Del Mar presents a stellar 10-race card on Saturday, highlighted by the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks presented by Keeneland Sales in race 8. The feature race carries a $300,000 purse and has drawn a competitive field of 12 three-year-old fillies competing at 1 1/8 miles on the turf course. Post time for the Oaks is set for 5:33 PM Pacific Time.
The card offers substantial wagering opportunities with a Pick-6 carryover of $79,372.98 heading into Saturday’s races. Gates open at 12 PM with first post at 2 PM, providing racing enthusiasts with nearly eight hours of action at the seaside oval.
Weather Forecast and Track Conditions
Saturday’s weather conditions at Del Mar are expected to be typical for mid-August, with temperatures reaching approximately 77°F. The climate data indicates overcast or mostly cloudy conditions are common during August, occurring about 12% of the time. Current readings from nearby San Diego International Airport show temperatures in the comfortable range with gentle breezes of 11.5 mph.
The Del Mar Oaks will be contested with the turf rail positioned at 12 feet, which should provide fair racing conditions for the field. Track conditions specific to Saturday’s racing surface were not detailed in available reports, though Del Mar typically maintains consistent turf and dirt surfaces during the summer meet.
Race-by-Race Analysis and Picks
Race 1
The Saturday opener features a competitive $8,000 claiming event on the main track dirt sprint. Roman Empress emerges as the tepid selection based on her recent third-place effort on July 19, when she posted the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer speed figure while finishing ahead of several of today’s competitors. Discrepancy has been active at the claiming level in recent months and finished behind the top choice in their last meeting. Unwritten Code disappointed as the beaten favorite in the July 19 contest but makes her first start off a Steve Knapp claim, and this barn shows above-average statistics with new acquisitions.
Race 2
Bad Uncle Barry receives the selection in this turf contest for trainer Michael Glatt. The lightly raced gelding has hit the board in five of six career starts and has performed well in both 2025 appearances, including a second-place finish by a head when returning to Del Mar turf on July 18. Vancougar finished a solid third behind Bad Uncle Barry in his most recent attempt and could be dangerous with improvement off his 670-day layoff.
Race 7
Can’t Help Myself by Violence gets the nod as the most experienced juvenile colt in this field. He exits an improved second-place finish on July 19 over the Del Mar surface and should be
