It’s a summer Sunday, and that means racing: we have three plays this afternoon, one each at the top three summer meetings in the country: Monmouth Park in New Jersey, Saratoga Race Course in New York, and Del Mar in California. It’s al all-dirt lineup, and we expect a fast main track for all three. Let’s go.
Monmouth Park, Race 9, 4:24 pm ET
$100,000 Eleven North Stakes, 6 furlongs, Dirt, New Jersey-bred Fillies & Mares 3 & Up
Nine older Jersey-bred females go to the gate for the Eleven North. 7-Mia’s Crusade is a strong play: she ran well in each of her last two starts, but both were at a mile, and here she shortens to 6 furlongs, the distance at which she appears to be best. We are a sucker for the cutback angle, but she nevertheless looks the best: look for Mia’s Crusade to press the pace early, and draw away late. We will bet her to win at 7/2 odds. The bet: Monmouth Park, Race 9, $40 to win on 7-Mia’s Crusade.
Saratoga Race Course, Race 10, 6:14 pm ET
$250,000 Albany Stakes, 1 ⅛ miles, Dirt, New York-bred 3-Year-Olds
The Albany drew a field of seven state-bred colts. We’re all in on 6-Drake Passage, whose last race was a very fast win in a Belmont Park allowance race on July 3. We think the distance here is key: Unlike some of the other logical contenders, Drake Passage has a pedigree that suggests he will get the 9 furlongs easily. We will bet him to win. The bet: Saratoga, Race 10, $50 to win on 6-Drake Passage.
Del Mar, Race 9, 9:07 pm ET
Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes, 6 ½ furlongs, Dirt, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up
Eight filly and mare dirt sprinters line up for the Rancho Bernardo. Seven of them are older; the pick is the lone 3-year-old in the group: 2-Home Cooking, who won an allowance race quite impressively a month ago. She beat ten rivals that day, the kind of effort that should be a springboard to a significant improvement here, in her first start against stakes company. We will bet her to win at 6-1. The bet: Del Mar, Race 9, $40 to win on 2-Home Cooking.
That’s all for today. Until tomorrow, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.