Return to Winning Form?

Since winning the Del Mar Handicap at nearly 21-1 last Sept. 1, Delta Form has fallen on hard times.

The 7-year-old gelding, who is owned by Team Valor and Gary Barber and trained by Jenine Sahadi, has lost seven in a row since his victory by a neck over The Tin Man in the Grade II.

Perhaps a return to Del Mar will perk up Delta Form, who is one of 10 scheduled to go 1 3/8 miles on turf in today’s $75,000-added Escondido Handicap. The seventh race on the card, the Escondido is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $155,247.

The 118-pound highweight is Asong For Billy. A 4-year-old Unbridled gelding trained by Paul Aguirre for Wong’s Stable Inc., Asong For Billy went wire to wire against a field that included Delta Form on June 22 at Hollywood Park, then was fourth behind Puerto Banus, Cagney and Continental Red in the Sunset Handicap on July 20. Patrick Valenzuela, who was aboard for the victory, is back today.

Only two of the horses in the Escondido enter off victories. Stratus won his second in a row going a mile on July 11 at Hollywood Park, and Mont Saint Michel made it two victories in his last three starts for trainer Bobby Frankel on June 27 in Inglewood.

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Race of the day: The most wide-open contest in Del Mar’s pick six is probably the fourth, a $58,000 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for older California breds. Ten are scheduled to run, including Fantastic Groom, who won over the course last Aug. 21.

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One for the road: Primetimevalentine gets a big jockey change to Edgar Prado in today’s $65,000-added Waya Stakes at Saratoga after finishing a troubled fourth in a stakes at Delaware Park. The distance (1 3/8 miles on turf) will suit Primetimevalentine, who is trained by Dan Peitz, and she should start at a nice price. The likely favorite is Something Ventured, who goes for the hot trainer-jockey combination of Todd Pletcher and John Velasquez.

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Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Symbolic Times in the first, using all in the second and Joyful Meeting and Cee’s Dancing Now in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/20. Money: Previous day/meet total: $11/$121. Total money bet: $206.