface naturally plays.

Turf racing requires a different approach. Del Mar’s turf course is far more dependent on trip, pace, and positioning than raw speed figures alone. Turf routes generally reward horses that save ground, secure a clean stalking trip, and finish efficiently, while five-furlong turf sprints place a premium on breaking well, avoiding traffic, and maintaining tactical position throughout the race. A horse’s trip is frequently the difference between winning and finishing out of the money.

We also evaluate post position as part of the projected trip rather than treating it as a fixed advantage or disadvantage. Our Post Position Winners by Size of Field study shows that successful gates vary depending on the surface, distance, and field size. Rather than blindly upgrading an inside draw or dismissing an outside post, we analyze how each horse’s draw fits the expected pace scenario and how much ground it may gain or lose during the running of today’s race.

That is why our Premium Race Sheets combine projected FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Race Competition Levels (RCL), projected running styles, Track Profile data, and post-position analysis into one handicapping workflow. We are not simply trying to identify the fastest horse on paper—we’re looking for the horse whose running style, projected trip, class, and pace scenario make it the best fit for today’s Del Mar race.

Quick Take for Del Mar Bettors

Dirt: Early speed and tactical position consistently provide the biggest advantage, especially in sprint races.

Turf: Trip quality, pace, and ground-saving position often matter as much as raw speed figures.

Post Position: Use the draw to evaluate projected trip and pace, not as a standalone handicapping angle.

Pace First: At Del Mar, understanding how the race is expected to unfold is often the biggest edge a bettor can have.

Free Del Mar Picks, Race Sheet Samples & Handicapping Reports

Below you’ll find our free Del Mar race sheet for today’s Race of the Day, along with several free product previews tied to the rest of the Del Mar card. Each preview includes the first four races from one of our paid tools — Quick Picks, Fast Figs, Fractional Charting, or the Consensus Report — plus a complimentary play from one of our expert handicapper sheets.

These previews are designed for players who like to evaluate real data before buying. You can compare figures, review early-pace setups, confirm running-style matchups, and check trainer patterns across multiple races. It’s the cleanest way to decide whether a particular Digest product fits how you approach Del Mar.

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ProductTrackDescPriceThu 23rdFri 24thSat 25th
Free Premium Race Sheets
Free Premium Race SheetsDel Mar1 Selected Race (LEARN MORE) FREE
Free Quick Picks
Free Quick PicksDel MarFree Races For Today (LEARN MORE) FREE
Free Basic Race Sheets
Free Basic Race SheetsDel MarTry a Free Race Sheet From Today’s Racing Digest (LEARN MORE) FREE
Bob Mieszerski’s Free
Bob Mieszerski’s FreeDel Mar

Free Play

(LEARN MORE)
FREE

Del Mar Stakes Races This Week

Del Mar’s stakes schedule consistently attracts many of the best horses, trainers, and jockeys in North America, creating some of the most competitive and profitable betting opportunities of the racing season. From prestigious Grade 1 events to key stakes for emerging California stars, these races combine deep fields, proven class, and substantial wagering pools that reward disciplined handicapping.

Every stakes race is analyzed using the same proven approach behind our daily Del Mar picks. We evaluate projected pace, Race Competition Levels (RCL), FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Track Profile trends, post-position impact, and current track bias to identify the horses most likely to outperform the betting public’s expectations.

Below you’ll find the upcoming Del Mar stakes schedule along with links to our free race analysis and premium handicapping products whenever available. Whether you’re betting a major Grade 1 or a competitive listed stakes, Today’s Racing Digest provides the track-specific insights serious horseplayers have trusted since 1970.

Del Mar Carryovers

Del Mar’s carryovers are one of the best opportunities on the Southern California circuit, especially in the late Pick 4 and Pick 5 where the pools build quickly and public money can drift. When Del Mar offers a double or triple carryover, sharp players know it’s a spot to press the advantage. Below you’ll find the latest Del Mar Pick 5 carryovers, Pick 6 jackpots, and other multi-race pool boosts — updated so you can target the sequences with legitimate value today.

