Del Mar Handicap Picks — Test Score Favored in High-Quality Renewal of Grade Two (Aug 29)

• When: Saturday, August 29, 2026 @ 8:30 PM ET
• Where: Del Mar, California
• How to Watch: FanDuel TV

A high-quality weekend of horse racing is set for Saturday, as preparation ahead of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup builds up. Del Mar hosts two graded races on August 29, with the card in California headlined by the G2 Del Mar Handicap. The latest odds available at the best horse racing betting sites can be found below, as well as our Del Mar Handicap picks.    

Del Mar Handicap Odds

Horse (Draw)	Odds
Santa Barbarian (1)	+5000
Test Score (2)	+250
Nitti (3)	+2000
Gold Phoenix (4)	+333
Atomic Age (5)	+3300
Maaz (6)	+2000
Atitlan (7)	+650
Mondego (8)	+1000
Old Pal (9)	+350
Flashiest (10)	+1200
Packs a Wahlop (11)	+1800

Latest odds taken from an Offshore Sportsbook. BetOnline markets open on the day of the race.

Race Information & Records

Stat	Information
Race Distance	1 3/8 Miles
Purse	$250,000
Most Successful Trainer	Philip D’Amato (10)
Most Successful Jockey	Bill Shoemaker (8)

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Del Mar Handicap: Recent Winners

• 2025– Gold Phoenix (Flavien Prat/Philip D’Amato)
• 2024– Gold Phoenix (Kyle Frey/Philip D’Amato)
• 2023– Gold Phoenix (Juan Hernandez/Philip D’Amato)
• 2022– Gold Phoenix (Flavien Prat/Philip D’Amato)
• 2021– Astronaut (Victor Espinoza/John Shirreffs)

Del Mar Handicap: Betting Preview

A busy weekend of horse racing action is headlined by the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. However, on the West Coast, there will be two graded stakes races on the card, including the G2 Del Mar Handicap, which is run on the turf over a distance of 1 3/8 miles.

Test Score will be the leading chance for the Graham Motion yard. The four-year-old was the winner of the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf in January, but has constantly frustrated since then. He ran no race when eighth in the G1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and was last seen finishing sixth of seven in the G1 Arlington Million.

In truth, the horse to beat is Philip D’Amato’s Gold Phoenix, who has won the last four editions of the Del Mar Handicap. The eight-year-old may be past his peak, but this is a race that he is typically targeted for every season. Plenty to like about his runs this season, including landing the G3 San Juan Capistrano and G2 Eddie Road on his last two starts. Thrives at Del Mar.

Old Pal should be respected for the Mark Glatt yard, as the six-year-old will relish this step back up in distance after finishing a head behind On The Whim in the California Dreamin’. Nitti and Flashiest are also weighted on these terms to make a positive impression.

Atilan rounds off the leading contender for the Richard Mandella yard. The five-year-old returned to the track with a fourth-place finish in the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar last month, but has proven back-class which includes wins in the G2 Charles Whittingham and G3 San Luis Rey. Every chance he improves on his third-place from 12 months ago.

Del Mar Handicap Picks

The top selections in the betting could be vulnerable this weekend, with Test Score hard to get right and Gold Phoenix past his best. Therefore, Mondego could be a value play for the Michael McCarthy yard.

The six-year-old was an excellent winner of the G2 Charles Whittingham earlier this season before running no race in the G2 Eddie Read.

Has experience in this race to his name after finishing fifth 12 months ago, and this step back up in distance will only enhance his chances. Likely a long term target for the McCarthy yard.

Free Pick:

• Mondego

Del Mar Picks for August 29

Race	Pick
R1 – Maiden Special Weight	Riccelli
R2 – Maiden Claiming	Sigma Boy
R3 – Allowance Optional Claiming	No Cap
R4 – Starter Allowance	Pacer
R5 – Maiden Claiming	Daddys Star
R6 – Maiden Special Weight	Savvy Tiger
R7 – Allowance Optional Claiming	Sir Rocket
R8 – Claiming	Amador
R9 – G2 Pat O’Brien Stakes	Dr. Venkman
R10 – G2 Del Mar Handicap	SEE ABOVE