Six stakes races happen this weekend, including two of the most prestigious at The Great Race Place, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. On May 29, SA Park runs the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes, named after one of the most well-respected hall of fame trainers in history, and the Grade 2 seven-furlong Triple Bend. Check out more information about those two stakes races as well as info on the other three graded stakes happening on Saturday and Sunday.
Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, May 29th to Sunday, May 30th. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Horse Racing Odds & Picks May 24th Edition
Top Stakes Races for the Week
- When: Saturday, May 29 – Sunday, May 30
Belmont Park – Saturday, May 29
- Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes – 1 1/8 miles turf – $200,000
So far, the only horse scheduled to run in the Pennine Ridge, a turf race exclusively for three-year-old males, is Todd Pletcher trained Sainthood. The Kentucky Derby’s eleventh place finisher has turf breeding for days. Mshawish sired Sainthood while Lemon Hero is from the Kingmambo line. Lemon Drop Kid, Sainthood’s broodmare’s grandsire, won the Belmont Stakes. Lemon Drop Kid has produced better turf horses than dirt horses, though.
Santa Anita Park – Saturday, May 29
- Grade 3 Daytona Stakes – 6 ½ furlongs turf – $100,000
No word yet on which horses will run in the Daytona Stakes races. The top three finishers in last year’s event have turned out to be runners. So pay attention later in the week to get an idea of which horses to back. Wildman Jack won the 2020 version followed by Sparky Ville in second and Stubbins in third.
- Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes – 1 ¼ miles turf – $200,000
The prestigious Charles Whittingham Stakes should produce one or two Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders. Richard Mandella trained United finished second in the 2019 version. In 2020, United got first place. Mandella has pointed United towards the C. Wittingham since the start of the year. Rivals Rockemperor, Originaire, and Another Mystery figure to challenge the likely chalk.
- Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes – 7 furlongs dirt – $200,000
City of Light, trained by Mike McCarthy who saddled Rombauer to a Preakness victory, won the Triple Bend in 2018. City of Light went on to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and then the Pegasus World Cup in 2019. Bob Baffert trained McKinzie won the 2020 Triple Bend.
Speaking of Baffert, don’t be surprised if the horses he planned on running at Belmont on Belmont Stakes day don’t end up in this weekend’s Santa Anita Park stakes races. Baffert is banned from running horses in New York. He may decide to run his horses at his home track.
Santa Anita Park – Sunday, May 30
- Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes – 6 ½ furlongs turf – $200,000
Richard Mandella could have a huge weekend. Jolie Olimpica, the 2020 Monrovia Stakes winner, may go for the repeat. Olimpica finished third in her last race, the Grade 3 San Simeon, behind Gregorian Chant and Sombeyay. Those two mares could also run in this Sunday’s Monrovia Stakes.
- Grade 2 Summertime Oaks Stakes – 1 1/16 miles dirt – $200,000
Stellar Wind, Songbird, and Ollie’s Candy all won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks. Expect a decent sized field with plenty of filly talent in Sunday’s race.