Bias Snapshot and Track Profile for Del Mar

Del Mar is a pace-and-position track first, especially on dirt. The current Track Profile shows that dirt sprints strongly favor horses with early speed or tactical speed. At 5 1/2 furlongs, front-runners win 40% of races and early pace types win another 33%, meaning roughly 73% of those races are won by horses on or near the lead. At 6 furlongs, front-runners win 46% and early pace types win 31%, and at 6 1/2 furlongs the split is 44% front-runners and 30% early pace types. For Del Mar bettors, that means one-run closers on dirt need a real pace setup and the right price.

Dirt routes at Del Mar also reward horses that stay involved early. At 1 mile, front-runners win 54% of races and early pace types win another 30%, so about 84% of those races are won by horses with forward placement. The smaller route samples at 1 1/16 miles and longer distances also lean toward horses that can secure position before the race gets away from them. Del Mar dirt is not usually the place to overrate deep closers simply because they have a competitive final figure; the horse still has to get the right trip.

Turf routes at Del Mar play much more balanced than dirt. In the current turf-route sample, mid-pack runners win 29%, front-runners win 27%, early pace types win 23%, and late runners win 18%. That makes turf routes more trip-dependent than speed-dominant. The best turf-route contenders do not always need the lead, but they do need the right position, a clean run, and enough finish to take advantage when the pace comes back.

Turf sprints are a different story. Del Mar turf sprints have strongly favored forward runners, with front-runners winning 49% of races and early pace types winning another 28%. That means roughly 77% of turf sprints are won by horses with early position. Closers can win, but they usually need pace pressure, racing room, and value on the tote board before they become serious win candidates.

Post position matters at Del Mar, but only when it is tied to surface, distance, field size, and projected trip. In dirt sprints, winners have come from across the gate, but the inside-to-middle posts have produced steady volume, and the far outside becomes more complicated as field size changes. Dirt routes have not shown a simple rail-only pattern; middle posts have held up well, including strong production from post 6 in the current sample. Turf sprints show useful production from posts 3, 4, and 6, while turf routes have been productive from several inside and middle draws, especially posts 1 through 4 and post 7.

The key is not to treat the post number as a shortcut. A good draw is one that helps the horse make its preferred trip. A speed horse drawn where it can clear, a presser drawn where it can avoid being buried, or a turf horse drawn where it can save ground without losing momentum may be upgraded. A horse with the wrong running style for the race shape can still be a bad bet from a good post.

Quick take for Del Mar bettors:
Dirt sprints: speed and tactical position dominate.
Dirt routes: forward placement is a major advantage, especially at 1 mile.
Turf routes: more balanced; trip, timing, and finish matter.
Turf sprints: early speed and position are critical.
Posts: useful as trip and value tools, not automatic betting rules.

News & Insider Handicapping Information for Del Mar

If you’re looking for more than today’s free Del Mar picks, this section provides the track-specific insights serious horseplayers use throughout the meet. Explore Horses to Watch, trip notes, Track Bias reports, full-card previews, and educational guides that explain how to get the most from Today’s Racing Digest Race Sheets, FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Track Profiles, and other proprietary handicapping tools.

Our analysts monitor every Del Mar card for emerging pace trends, post-position advantages, changing track bias, productive barns, live longshots, and horses exiting stronger-than-they-look races. Whether you’re learning how to use our reports or searching for overlooked wagering opportunities, these articles are designed to help you handicap Del Mar with greater confidence and uncover value the public often misses.

Which Del Mar Products Ran Hot Last Meet

Every Today’s Racing Digest handicapping tool offers a different perspective on the race. Fast Figs highlight projected performance, FIRE Numbers measure overall race ability, CPR ratings compare speed and pace, Fractional Charting projects how the race is expected to unfold, and Quick Picks provide an at-a-glance view of our top contenders. Reviewing them together gives horseplayers a more complete picture of today’s Del Mar card.

Below you’ll find performance snapshots showing how each of these tools has performed at Del Mar across win selections, exactas, trifectas, and multi-race wagers. Whether you’re looking for the strongest win candidate, searching for value horses, or building Pick 4 and Pick 5 tickets, these statistics help you understand which handicapping tools have delivered the best results throughout the meet.

Del Mar Top Exotic Payouts

Del Mar’s larger fields routinely generate some of the highest exotic payouts on the West Coast. When pace dynamics fall the right way, the track can produce outsized returns in exactas, trifectas, supers, and the late Pick 4/Pick 5. The chart below highlights some of the biggest Del Mar exotic payouts generated using Digest data — a clear view of how different products perform in real wagering situations.

