Note: The goal of “On The Contrary” is to point out several horses every day who may be overlooked in the wagering and who can possibly add value to trifectas and superfectas (in high holes and low) and to Pick 3s, Pick 4s, etc. Looking for help with bet construction on these horses? We will build wagers around On The Contrary selections in the Del Mar Betting Strategies product, available here. 

 Race 1:

Sooner Time:

4-1 on the ML. We don’t like this filly at 4-1. She’s a first-time starter who has been training as if she has some ability, and this looks like a weak field. But her trainer, Peter Eurton, does not crank up this sort of horse, as a rule. We are mentioning her only on the off chance that she is ignored in the wagering, in which case we would throw her into trifectas but do so without a bit of enthusiasm.

Race 2:

Smil’n From Above:

12-1 on ML. The crowd doesn’t like betting this trainer. (The crowd must have seen his stats.) This seven-year-old mare is overmatched in here, but her last race was an interesting effort. She acted up in the gate and got a tough trip. Chance to slip into the superfecta at big odds.

Race 3:

Incline Village:

8-1 on ML. No enthusiasm here, either. In a race lacking closers, he has a chance to float up late and get into the superfecta. That’s as far as we’ll go here.

Race 4:

Zarqa Star:

9-2 on ML. Gelding has a heathy pattern of development. Improving speed figures. Strong workouts. Looks like good trifecta anchor—to get on the board somewhere.

Race 5:

Warren’s Purrfect:

12-1 on ML. Has the right style in a race projected to have a fast pace. Acted up in the gate before her last start. Then raced wide and got choked behind a slow pace. Returned to train well enough.

Looking for how to bet these horses? And what about a couple extra On The Contrary horses for the second half of the card? Get it all in Thursday’s Del Mar Betting Strategies Package: