Fri., July 17, 2026 @ Del Mar Free Horse Racing Tips
Free horse racing tips for Fri., July 17, 2026 at Del Mar from Turtle Sports’ Lundin Line. Get expert Horse Racing picks, best bets, and coast-to-coast analysis to help you hit big on today’s card in sunny San Diego.
HORSE RACING
- Fink
Happy Opening Day from Del Mar! This is arguably the nicest track on the West Coast—though with so few left here in California, that might not be saying much—and we’re thrilled to kick off a full summer of racing in sunny San Diego. The gates are finally open, the grandstand is buzzing, and the ocean breeze is rolling in over the backstretch.
We’ll have dueling tracks this afternoon as our Turtle Sports Coast to Coast coverage continues. Del Mar takes center stage out west while Monmouth Park holds it down on the East Coast, giving you action from early afternoon right through the evening. For Opening Day at Del Mar, we have 10 total races on tap, including one stakes race, with enough action to carry you through happy hour and well into dinner. Whether you’re playing every race or just dropping in for the feature, there will be plenty of chances to get involved.
Today’s featured event is the Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Handicap, which goes as the eighth race on the card. This is a one-mile route on the Jimmy Durante turf course for three-year-olds only and carries a generous purse of $150,000. It’s traditionally one of the most competitive and entertaining races of the meet, often serving as a launching pad for sophomores looking to prove themselves against stakes company on the lawn. This year’s edition offers a ton of opportunity to cash a nice ticket. The morning-line favorite is a tepid 4/1, which tells you just how wide open this field is on paper. We originally had 12 entrants, but we’re down to 11 after an early scratch of the seven horse, which should only tighten up the odds and add a bit more value for sharp players. Even if this were a smaller field, we’d still be excited to say Del Mar is back—but with a deep, competitive group lining up for the Oceanside, this feels like the perfect way to christen the season.
The undercard is no slouch either. With a full slate of allowance and claiming races, plus a mix of dirt sprints and turf routes, there’s a little something for every type of handicapper. Speed types, late closers, rail skimmers, and wide-trip warriors will all have their chance to shine over the course of the afternoon. As we move deeper into the card, keep an eye on how the track is playing—whether speed is holding on the dirt or if the turf is favoring runners coming from off the pace. Those subtle shifts can turn a solid opinion into a big score.
The weather for Opening Day is going to be classic Del Mar: highs in the low 70s, a light ocean breeze, and partly cloudy skies keeping things comfortable for both horses and fans. The dirt track is expected to be fast, and the turf should be firm, setting up ideal conditions for sharp performances and honest running lines. It’s the kind of day that reminds you why Del Mar is such a special summer destination—beautiful views, top-class racing, and a relaxed atmosphere that still crackles with energy every time the field turns for home.
If you’ve been following our early top-rated selections from Monmouth Park, we’d love to hear how your tickets are doing. As of this writing, we’ve already got one win on the board and are looking to build on that momentum as we roll into the Del Mar card. Our goal today is to thread both tracks together, finding value at Monmouth in the earlier races and then carrying those profits into the late Pick 4s and Pick 5s at Del Mar. Whether you’re watching from the rail with a program in hand, streaming the races from home, or just checking in between summer plans, we’re glad to have you along for the ride. Del Mar is back, the summer is officially underway, and we’re ready to chase some nice winners from coast to coast. Good luck today, and let’s make this Opening Day one to remember.
Happy Friday & National Tattoo & Lottery Day!
Need help picking winners? We've got you covered! Our (Always Free) Lundin Line's top picks and best bets are below. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -
It's time to get #InTheMoney! 💰💰💰
🏇Fri., July 17th, 2026 @ Del Mar
⭑Best Bet(s)
R8: 150K Oceanside H.
1 Mi. on Turf for 3 Yr. Olds.
Ⓢtakes Race(s)
July 17th - National Tattoo & Lottery Day!
First Post @ 2:00 PDT (5:00 EDT)
R1: 7⭑-8-9-4
R2: 2-4-6
R3: 1-6-2
R4: 1-2-3-4
R5: 6-5-3-10
R6: 13(AE)-4-9-7-11
R7: 1-5-3-8
🏇R8Ⓢ: 12-8-7-4
R9: 9-1-4-8
R10: 9⭑-7-4-3
🏇 = Featured Race(s)