Past 7 Days
Year To Date

Quick Take: This view shows overall meet performance. Products near the top of the Total column have produced the strongest exotic payouts across the full Del Mar season.

Del Mar’s Best Win Picks

Winning at Del Mar requires more than picking the fastest horse on paper. Our top win selections are built around projected pace, class, running style, Track Profile trends, and the unique characteristics of Del Mar’s dirt and turf courses. The results below summarize how those selections have performed during the current meet, including Win %, In-the-Money %, ROI, and average payout, giving you a clear picture of how Today’s Racing Digest has performed at one of North America’s most competitive racing circuits.

Past 7 Days
Current Meet To Date

Quick Take: Big-picture view for the meet. ROI and Win% here show which packages have been the most reliable if you flat-bet the top pick every time.

All payout results listed above are based on a $2 win bet on the top pick/figure for each product.  When multiple horses share the same high figure we use the horse with highest Fast Fig to break the tie.  If multiple horses shared the same high figure and Fast Fig then the horse, from that group, with the highest CPR would be chosen.  When calculating Fast Figs and multiple horses share the same high Fast Fig we use the horse with the highest FNLRAT to break the tie.

Del Mar Payouts

This summary provides an overall snapshot of Today’s Racing Digest performance at Del Mar during the current meet. It reflects the advantage of combining projected pace, FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Track Profile trends, post-position analysis, and current track bias when handicapping one of North America’s most competitive racing circuits. Use it alongside the detailed win, exacta, trifecta, and multi-race performance tables above to evaluate how our selections have performed throughout the meet.

Meet To Date
13,714

These are the biggest tickets our projections have helped hit at Del Mar over the last year of Del Mar racing. Use the bet type and payout columns to spot where the real bombs have landed and which pools are worth pressing when the setup looks right.

Today’s Racing Digest Del Mar Picks & Products

2025_3-Red-Digest-Book-Cover-Complete-Digeste

Sold on track since 1970, each edition of the Complete Digest is like a handicapping seminar giving you an insider’s look, from multiple winning angles, at how each horse is expected to perform in today’s race.  Download a User Guide

(Your total cost for Digest-related features will not exceed $10.00 per card.)

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ProductTrackDescPriceThu 23rdFri 24thSat 25th
Complete Digest
Complete DigestDel MarIncludes all of Today’s Racing Digest features for each track and race day.  This is the same product that you have purchased on track, OTB’s, and newstands. (LEARN MORE) $10.00
Fractional Charting
Fractional ChartingDel MarPace is one of the most difficult yet profitable handicapping angles to master.  We make it easy by giving you a projection of where each horse is expected to be at each point of call throughout the entire race allowing you to quickly identify horses that may have an overlooked pace advantage that can payout big! (LEARN MORE) $5.00
Free Premium Race Sheets
Free Premium Race SheetsDel Mar1 Selected Race (LEARN MORE) FREE
Premium Sheets
Premium SheetsDel MarFull card race sheets that include all of the relevant race and statistical horse, jockey and trainer information you need to bet each race with confidence.  You’ll also get our exclusive predictive running lines, early and late pace and speed figures along with insider expert race and horse analysis to help guide your betting decisions. (LEARN MORE) $6.00
Fast Figs
Fast FigsDel MarA powerful AI predictive figure that combines the speed of each horse, the expected pace of the race and the strength of the field giving you an easy to use multi dimensional figure that has been proven to consistently find overlooked contenders that can win. (LEARN MORE) $3.00
Quick Picks
Quick PicksDel MarThe Digest’s one-page horse racing cheat sheet with Top Choice, Main Threats, Longshot plays and betting strategies. (LEARN MORE) $7.00
Consensus
ConsensusDel MarGet the top 3 Consensus picks for every race, including the Best Bet, from Today’s Racing Digest expert handicappers. (LEARN MORE) $5.00
Post Positions of Winners by Size of the Field
Post Positions of Winners by Size of the FieldDel MarWhich post position wins the most by size of field, surface and distance. (LEARN MORE) $2.00
Basic Sheets
Basic SheetsDel MarFull card race sheets with projected interior & final times, w/ simplified class & performance ratings (LEARN MORE) $2.00
Track Profile
Track ProfileDel MarIncrease your win % by betting on horses with running styles suited to each race condition. (LEARN MORE) $2.00

Today’s Racing Digest offers Del Mar handicapping products built for players who want more than basic selections. Our reports help you evaluate each race by pace, class, form, surface, distance, running style, post position, trainer intent, and projected performance.

