We have some great weekend racing at Saratoga Race Course and Churchill Downs. I’ll break down the top races at each track and offer my best bets.
Race Information:
- Name: Saratoga Special Stakes
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, NY, USA)
- Event Grade: Grade II
- Race: 4
- Post Time: 2:47 PM
- Length: 6 1/2 Furlongs
- Purse: $200,000
- Division: Colts | Two Years Old
- Surface: Dirt
- Wagers: Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta (0.50), Superfecta (0.10)
Field:
| Post Position | Horse | A/S | Wgt | ML Odds |
| 1 | Super Chow | 2/C | 120 | 8-1 |
| 2 | Damon’s Mound | 2/C | 120 | 7-5 |
| 3 | Valenzan Day | 2/C | 120 | 12-1 |
| 4 | Gulfport | 2/C | 122 | 4-5 |
| 5 | Owen’s Leap | 2/C | 120 | 8-1 |
Horse Preview:
(1) Super Chow, won his maiden at Gulfstream Park last month in a $55k MsW 5-furlong sprint. He sped to the front, set the pace, and pulled away down the stretch. Super Chow also posted a bullet workout on August 6th.
(2) Damon’s Mound, won his maiden at Churchill Downs last month in a $120k MsW 6 furlong sprint.
(3) Valenzan Day, has the most experience in the field having raced three times before. In his last start, he ran 9th in the G3 Sanford Stakes after losing his footing. Before that, he finished 3rd in the Tremont Stakes and won a MsW at Belmont.
(4) Gulfport, goes off as the morning line favorite after winning both of his starts. In his last out, he won the Bashford Manor Stakes setting the pace from the start and winning easily. His first start was a 5-furlong MsW at Churchill where he won easily again.
(5) Owen’s Leap, finished second to Gulfport in his last start in the Bashford Manor Stakes. In his only other start, he won a 5-furlong MsW at Churchill back in May.
Picks:
WIN: (4) GULFPORT
EXACTA PART WHEEL: 4/ 2, 5
Race Information:
- Name: Fourstardave Handicap
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, NY, USA)
- Event Grade: Grade I1
- Race: 10
- Post Time: 6:13 PM
- Length: 1 Mile
- Purse: $500,000
- Division: Open | Three Years Old and Upward
- Surface: Inner Turf
- Wagers: Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta (0.50), Superfecta (0.10)
Field:
| Post Position | Horse | A/S | Wgt | ML Odds |
| 1 | Casa Creed | 6/H | 122 | 5-2 |
| 2 | Front Run the Fed | 6/H | 117 | 10-1 |
| 3 | Regal Glory | 6/M | 119 | 6-5 |
| 4 | Masen (GB) | 4/G | 123 | 2-1 |
| 5 | Owen’s Leap | 5/G | 120 | 8-1 |
Picks:
WIN: (3) REGAL GLORY
Regal Glory will take on the boys in the Grade I Fourstardave Handicap. She’s coming off four straight wins, including two G1 victories in the Just a Game Stakes and Matriarch Stakes. She’s raced at Saratoga twice before winning both of those starts. Mansen, will be her main competition but this distance seems to be Regal Glory’s sweet spot.
EXACTA PART WHEEL: 3/ 1,4
Race Information:
- Name: Beverly D. Stakes
- Track: Churchill Downs (Louisville, KY, USA)
- Event Grade: Grade II
- Race: 5
- Post Time: 3:01 PM
- Length: 1 1/8 Miles
- Purse: $500,000
- Division: Open | Three Years Old and Upwards
- Surface: Turf
- Wagers: Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta (0.50), Superfecta (0.10)
Field:
| Post Position | Horse | A/S | Wgt | ML Odds |
| 1 | Dalika (GER) | 6/M | 125 | 8-1 |
| 2 | Family Way | 5/M | 125 | 3-1 |
| 3 | Princess Grace | 5/M | 125 | 3-1 |
| 4 | Rougir (FR) | 4/F | 125 | 2-1 |
| 5 | Lily Pond (IRE) | 3/F | 120 | 5-2 |
Picks:
WIN: (2) FAMILY WAY
Family Way is coming off a second-place finish in the G1 New York Stakes losing to Bleecker Street. He was caught late after setting the pace for most of the race. This distance should suit him a little better.
EXACTA BOX: 2, 5
Race Information:
- Name: Arlington Million Stakes
- Track: Churchill Downs (Louisville, KY, USA)
- Event Grade: Grade I
- Race: 11
- Post Time: 6:25 PM
- Length: 1 1/8 Miles
- Purse: $1,000,000
- Division: Open | Three Years Old and Upwards
- Surface: Turf
- Wagers: Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta (0.50), Superfecta (0.10)
Field:
| Post Position | Horse | A/S | Wgt | ML Odds |
| 1 | Set Piece (GB) | 6/G | 125 | 4-1 |
| 2 | Sacred Life (FR) | 7/H | 125 | 9-2 |
| 3 | Field Pass | 5/H | 125 | 8-1 |
| 4 | Smooth Like Straight | 5/H | 125 | 5-2 |
| 5 | Megacity | 7/G | 125 | 15-1 |
| 6 | Santin | 4/C | 125 | 3-1 |
| 7 | Admission Office | 7/G | 125 | 10-1 |
| 8 | Cavalry Charge | 5/G | 125 | 20-1 |
| 9 | Cellist | 4/G | 125 | 15-1 |
Picks:
WIN: (6) SANTIN
EXACTA BOX: 6/ 1, 4
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
