This weekend won’t be as big as last. Saturday, though, is Arlington Million Day. Seven graded stakes races happen this weekend, including the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, and three grade one races, including the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington. The Grade 3 Longacres Mile is at Emerald Downs on Sunday. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, August 14th to Sunday, August 15th. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Horse Racing Odds & Picks August 9th Edition
Top Stakes Races for the Week
- When: Saturday, Aug. 14 – Sunday, Aug. 15
Saratoga Race Course – Saturday, Aug. 14
- Grade 2 Saratoga Special – 6 ½ furlongs dirt – $200,000
Todd Pletcher, Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen, and Bill Mott all have runners in this race. Asmussen trained Gunite, sired by Gun Runner, should attract the most action. If the Pletcher runner, Midnight Worker, goes, watch out. Todd Pletcher seems to win every 2-year-old race at The Spa.
- Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap – 1 mile turf – $500,000
Six runners are probable for the Fourstardave on Saturday. Of the six, Raging Bull, trained by Chad Brown, should attract the most action followed by Set Piece, a Brad Cox runner. Whisper Not, Rinaldi, Daddy Is a Legend, and Got Stormy should also run.
Arlington Racetrack – Saturday, Aug. 14
- Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes – 1 1/8 miles turf – $100,000
New York based trainer Chad Brown puts the saddle on Shantisara in the Grade 3 Pucker Up. Flown, from the Brendan Walsh barn, will also run. The favorite should be Oyster Box, trained by Graham Motion.
- Grade 1 Mister D. Stakes – 1 ¼ miles turf – $600,000
Mike Maker’s Zulu Alpha, Brown trained Domestic Spending, and Armory from the Aidan O’Brien barn will fight for favoritism. O’Brien doesn’t often enter in the U.S. unless he feels he can win the race. Consider all three serious contenders.
- Grade 1 Bruce D. Stakes – 1 mile turf – $300,000
Nine runners could line up to contend the mile distance in the Bruce D. on Saturday. Of the nine, Therideofalifetime, King of Miami, and Tango Tango Tango figure to vie for favoritism.
- Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes – 1 3/16 miles turf – $400,000
Betting should revolve around Mean Mary, Santa Barbara, and Naval Laughter. But although the three favorites will demand most of the betting action, don’t look past Chad Brown trained Lemista. She failed big time in her last. Brown runners rarely run two bad races in a row.
Emerald Downs – Sunday, Aug. 15
- Grade 3 Longacres Mile – 1 mile – $100,000
Neil Drysdale trained Majestic Eagle and Anyportinastorm from the Peter Miller barn should attract big time action. Horseplayers rate Anyportinastorm higher than the 7-year-old horses competition, which will make the City Zip sired runner the chalk. The Longacres Mile should be one of the more competitive graded events this weekend, though. So make sure to handicap all runners before settling on a short-price.
