The Del Mar Oaks is a wonderful Grade 1 race for three-year-old fillies going 9 furlongs on the grass at, you guessed it, Del Mar. The best winner of the race was Hollywood Wildcat in 1993. You may or may not have heard of this great filly, but she won 12 of 21 lifetime races in a career that climaxed with a win in the Breeders Cup Distaff.

This year’s field is headlined by Cambina (Hawk Wing x Await by Peintre Celebre) and Nereid (Rock Hard Ten x Dowry by Belong To Me) who dead heated last out in the American Oaks. The latter is a winner of 3 of 4 lifetime with her only defeat coming to Grade 1 winner Zazu in her debut. She has plenty of tactical speed and should sit a nice trip with Joe Talamo up for trainer John Sheriffs.

Cambina has won 6 of her 12 starts lifetime and is a perfect 4 for 4 with Garrett Gomez in the irons. Some of the wins they have hooked up for include the American Oaks last out and the Grade 2 Providencia.

Summer Soiree (War Front x Mazel Tov by Mazel Trick) is shipping in for Team Valor International after an emphatic 8 ½ length victory in the Boiling Springs last out. That race was her first try on turf and coincidentally a career best effort. The filly is super fast, but only knows how to run one way and that is on the lead. She will find it much harder to kick away from Grade 1 fillies. I’m not saying she cant or wont do it, but at a short price I’m not going to bet on it. Graham Motion is the trainer and Gabe Saez is in to ride.

My top pick to win the Del Mar Oaks is Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex x Sacre Coeur by Saint Ballado) who races for Catesby Clay of Runnymede Farm and is trained by Ken McPeek. She failed as the favorite last out in the American Oaks, but I’m willing to forgive that effort. She will enjoy the cutback in distance this race offers and having regular jockey Manny Cruz back after Bejarano rode her last out is also a plus. I’m not saying Bejarano gave her a bad right last out, because he most definitely did not, but I feel like she was a bit out of her game racing in second most of the way. Expect Cruz to take her back and have her running strong late like she was in her Regret Stakes win two races back.

Sarah’s Secret (Leroidesanimaux x Sarasota by Luhuk) will have no shortage of supporters. She won her first four career races before flopping last out in the San Clemente. Before that she won the Honeymoon at Hollywood Park. Joel Rosario picks up the mount from David Flores and that could be the switch that gets her the win here.

Simon Callaghan’s Up In Time (Noverre x Up At Dawn by Inchinor) will have plenty of backing from bettors after winning the San Clemente last out. Before that was fifth in the Honeymoon. Rafael Bejarano stays aboard. In the end I’m not sure she is as good as the rest of this field going this far.

Bizzy Caroline has every right to run a big race here and many will forget about her because of her last race. It’s too soon to jump ship and the value is strong at 8-1.

For information on where to bet the race check out our Horse Betting page. Also, check out our Del Mar Picks page to get our selections for the rest of the action at the best track on the west coast. For a limited time you will also get picks for Saratoga that same day. Don’t miss out!

The Del Mar Oaks at HRP is a compact field of five Will it be Kentucky Oaks winner Funky Music or American Oaks winner Silver Mile? Check out our Horse Racing Games page to learn more.