Del Mar Opening Weekend 2026 Betting Guide: Oceanside, San Diego and San Clemente Handicaps
Del Mar's 87th summer season opens Friday, July 17, and this opening weekend is loaded from the first race. Three stakes races spread across three days give bettors a proper look at the West Coast turf and dirt form that will carry into Pacific Classic season in August.
| Day | Race | Grade / Purse | Distance / Surface | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, July 17 | Oceanside Handicap | $150,000 | 1 Mile, Turf | 3 year olds |
| Saturday, July 18 | San Diego Handicap | Grade 2 | 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt | 3 year olds and up |
| Saturday, July 18 | San Clemente Handicap | Grade 2 | 1 Mile, Turf | 3 year old fillies |
| Sunday, July 19 | Wickerr Stakes | $100,000 | 1 Mile, Turf | Older horses |
Del Mar Opening Day Sets the Tone (Friday, July 17)
Gates open at 11:30 am and first post has moved to 2 pm this year, a permanent shift from the longtime 4 pm start that will hold for every Friday card through Labor Day. Opening Day at Del Mar has always been as much a fashion event as a racing one. The Opening Day Hats Contest hands out more than $5,000 in prizes across categories including Most Glamorous, Best Fascinator, Best Flowers and Best Racing Theme, with entries due in the Plaza de Mexico before 3 pm and winners announced after the sixth race. The Party presented by Pacifico keeps the infield moving with live music, and a new ticketed option, the Seabiscuit Society, puts fans in the climate controlled Seabiscuit Skyroom on the Grandstand's sixth floor with a hosted buffet and private balcony, with a portion of proceeds supporting the CARMA thoroughbred retirement charity.
The Oceanside Handicap Headlines Friday's Card
| Oceanside Handicap — Friday, July 17 — $150,000, 1 Mile Turf, 3 Year Olds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horse | Trainer | Notes |
| Bust Out | Michael McCarthy | Cinema Stakes winner two starts back, fourth in the American Derby last out |
| Tribalism | Michael McCarthy | Impressive maiden winner stepping into stakes company |
| Iriseach | Phil D'Amato | Del Mar course specialist |
| Later Than Planned | Phil D'Amato | Sprint stakes winner |
| Jordi Bear | Phil D'Amato | Nominated |
| Melismatic | Phil D'Amato | Nominated |
| Savage Warden | Phil D'Amato | Nominated |
| Mr. A. P. | Vladimir Cerin | Unraced since second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall |
| Pavlovian | — | Stakes winner |
| Unrivaled Time | — | Stakes winner |
| Proletariat | — | Stakes placed |
| Secured Freedom | — | Stakes placed |
The betting anchor for Opening Day is the $150,000 Oceanside Handicap for three year olds going a mile on the Jimmy Durante turf course, the 81st running of the race and its first as a straight handicap after years as a restricted stakes. The purse jumped from $100,000 as Del Mar reshaped its three year old turf series this year, also moving the Del Mar Derby later in the meet and dropping the midseason La Jolla Handicap.
Bust Out heads the group of names to watch, trained by Michael McCarthy off a Cinema Stakes win two starts back and a game fourth in the American Derby at Churchill Downs last out. McCarthy also nominated Tribalism, an impressive maiden winner still finding his form as a stakes horse. Phil D'Amato, entering the summer with arguably his deepest barn yet, nominated five to the Oceanside: course specialist Iriseach, sprint stakes winner Later Than Planned, plus Jordi Bear, Melismatic and Savage Warden. Mr. A. P., unraced since running second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall, is another to watch after trainer Vladimir Cerin said the colt has been ready to run for weeks. Stakes winners Pavlovian and Unrivaled Time and stakes placed runners Proletariat and Secured Freedom round out a nomination list deep enough to make the Oceanside a legitimate form race for the turf division all summer.
Saturday Doubles Up With the San Diego and San Clemente Handicaps (July 18)
Del Mar's second day of racing carries two graded stakes and its first big food festival of the meet, Tacos and Tequila, running 2 to 6 pm with tastings from local taquerias alongside specialty tequila and margaritas.
| San Diego Handicap (Grade 2) — Saturday, July 18 — 1 1/16 Miles Dirt, 3 Year Olds and Up | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horse | Trainer | Notes |
| Journalism | Michael McCarthy | Three time Grade 1 winner, third in the Met Mile at Saratoga last out |
| Full Serrano | John Sadler | 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner at Del Mar, returning from a troubled fourth in the Oaklawn Mile |
| The Goat | John Sadler | Group 1 winner in Chile, fourth in his US debut |
| Stronghold | Phil D'Amato | Grade 1 winner, also under consideration for the Bing Crosby Stakes July 25 |
| Iron Man Cal | Phil D'Amato | Turf specialist who has been working well on dirt |
| Shea Brennan | Phil D'Amato | California bred stakes winner |
| Mirahmadi | Bob Baffert | Nominated |
| Privman | Bob Baffert | Nominated |
15 total nominees remain for the San Diego; the eight above are the named standouts. Favorites have won 5 of 11 runnings since Del Mar switched from synthetic back to dirt in 2015.
