Preview: It’s Breeders’ Cup week at Del Mar. That means you are going to see a lot of unfamiliar names riding horses, especially today and Thursday as jockeys try to get a jump on the competition by learning about the main track and turf course. These jockeys will be be going to school, but don’t be fooled, they want to win. Jockeys like Paco Lopez, Jose Ortiz, Julien Leparoux, Joel Rosario, John Velazquez and Frankie Dettori will all have mounts today should be given an extra look.

FIRST RACE: 1. Mr. Vargas, 2. Rocket Heat, 3. Green With Eddie. LONG SHOT: Incensed.

SIXTH RACE: 1. PURE PURSUIT (best bet), 2. Momma’s Baby Boy, 3. Steely Resolve. LONG SHOT: Dodgertown.
I should have picked Dodgertown since it will be Game 7 of the World Series tonight, but not stoked about Scott Hansen’s numbers with first-time starers. I do love Pure Pursuit. I know the price (5-2) isn’t great but all I see are positive numbers for trainer John Sadler, who puts blinkers on (31%). I think he ran this gelding on the grass at the end of the Del Mar meet just to get a race in him and today will be graduation day.

NINTH RACE: #1 Channel Crossing (8-1), 2. Arch Anthem, 3. Kazan. LONG SHOT: Martin Riggs.
The circuit moves to Del Mar and the turf course rails will be at 30 feet the first two days of the meet waiting for Friday and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races. When the rails are that far out speed seems to do well. Channel Crossing has that and comes out of a key Santa Anita maiden race where four of the first five to run back have won. Good stat. However, #4 Martin Riggs and #8 Arch Anthem also come out of that race. I recommend an exacta box of 1-4-8. I also recommend an exacta of #10 with 1-4-8. #10 Kazan gets the great Frankie Dettori to ride and I might have picked on top but that post is tough in this race. But just in case, I recommend the aforementioned exacta as a saver.

For the rest of my selections, go to:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-delmar-picks-wednesday-20171031-story.html

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter