Del Mar is all set to close out its meet with the highly anticipated "Turf Festival." This weekend is filled with important grass stakes that attract horses from across the nation. The track, known for the slogan "Where the Turf Meets the Surf," has already had an amazing fall. It is still basking in the glow of hosting a successful Breeders’ Cup. Now, as the season concludes on Sunday, the days at the resort track are limited.

Experience the Thrill of Del Mar's Grass Stakes

Closing Weekend at Del Mar Offers Exciting Graded Stakes Action

Before we reach the grand finale, the action on the lawn continues at a rapid pace. On Saturday, the card features three grass stakes, with the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles taking the center stage. The Hollywood Derby presents a challenge to the bettors as the field of 13 horses has varying styles. There are stout closers like Stay Hot and Carson’s Run. Ample speed is expected from Donegal Momentum and Chatalas, a filly taking on the boys. After several passes over the field, the handicapping divining rod points directly at the well-named Formidable Man trained by Mike McCarthy.Two important statistics immediately catch our attention. Formidable Man is 3-for-3 at Del Mar, including the Del Mar Derby (G2) on September 1. Additionally, he is 2-for-3 at this distance. The math seems to favor him as he is operating from his home base, giving him an advantage over horses like Carson’s Run and Donegal Momentum, which are shipping in from New York. Of course, luck will always play a role, especially in a field as large as this. Formidable Man can rally, but his best game is a stalking trip, as demonstrated in the Del Mar Derby when jockey Umberto Rispoli sat fourth in the early stages and then charged home in the deep stretch to win by a half-length. The Del Mar Derby was his second straight stakes victory here after the Oceanside, where he rallied from ninth to score the win. That versatility will be helpful if the anticipated script gets tossed. Formidable Man breaks from post 6, which should put him right in the mix from the start.In contrast, Stay Hot has landed the rail, which might be the worst starting spot for a deep closer. He faces a lot of traffic when trying to make his move. He has notched a pair of seconds in his last two races, both Grade 2 stakes - the Del Mar Derby where Formidable Man was able to fend off his late run and in the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita.The two New York invaders also deserve consideration. Carson’s Run has already won a pair of Derbys this year back home - the Saratoga (G1) and the Jockey Club (G3) at Aqueduct. Donegal Momentum comes here on a two-race win streak - an allowance race at Saratoga and the Gio Ponte at the Big A.Now it's time to make a selection. We're not going to take a big risk. We'll stick with the hometown hero.The picks: 1 Formidable Man 2 Stay Hot 3 Carson’s Run

$200,000 SEABISCUIT HANDICAP

Older grass runners also get their chance in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) over 1 1/16 miles. Handicaps, where the track's racing secretary assigns weights to each runner based on perceived ability, are becoming increasingly rare. Most stakes weight assignments are now determined by allowance conditions, or else every horse carries the same weight. An example of the latter is the Hollywood Derby where everyone totes 122 pounds except the two fillies Chatalas and Tirupati who get a three-pound break at 119. Here, we have a handicap with a relatively small weight spread from 123 down to 118 pounds.Almendares got the 123-pound assignment and truly deserves it. He rallied to finish second in the Del Mar Mile (G2) and the City of Hope Mile (G2) in his last two outings. His running style suggests that the extra sixteenth of a mile here will work to his advantage.The picks: 1 Almendares 2 Easter 3 St Anthony

$100,000 JIMMY DURANTE STAKES

The Jimmy Durante for 2-year-old fillies completes the trio of turf-stakes offerings. When it comes to baby races in California, you can't avoid mentioning "Bob Baffert." He sends out Casalu, the most experienced stakes runner in the field. She is already graded-stakes placed with a second in Santa Anita’s Surfer Girl (G3) and arrives here via a somewhat circuitous route. Baffert recently sprinted her on the dirt, finishing fourth in the Anoakia Stakes. Now, the master switches her back to the turf, stretches the distance, and removes the blinkers. Never underestimate The Bob.The picks: 1 Casalu 2 Tigerish 3 ResolveThe writing team at US Racing is composed of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.