We hope that everyone out there can enjoy a peaceful and restful Labor Day.
This has historically been a big day at the nation’s tracks, and that is decidedly the case today, as the big tracks that are normally dark on Mondays have holiday cards that are quite good. We’ve selected three races, all of them stakes, to give us some fun today; we expect fast dirt and firm turf in all of them, so let’s go.
Monmouth Park, Race 7, 3:31 pm ET
$100,000 Red Bank Stakes, 1 mile, Turf, 3 & Up
Seven go in the Red Bank. We like 2-Principled Stand, who comes off a long layoff, having last raced in December, but who has speed, something that we think will serve him well at Monmouth, where the turf course of late has been kind to that running style. He’s trained by Chad Brown, who we think made a shrewd move running him in New Jersey, rather than in a race at his Saratoga base, where stalkers and closers have been dominating grass races. We see Principled Stand going right to the front from his inside post, and staying in front all the way around the track. We will bet him to win at 3-1. The bet: Monmouth Park, Race 7, $40 to win on 2-Principled Stand.
Saratoga Race Course, Race 10, 5:44 pm ET
Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, 7 furlongs, Dirt, 2-Year-Olds
The Hopeful came up a very strong race this year, with a deep field of eleven entered. We like a California shipper, 7-Muth, who starts for trainer Bob Baffert. This son of Curlin has a lot of speed, as he showed winning his debut race, when he dominated an overmatched group of Santa Anita maidens from start to finish. But it was the way he ran in last race, when he finished second in the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar three weeks ago, that makes us like his chances today. He was bumped hard at the start that day, and showed a lot of ability recovering, and getting the lead in deep stretch, only to get caught late. We think he’ll move forward off that race, especially since his trainer thinks he’s doing well enough to wheel him back, and ship him to Saratoga, relatively quickly. Say what you will about Baffert – and we’ve said plenty – but he rarely ships to Saratoga unless he thinks he has the goods, and we think he has the goods with Muth. We will bet him to win at 5/2. The bet: Saratoga, Race 10, $50 to win on 7-Muth.
Del Mar, Race 10, 9:10 pm ET
$125,000 Generous Portion Stakes, 6 furlongs, Dirt, California-bred 2-Year-Old Fillies
The Generous Portion drew a field of seven state-bred juvenile fillies. The pick is 1-Crazy Hot, who was outrun in each of her last two starts, both of which were in stakes, but we give her the nod here because she faced tougher competitors in each of those tries, and should be able to handle this group, which on paper looks pretty weak. Look for Crazy Hot to be near the front early, and way in front late. We will bet her to win at 8/5. The bet: Del Mar, Race 10, $50 to win on 1-Crazy Hot.
That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.