Betting Saturday's Card at Monmouth Park

 The following "best bets" for Saturday's race card at Monmouth Park are reposted via permission from ScoresandStats.com

Saturday’s “Best Bets” for a Trio of Graded Stakes Races at Monmouth Park

Monmouth Park in New Jersey is best known as the host track for the annual Grade 1 Haskell Stakes later in July. This Saturday, the coastal New Jersey horse racing venue has caught my eye with a trio of interesting betting events on the daily card.

All three of these races are Grade 3 stakes events and each one has $150,000 up for grabs in total prize money. The Eatontown Stakes is a turf race open to fillies and mares three and older. It will be contested over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.

The Salvator Mile will be run on the dirt track at Monmouth. This graded event is open to Thoroughbreds three and older. As the featured event of the day, the Monmouth Stakes covers 1 1/8 miles on the turf. This race is also open to three-year old Thoroughbreds and older.

Breaking down the probable field for each of Saturday’s races, I have come up with my winning pick along with ‘one to watch’ in each projected field.

Saturday, June 18 – Monmouth Park

Eatontown Stakes

My top choice to win this race would be Princess Grace. This five-year old Kentucky-bred mare has been able to finish in the money in each of her last seven races. Idle for 2022, trainer Michael Stidham has hand-picked this race for her season debut. Still listed as probable for Saturday, she would have the highest Horse Racing Nation rating in the projected field at 6.55.

Trainer Shug McGaughey’s Vigilantes Way would be my one to watch coming off a second-place finish in this year’s Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 30. This was the five-year old mare’s sixth finish in the money in her last seven races.

Salvator Mile Stakes

The race is expected to feature Hot Rod Charlie as my favorite in the projected field. Trained by Doug O’Neill, the son of Oxbow placed second in this year’s Grade 1 Dubai World Cup in late March after opening his 2022 racing season with a victory in the Al Maktoum Challenge at that same track on Feb. 4. Saturday’s race would act as a warm-up prep for the upcoming summer racing schedule, including the Haskell Stakes in late July.

My one to watch would be trainer Todd Pletcher’s Mind Control if he runs in this race. The son of Stay Thirty faded to fifth in this year’s Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes his last time out.

Monmouth Stakes

Trainer Danny Gargan is expected to enter Tax in Saturday’s featured event. If the six-year old gelding gets the green light to run, he would be my clear favorite to win. This would be his first event in 2022 after placing 10^th in last year’s Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup. The long layoff would be a concern but this veteran horse appears to be the class of this field. The son of Arch still holds a lofty 6.67 HRN rating despite the long layoff.

If trainer Gerald Bennett decides to run Carpenters Call in Saturday’s race, he would definitely be my one to watch. This four-year old Kentucky-bred colt only managed a sixth-place finish at Monmouth in the ungraded Cliff Hanger Stakes in late May but that was an off day at the track.

CFL Betting Pick of the Week

 Week 2 of the new CFL season features an interdivision clash between the West's Calgary Stampeders and the East's Hamilton Tiger-Cats as two of the stronger teams in the league. Game time in Hamilton is set for 6:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday night.

Calgary ran past Montreal 30-27 in its season opener but failed to cover as a four-point home favorite. The total went OVER the closing 48.5-point line. The Tiger-Cats opened up their season on the road and came up short in a 30-13 loss to Saskatchewan as 2.5-point underdogs. The total in that game stayed UNDER 48 points.

The current CFL betting lines for Saturday's contest at VegasInsider have Hamilton favored by a point with the total set at 45 points. As part of my weekly CFL coverage for this popular sports betting site, my best bet in this game is the UNDER on the total.

The total has stayed UNDER in 13 of the last 16 games between these two teams. It has also stayed UNDER in 12 of the last 15 meetings in Hamilton. Points may be hard to come by on Saturday night with defense being the focal point in this matchup.

Betting Saturday's Belmont Stakes

 My "best bet" picks for Saturday's Belmont Stakes are reposted below via permission from ScoresandStats.com

Betting Picks for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes

This Saturday’s Belmont Stakes marks the third and final event in the 2022 Triple Crown racing series for the best three-year old Thoroughbreds in this year’s class. This race is also the toughest test these contenders will face of the three, covering 1 ½ miles on the dirt track at Belmont Park in Elmont New York.