On the track, the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at a mile and one sixteenth on dirt works as the first real prep for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on August 22. Journalism, a three time Grade 1 winner who finished third in the Met Mile at Saratoga last out, leads the nominees for trainer Michael McCarthy and was scheduled to work at Santa Anita the weekend before the race. John Sadler nominated Full Serrano, winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at this same track, who returns from a troubled fourth in the Oaklawn Mile in late March, along with The Goat, a Group 1 winner in Chile who was fourth in his US debut.
Phil D'Amato added three of his own: Grade 1 winner Stronghold, who is also being considered for the Bing Crosby Stakes on July 25, turf specialist Iron Man Cal, who has been working well on dirt, and California bred stakes winner Shea Brennan. Bob Baffert nominated Mirahmadi and Privman. Fifteen horses remain nominated in total, and favorites have won 5 of the last 11 runnings since Del Mar moved from synthetic back to dirt in 2015.
| San Clemente Handicap (Grade 2) — Saturday, July 18 — 1 Mile Turf, 3 Year Old Fillies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horse | Trainer | Notes |
| Bandiagara | Miguel Clement | Sharp winner of the Penn Oaks in her US debut |
| Inbox | Phil D'Amato | Stakes placed |
| Cortina d'Amprezzo | Phil D'Amato | Nominated |
| Peanutbutterbombe | Phil D'Amato | Nominated |
| Struck By Her | Phil D'Amato | Nominated |
| Spirit Doll | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Two time Gulfstream Park stakes winner |
| Lookin At Diamond | Leonard Powell | Nominated |
| Waiting for You | Leonard Powell | Nominated |
Favorites have won six of the last seven runnings of the San Clemente, which leads into the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on August 22. Grade 1 Belmont Oaks winner Kensington Lane and European handicap winner Green Carrera are both bypassing the San Clemente to target the Oaks directly.
The Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap for three year old fillies at a mile on turf runs the same day and sets up the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on August 22. Favorites have won six of the last seven runnings, but this year's field looks more open. Bandiagara arrives off a sharp win in the Penn Oaks in her US debut for trainer Miguel Clement. D'Amato nominated stakes placed Inbox along with Cortina d'Amprezzo, Peanutbutterbombe and Struck By Her, Spirit Doll, a two time Gulfstream Park stakes winner for Saffie Joseph Jr., adds more depth, and Leonard Powell nominated Lookin At Diamond and Waiting for You. Grade 1 Belmont Oaks winner Kensington Lane and European handicap winner Green Carrera are both skipping the San Clemente to target the Del Mar Oaks directly instead.
Sunday's Wickerr Stakes Closes Out Opening Weekend (July 19)
| Wickerr Stakes — Sunday, July 19 — $100,000, 1 Mile Turf, 3 Year Olds and Up | ||
|---|---|---|
| Horse | Trainer | Notes |
| King of Gosford | Phil D'Amato | Grade 1 winner last year, hasn't won since the 2025 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita |
| Atitlan | Richard Mandella | Grade 2 winner, previously trained by the late John Shirreffs |
The Wickerr is restricted to nonwinners of a stakes worth $50,000 or more, other than a statebred stakes, at a mile or over since October 1. Full field to be confirmed closer to race day.
Sunday, July 19 kicks off the first of eight POP-Up Sundays food festivals, this one built around BBQ smoked brisket from Brandt Beef in the Plaza de Mexico. On the track, the $100,000 Wickerr Stakes for older turf horses at a mile gives closing weekend a proper stakes feature to bet, rounding out a three day opening slate that touches sprint, route, dirt and turf form across three year olds, fillies and older horses.
How to Bet Del Mar Opening Weekend
Whether you are studying the Oceanside on Friday or lining up the San Diego and San Clemente double on Saturday, MyWinners gives you one account for pari mutuel betting across the meet.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Del Mar opens Friday, July 17, 2026, the first of 32 days of racing that run through Labor Day, September 7.
Gates open at 11:30 am and first post is 2 pm, a new permanent post time for every Friday card this meet, moved up from the previous 4 pm start.
The $150,000 Oceanside Handicap, run at a mile on turf for three year olds, its 81st running and first as a straight handicap.
The Oceanside Handicap on Friday, the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap and Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on Saturday, and the Wickerr Stakes on Sunday.
Through MyWinners at app.mywinners.com or the MyWinners app, open to all customers 18 and up, or in person at participating venues.
"Del Mar races - Aug 2011" by Dirk Hansen, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