Del Mar Race Sheets are the foundation. They include projected FIRE Numbers, CPR ratings, Fast Figs, Final Time Ratings, Race Competition Levels, PER running styles, Track Profile context, Handicapping Factors, trainer/jockey information, and past-performance data adjusted for today’s race conditions.

Quick Picks gives you a faster race-by-race view of top selections, main threats, longshot possibilities, and basic betting strategy. Fast Figs helps rank contenders quickly by blending class, performance, and field strength into one comparison. Fractional Charting projects how the race may unfold at each call, making it easier to spot lone speed, pace pressure, likely collapses, and closers who fit the setup.

For players who want the full-card package, the Complete Racing Digest combines figures, projections, race analysis, pace insight, and betting information in one report. Consensus gives a quick view of the strongest contenders from multiple Digest angles, while Post Position Winners by Size of Field helps identify draw patterns by surface, distance, and field size.

Use these Del Mar picks and premium reports together to build stronger win bets, exactas, trifectas, daily doubles, Pick 3s, Pick 4s, Pick 5s, and other multi-race tickets.

Thoroughbred Analytics Reports & Del Mar Picks

The leading provider of Del Mar exclusive data-driven handicapping statistical reports and insider analysis along with Del Mar picks and tips that consistently uncover horses that can beat their odds.

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ProductTrackDescPriceThu 23rdFri 24th
Complete Track Pack
Complete Track PackDel MarSave 30% with this bundle that includes 3 of our most popular Reports (LEARN MORE) $10.00
Premium Analysis & PP's
Premium Analysis & PP’sDel MarGet the Premium PP’s and Analysis together and save 25% off the regular price (LEARN MORE) $8.00
Key Factors Report
Key Factors ReportDel MarEasy to use ratings for each horse covering multiple “key factors” to winning. (LEARN MORE) $4.00
Premium Analysis
Premium AnalysisDel MarEasy to use report that gives you insight into how each horse is expected to perform. (LEARN MORE) $4.00
Basic Past Performances
Basic Past PerformancesDel MarTraditional Past Performances (LEARN MORE) $3.00
Best Bets & Live Long Shots
Best Bets & Live Long ShotsWestern TracksGet the best bets and live long shots of the day and save 25% off the regular price (LEARN MORE) $10.00
Live Longshots
Live LongshotsWestern TracksGet long shots that can win and payout big. (LEARN MORE) $7.00
Best Bet Recommendations
Best Bet RecommendationsWestern TracksBest bets of the day for tracks across the country (LEARN MORE) $7.00
Premium PP's
Premium PP’sDel MarTraditional past performances plus exclusive key factors (LEARN MORE) $7.00

Expert Handicapper Tip Sheets & Del Mar Picks

Expert Del Mar picks, tips, selections and insider analysis from professional handicappers that have been proven to be the best of the best in consistently uncovering horses that can beat their odds at Del Mar.

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ProductTrackDescPriceThu 23rdFri 24th
Official 4 X 9 Programs with Pace Pals
Official 4 X 9 Programs with Pace PalsDel MarRace program that includes a simple to use icon based pace handicapping system. (LEARN MORE) $2.00
Jon Lindo Report
Jon Lindo ReportDel Mar

Top 3 Picks based on fair track odds, insider tips, and news and notes.

(LEARN MORE)
$10.00
Jarrod Horak’s Full Card Analysis
Jarrod Horak’s Full Card AnalysisDel MarYour best bet at winning big on the pick 5 and other exotic bets (LEARN MORE) $10.00
Bob Mieszerski Selections & Exotic Strategies
Bob Mieszerski Selections & Exotic StrategiesDel MarTop 3 picks and a long-shot play in every race with suggested exotic plays. (LEARN MORE) $10.00

Del Mar Picks – Frequently Asked Questions