The penultimate weekend of the summer racing season ends Sunday at Del Mar, where Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods launches her comeback and the highly regarded 2-year-old colt Nero launches his career. Preview of three key races …

Race 5 – This N1X turf sprint is the day’s most important race because it anchors the pick five (races 1-5), and also is opening leg of the pick six (races 5-10). This is a tough way to end/begin each sequence.

The challenge facing favorite Doc Curlin (2) is distance; five furlongs might be shorter than he prefers. But the distance is ideal for upset candidate Incensed (7), freshened nearly four months and shortening up after losing his punch three recent starts at six and a half.

Bottle Rocket (3) has two turf-sprint seconds already this meet; Taima the Hawk (4) will rally late over a course/distance that favors late-runners – most turf sprints this summer have been won by a horse that rallied from the back half of the field.

Race 6 – Paradise Woods (1), who romped by nearly 12 lengths in the Santa Anita Oaks, makes her first start since she was foiled by a pace duel in the Kentucky Oaks. Paradise Woods is 7-5 in this G3, a race she figures to win. But is she ready first start back?

Workout analysts Donald Harris and Toby Turrell chronicled her final two workouts in the in the Daily Racing Form "Del Mar Clocker Report."

PARADISE WOODS

Aug. 24 DMR 3f fst :37.40 “Cruise control in final blowout. Mandella appears to have this filly tuned up nicely for return. RATING: B”

Aug. 18 DMR 7f fst 1:26.00 “Talented filly showed off an explosive turn of foot today when toying with her mate, Peach Cove. RATING: B+”

Yes, Paradise Woods is ready.

Race 7 – Nero (2) has been well-touted all summer; the 2-year-old colt makes his career debut following a familiar pattern. All five maiden-special weights this summer for 2yo colts were won by a first-time starter that was favored. Nero is a first-time starter that is favored. The other five:

July 22: Gracida ($5.60) = 75 Beyer

July 29: Tatters to Riches ($3.20) = 78 Beyer

Aug. 5: Bolt d’Oro ($3.60) = 77 Beyer

Aug. 13: Soul Streit ($3.60) = 84 Beyer

Aug. 20: Zatter ($5.40) = 84 Beyer

Nero has worked well for Bob Baffert. But is Nero ready to fire first time out? Here is what DRF workout analysts Harris and Turrell wrote about his last two works:

NERO

Aug. 19 DMR 5f fst :59.00 “Adding to the steam and hype in final move. Absolute standout of a drill. Best of a team over Diamondsandpearls. Huge speed and finish. A dynamite combo to have. Acting like a real runner. RATING: A”

July 31 DMR 4f fst :47.20 “Working in very tough company in first drill over the track. Second-best but showing talent with older stakes runner Faypien. RATING: B”

Yes, Nero is ready.

First post Sunday 2 p.m.