DEL MAR IS DEFINITELY THE TRICKIER OF THE TWO MAIN SUMMER TRACKS TO HANDICAP. FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON THE POLYTRACK. SARATOGA HAS TURF AND CONVENTIONAL DIRT. BELOW IS A LIST OF WHAT BREEDING TO LOOK FOR AT 'OL DEL MAR.
BREEDING: Polytrack has been in use long enough to gather relevant data about which sire's offspring have a proclivity for artificial surfaces. Look for offspring by these sires, especially the regional ones. This isn't an all inclusive, list, but most of the superior Polysires are represented below. Each sire has three or more runners at Del Mar since 2007. When you see their offspring on the card, chances are 50% or higher that the offspring will either win or finish in the money. Sometimes at very long odds. Keep an eye on the offspring of these sires. This is not an all-inclusive list.
20% + Polysires: America's Storm, Arch, Artie Shiller, Black Minnaloushe, Bwana Charlie, Candy Ride, Cactus Ridge, Carson City, Cindigo, City Zip, Da Stoops, Distorted Humor, Even the Score, Explicit, Forest Camp, Ghostzapper, Great Notion, Half Ours, Kela, Lawyer Ron, Limehouse, Peace Rules, Pico Central, Pollards' Vision, Proud Citizen, Pure Precision, Roar of the Tiger, Salute the Sarge, Street Cry, Street Hero, Sun King, Sunriver, The Cliff's Edge, The Green Monkey, Tiz Wonderful, Value Plus, Vicar, War Front, Werblin, West Acre, Yankee Gentlemen.
Popular California Sires aren't always a good bet. Lost Soldier (60% winners) and Tribal Rule (18% winners) are the exception. Benchmark (14% winners) is always worth a second look, espeically when the offspring are working very well over the Polytrack. Unusual Heat (14%) winners are best played at the age of three and up. Decharchy (12% winners) Swiss Yodeler (11% winners) Awesome Gambler and Bertrando (9% wins each) are best played in your exotics.
Courtesy of HorseRacingNation.com