Saturday horse racing Best Bets
Triple Crown season is behind us, but there’s a lot of great horse racing during the summer and Team Tuley is here to look for value at tracks from coast to coast.
This Saturday, we’re joined per usual by our regular contributors – Rampart race and sportsbook manager Duane Colucci and Ed Sehon – with plays at Belmont Park in New York, Monmouth Park in New Jersey and Santa Anita Park in California.
Good luck today (and every day!).
Belmont Race No. 5 (3:09 p.m. ET/12:09 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes #6 Donegal Forever (5-2 morning line). “Trusted backstretch observer says this late-developing son of Pioneerof the Nile is ready to fire at first asking. Look for Irad Ortiz Jr. and Todd Pletcher to be high-fiving in the Winner’s Circle. Wager: Win.”
Belmont Park Race No. 6 (3:41 p.m. ET/12:41 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes #4 Landbiscuit (9-2 morning line). “Many signs point to an excellent effort by this 5-year-old gelded son of Orb, who is dropping in class and shows a sharp recent work while picking up the riding services of rejuvenated Javier Castellano [now a Kentucky Derby- and Belmont-winning jockey). Won if by land, grass that is. Wager: Win and box in Exactas with 2,5.”
Belmont Race Nos. 6-10 (3:41 p.m. ET/12:41 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes a $0.50 Pick 5 (cost $72)
Race 6: 2,4,5
Race 7: 3,5
Race 8: 1,2,4,5,7,9
Race 9: 1
Race:10: 1,6,8,10
Santa Anita Race No. 1 (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #6 Smart Code (6-1 morning line). “This Matt Glatt trainer makes his 3-year-old debut after breaking maiden in December. He has the right to keep improving after adding blinkers in that victory and now adding Lasix. Glatt also hitting 40% (2-for-5) when using jockey Kelly Frey, who rode him last time. Should have plenty of pace to run at down the hillside turf course. Wager: Win and Place (but only Place if 5-1 or higher)”
Belmont Park Race Nos. 7-10 (4:13 p.m. ET/1:13 p.m. PT)
Duane Colucci likes a $0.50 Pick 4 (cost $54)
Race 7: 1,3,5,7
Race 8: 2,4,7
Race 9: 1,3,5
Race:10: 1,6,10
Monmouth Race No. 10 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #7 Howgreatisnate (6-1 morning line) in the ungraded $150,000 Pegasus Stakes. “We hope we get this price on this 3-year-old gelding as he just won an ungraded Monmouth stakes just 5 weeks ago under jockey Jairo Rendon for trainer Elizabeth Dobles, who is 19% in ungraded stakes and 15% after a horse wins. Howgreatisnate should be able to sit right off the pace like he did in that last win and get first run on the other closers. I also like how he was actually leading and then passed in the stretch before battling back for the victory. Wager: Win and Place (but only Place if 5-1 or higher)”
Monmouth Races Nos. 10-13 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT)
Duane Colucci likes a $.50 Pick 4 (cost $54)
Race 10: 1,4,8
Race 11: 1,2,3,8
Race 12: 1,5,8
Race 13: 1,2,3
Monmouth Race No. 11 (5:12 p.m. ET/2:12 p.m. PT)
Duane Colucci likes #2 Vergara (8-1 morning line) in the Grade 3, $150,000 Eatontown Stakes. “This Graham Motion 4-year-old needed that last race at Pimlico, has hit the board in 7 of 9 turf races and this course favors her style. She should be close to the pace and be a threat late. Bet 2 to Win and key 2 over 1, 3 and 8 in Exactas, Trifectas and reverse.”
Belmont Park Race No. 9 (5:19 p.m. ET/2:19 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon’s PLAY OF THE DAY is #1 Goodnight Olive (6-5 morning line) in the Grade 2, $200,000 Bed o’ Roses Stakes. “Super fast mare got blocked in the stretch and finished third at Churchill after winning seven in a row. She returns to her winning ways today. Chad trains, Irad rides. Simply the best. Wager Win.”
Monmouth Race No. 12 (5:40 p.m. ET/2:40 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #5 Bourbon Calling (15-1 morning line) in the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Stakes. “It looks like #6 Octane and #8 Nimitz Class will be dueling for the lead in this one-mile race and hopefully that will set it up for this hard-knocking 7-year-old gelding who just needed to return to his Aqueduct form earlier this spring. Wager: Win and Place on 7, plus Exacta boxes with 6 and 8.”
