TODAY’S PICKS

R1:9-4-7-6

R2: 3-4-1-6

The pace should be lively in this ratings race, so we’ll look for #3 Pinotslilgirl to pick up the pieces in her first since July; dusted two-other-than foes last out… #4 She’s a Gamer showed none of her typical speed last out in the Liberty Bell at Parx; will need a bounceback outing here to contend (at likely short odds), but beat allowance foes at the Spa two back… #1 Kinzie Queen gives trainer Compton (39% at the meet) two options in this spot, and this miss figures to be running late; always handled like one they like…

R3:

If on turf: 6-1-12-11

If on dirt:

R4: 5-7-2-4

R5: 11-10-13-7

If on turf:14-12-18-5-4

If on dirt: 9-7-19-2

R6: 7-8-10-4

R7: 7-4-19-12

Off the turf

R8: 8-1-4-7

In the $100,000 Wilmington Stakes, we’re expecting a lively pace to develop, with the morning line favorite, Quint’s Brew down on the rail and other speedy sorts outside to make things complicated… That could benefit #8 Fire Pit, who’s drawn outside the major speedy types here; this one won a minor stake two back at Parx, but last out, against a similar group, had the rail draw, forcing his hand and getting him cooked by a fast early pace; drawn outside he can sit and get back to best form… #1 Quint’s Brew is the best of these, but one question is whether he’ll post at all, since he is Maryland Million-eligible and could wait a week to run there; trying to beat him may be a fool’s errand here, since, although he has plenty of early foot, he’s also shown the ability to stalk or even close, as he did two back over the strip; you won’t get rich if he wins, but you may end up sad if you leave him off your ticket… #4 Chipotle usually runs on or near the pace, which got him cooked in a very fast pace last out against the speedy Spikezone, but that was forgivable in his first start in six months; his career-best outing may have been that second behind Point Dume in January (that runner was razor-sharp at the time) and it came from off it; expecting improvement second time out… #7 Scorching arrives off a dominant win on synthetic at Woodbine and has made all but one of his 11 career starts on turf or synth; his lone dirt try wasn’t great, but it was at 1 3/16 miles, so may not be super-relevant to this six-furlong sprint; if he can carry his recent form over to dirt, he’s a player here; Saffie-Paco combo is at 43% from 21 tries…

R9: 11-5-1-9

If $200,000 Endine for fillies and mares holds together, it’ll be just about the best ungraded stake run anywhere this year, with five (!) graded stakes winners entered, including 13-time winning millionaire Mystic Lake… One of those graded winners is the ultra-speedy #11 Maida, who arrives off a disappointing drubbing in the G1 Ballerina, but we’re inclined to forgive that, since she made the early running while under pressure in that contest and forged rapid fractions — faster, in fact, that Englishman had earlier on the card for the opening quarter and half (and he’s a rocket ship); this one’s prior form is excellent, and drawn outside the other main speed, rider Russell can break and then scope out the competition; look for a bounceback here… Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. has three entered, and we’re thinking the presence of Paco Lopez on #5 Mystic Lake suggests that the trainer thinks this is the best of his group; she won the Dashing Beauty here a year ago and has $1.6 million banked already; her latest, in the Pink Ribbon at CT, was just so-so, but perhaps she can move forward second off the bench… #1 Cash Call could give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his first start at DEL in at least five years; this miss hasn’t quite delivered on the promise that saw her connex put her in the G1 Test in the summer of ’25 following a G3 win at Del Mar, but she’s continued to run solid races this year; curious as to how they’ll play the rail draw, but rider JRod knows the way to the winner’s circle… #9 Kappa Kappa won the G2 Raven Run last year but hasn’t quite gone on this year, and her two stakes tries haven’t been great; didn’t run badly last out in a Saratoga allowance when finishing third behind next-out G2 Gallant Bloom runner-up Senza Parole…

RACE 10: 8-4-5-11

WHO’S HOT: JOCKEYS

Yesterday… Leading rider Paco Lopez and apprentice Emanuel Rosario each won twice yesterday… Nine different trainers won… When Its My Decision ($50.00) blew up the toteboard in the ninth, it helped trigger a $9148 Pick 5 carryover into closing day…

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WHO’S HOT: TRAINERS

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