Top Stakes to Bet On the Week: G2 Los Alamitos Futurity, 5 Other Great Races

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Non-graded stakes highlight this Saturday’s top actin. Over at Aqueduct, 3 year olds and up run in the Alex M. Robb and 3 year old fillies run in the Bay Ridge. Oaklawn runs the Poinsettia Stakes and the Tinsel Stakes. Remington offers a $400,000 purse for the Remington Springboard mile for 2 year olds. The lone graded event happens at Los Alamitos when 2 year olds run in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, December 17th. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Horse Racing Odds, Picks, and Betting Analysis | December 12th Edition

Aqueduct | Saturday, Dec. 17

Alex M. Robb Stakes – 1 mile dirt – 3 year olds & up

Last year, Sea Foam finished first ahead of Danny California in second and Our Last Buck in third. The year before, 2020, Bankit beat Mr. Buff and Yankee Division.

Mr. Buff won in 2018 and 2019. But in those years, the Big A ran the Alex M. Robb at 1 1/8 miles. We should expect sprinter types to enter this year’s Alex M. Robb since it’s at a mile.

Bay Ridge Stakes – 1 mile dirt – 3 year old fillies & up

Like the Alex M. Robb, this is the first time Aqueduct will run the Bay Ridge at a mile. In the past, the Big A ran the Bay Ridge at both 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles.

In 2021, Sharp Starr finished third behind Ice Princess in second. Maiden Beauty won the race in 2021. Lucky Move beat Mrs. Orb and Singular Sensation in 2020. Because the Bay Ridge is at a mile this year, we should expect faster early runners to enter.

Oaklawn Park | Saturday, Dec. 17

Poinsettia Stakes – 5.5 furlongs dirt – 3 year old fillies & up

Last year, the Poinsettia was for straight 3 year olds and it was at 1 1/16 miles, which explains why Last Samurai beat Super Stock and Flash of Mischief.

This year, Oaklawn will run the Poinsettia at 5.5 furlongs over dirt and for 3 year old fillies and up. Fast fillies and mares, no doubt, will enter the starting gate.

Tinsel Stakes – 1 1/8 miles dirt – 3 year olds & up

In 2021, Thomas Shelby finished second to Lone Rock and ahead of Beau Lemaire in the Tinsel Stakes. Last year’s event was the first time Oaklawn had run the race.

This year, there’s a good chance trainer William VanMeter enters Lone Rock to defend his title. Wesley Ward might also enter 6 year old gelding Thomas Shelby.

Los Alamitos | Saturday, Dec. 17

Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity – 1 1/16 miles dirt – 2 year olds

Slow Down Andy, whom Doug O’Neil plans on running in the Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, won the 2021 Los Al Futurity over Bob Baffert trained Messier and Barossa.

Baffert won the 2020 race with Spielberg. Bob and Doug almost always enter one of their top 2 year olds. So we should expect more of the same, Baffert battling O’Neil, on Saturday.

Remington | Saturday, Dec. 17

Remington Springboard Mile – 1 mile dirt – 2 year olds

Connections for five runners have said they will enter the Remington Springboard Mile. Bret Calhoun plans on putting the saddle on Release McCraken.

Giroovin hails from the Genaro Garcia barn and James Chapman will run Giant Move. The two favorites project as Tim Yakteen trained Practical Move, who finished third in the Grade 3 Bob Hope in the last, and Giant Mischief from the Brad Cox barn.

Giant Mischief is 2-0 after two races. So expect most of the money to land on the Cox runner.

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