The imminent Del Mar Handicap (G2) event in California is drawing near, presenting an intriguing opportunity for bettors. Given the strong competition within the field of 11, numerous favored contenders make for an unpredictable outcome.

The 2023 Del Mar Handicap has a large field that will showcase a handful of great horses. While there are plenty of betting favorites, you cannot rule out some of the lesser known horses in popularity.

Popular trainer Philip D'Amato has three horses entered for this event. He has won five times in his career here, plus other respectable finishes.

When surveying the landscape of potential competitors, these options stand out as strong contenders poised for success in the upcoming 2023 Del Mar Handicap. Beyond simply vying for first place, it is prudent to consider these picks for your exacta or trifecta bets, as they could prove to be astute choices.

Planetario 4/1

Planetario has won in three group races in Brazil, but will try his luck here after making the move up north last season. He is coming off of a fifth place finish at the United Nations event at Monmouth Park, which might be enough of a spark to be competitive here.

Cash Equity 15/1

Cash Equity is another horse trained by D’Amato. He is coming off of a fifth place finish at the Wickerr against a tough crowd, but has a great opportunity to get back on track with appealing odds.

Cathkin Peak 6/1

Cathkin Peak, you guessed it, is the final horse trained by D’Amato for this event. His recent run was a seventh place finish at the Wickerr, which might not be the best momentum heading into this one.

Here are the 2023 Del Mar Handicap odds, as presented by MyBookie. Discover the complete expected roster of horses participating in this event below.

It is no surprise that Gold Phoenix is a favorite to win here. He is the defending champion of this event and is trained by D’Amato, who continues to show dominance at these tracks. With two victories and a third place finish here before, this is an event he loves to race in.

He is coming off of a victory at the Eddie Read (G2) event. Juan Hernandez is the jockey, who has won 24 percent of his events this year. This bodes well for his chances to repeat and win another consecutive race.