Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Top Stakes Races of the Week

Horse Racing Odds & Picks for Top Stakes Races of the Week

Written by on August 17, 2020

On Saturday, Del Mar runs it’s most important race during the summer meet, the $500,000 Pacific Classic. Usually, the purse in the P. Classic is for $1 million. But because of the pandemic, Del Mar’s racing secretary has cut the purse in half. No worries! A few good horses are signed on for the SoCal racetrack’s signature race. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Wednesday, August 19 to Sunday, August 22. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Top Horse Racing Stakes Races of the Week

  • When: Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Sunday, Aug. 22

Wednesday, August 19

Saratoga Racecourse

  • Bolton Landing – 5 ½ Furlongs Turf – $85,000
10 horses have entered for the Bolton Landing. The Spa’s featured race on Wednesday should have an odds-on favorite in Toby’s Heart. If horseplayers go against Toby, they’ll get a price on their choice.

Thursday, August 20

Saratoga Racecourse

  • Tale of the Cat Stakes – 6 Furlongs Dirt – $85,000
Only 5 horses will go in the Tale of the Cat Stakes: T Loves a Fight, Stan the Man, Ready to Escape, My Boy Tate, and Binkster. 

Friday, August 21

Saratoga Racecourse

  • Skidmore Stakes – 5 ½ Furlongs Turf – $85,000
Top juvenile trainer Wesley Ward will enter three in the Skidmore Stakes: Fauci, Sunny Isle Beach, and Golden Pal. All 3 should have a shot to win Saratoga’s featured event on Friday.

Del Mar Racecourse

  • Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap – 6 ½ Furlongs Dirt – $100,000
Bob Baffert trained Gingham figures to go off the favorite in Friday’s Rancho Bernardo Handicap. Gingham won the non-graded Angel’s Flight at 7 furlongs in her last. She finished second behind Venetian Harbor in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes back in February. 

Saturday, August 22

Monmouth Park

  • Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes – 1 1/16 Miles Dirt – $200,000
No word yet on who will run in the 2020 Philip H. Iselin Stakes. Expect a couple of second-tier handicap horses. But, who knows? One of the top handicap horses in the nation may decide to try and grab an easy score while Maximum Security goes for the P.Classic at Del Mar. 

Saratoga Racecourse

  • Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap – 1 Mile Turf – $400,000
Preakness winner War of Will headlines a tough group in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on Saturday. Both Chad Brown runners, Raging Bull and Without Parole, could challenge War of Will for favoritism. 

Del Mar Racecourse

  • Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes – 1 Mile Dirt – $100,000
Undefeated Clifford Sise trained Secrete Keeper will go off the chalk. Aurelia Garland, Harvest Moon and Provocation should offer around the same odds.
  • Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap – 1 3/8 Miles Turf – $200,000
United has won 3 in a row. Richard Mandella’s trained runner should go off less than even money. It will be tough to beat United, no doubt. But horseplayers who try will risk a small amount for a huge potential profit. 
  • Grade 1 Pacific Classic – 1 ¼ Miles Dirt – $500,000
Like United in the Del Mar Handicap, Maximum Security should dominate the betting in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic. The Bob Baffert trained runner won the San Diego Handicap in his last after taking the Saudi Cup in February. 

Sunday, August 23

Saratoga Racecourse

  • Grade 1 Diana Stakes – 1 1/8 Miles Turf – $500,000
No word on who might run in the Diana. Because it’s a Grade 1 turf race at Saratoga, expect Chad Brown to enter at least 2, if not 3, runners. Also, expect Mark Casse, Bill Mott, and Todd Pletcher to have a couple of runners.

Del Mar Racecourse

  • Grade 2 Del Mar Mile – 1 Mile Turf – $150,000
Only Richard Baltas trained Bob And Jackie is probable for the Del Mar Mile. Expect more information to come out on this race around Wednesday or Thursday.  Have a great week! Del