The total prize purse for this year’s Belmont Stakes has been set at $1.5 million as part of a full day of major graded events on Saturday’s card. A few of the other big betting events include the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap and the $750,000 Manhattan Stakes. All told, there are nine graded events in what should be an unbelievable day of exciting betting action at Belmont.

The field for the Belmont Stakes is set at eight with post time slated for 6:44 p.m. (ET). Going through the eight-horse field for Saturday’s main event, the following three entries stand out as my “best bet” trifecta pick along with one to watch that could easily figure into the mix.

Saturday, June 11

2022 Belmont Stakes – Belmont Park

Win: Mo Donegal

The son of Uncle Mo was one of my picks to finish in the money in this year’s Kentucky Derby but he faded to fifth. Breaking from the No. 6 post on Saturday, he has been opened as a 5-2 favorite to win. Trained by Todd Pletcher and jockeyed by Irad Ortiz Jr, I would have to agree with the morning line on this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt.

His biggest career win was in this year’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on April 9. Racing at another New York track this Saturday, he appears to be the class of the field.

Place Creative Minister

Stretching the odds a bit at 6-1, this Kentucky-bred colt caught my eye with his third-place finish in May’s Preakness Stakes as the second leg of the Triple Crown. With Early Voting and Epicenter sitting out this year’s Belmont Stakes, the son of Creative Cause has a clear path to finishing in the top two.

Trained by Kenneth McPeek and ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez, he will break from the favorable No. 5 post on Saturday. The longer distance of this race should play into his strength down the stretch.

Show: Rich Strike

I am not taking anything away from this year’s Kentucky Derby winner as an 80-1 longshot. This victory will remain one of the biggest upsets in the history of major graded stakes racing. However, I do not see lighting striking twice for this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt. Rich Strike should be a factor in this race given the size of the field but the longer distance should keep him no better than third in the final finishing order.

Trained by Eric Reed, the son of Keen Ice will break from the No. 4 post on Saturday at 7-2 odds on the morning line. The second-favorite in the field will be ridden by jockey Sonny Leon.

One to Watch

The lone filly in the field is Pletcher’s Nest at 8-1 odds. She will break from the No. 3 post with jockey Jose Ortiz. She is coming off an impressive second-place finish in this year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill.

 

CFL Week 1 "Best Bet" Picks

 The 2022 CFL regular season gets underway this week as the only game in town when it comes to betting on live football games. The two-time Grey Cup Champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers are looking to make a third title run this season as +300 favorites on the VegasInsider CFL futures board.

The Bombers appear to remain the team to beat with Zach Collaros leading the way at quarterback. He led the CFL in touchdown throws last season with 20 against six interceptions. He was second on the list in total passing yards with 3,185 on 243 completions.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are second-favorites to win this year's Grey Cup at +475 odds. They lost to Winnipeg in last year's West Division Final. Once again leading the way at quarterback is Cody Fajardo. He is coming off the best performance of his CFL career with 2,970 passing yards and 14 touchdown throws.

The top two teams in the East Division with +500 odds to win the 2022 CFL title are the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts. The next three teams on the list at +750 odds are the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks in the West and the Montreal Alouettes from the East.

Rounding out the CFL futures board are the West's British Columbia Lions at +950 and the East's Ottawa RedBlacks with the longest odds on the board at +1300.

WEEK 1 CFL Game of the Week

The featured matchup in Week 1 pits Hamilton on the road against Saskatchewan in a scheduled 7 p.m. (ET) start this Saturday night. The Roughriders are favored by 2.5 points at home with the total set at 47.5 points.

The current betting consensus at VegasInsider is leaning towards the OVER in this game but some strong head-to-head trends point to a lower score than expected. The total has stayed UNDER in six of the last seven meetings in Saskatchewan and it has also stayed UNDER in six of the last seven games between these two teams overall.

Each and every week of the 2022 CFL season I will be posting my "best bet" pick for all of the games. Below is a link to VegasInsider with my Week 1 plays:

CFL Weekly Free Picks, Predictions & Odds

Saturday's Best Bets at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs

 The following horse racing preview and picks have been reposted below via permission from ScoresandStats.com.

Saturday’s horse racing card at both Belmont Park in New York and Churchill Downs in Kentucky is filled with a number of exciting betting events. From sprints on the turf to full runs on the dirt, the betting action at both of this popular race tracks should remain hot all day long.

Starting the day off at Belmont, the featured race is the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes. Open to three-year old Thoroughbreds, this race on turf covers 1 1/8 miles in total distance. The total prize money for this year’s event has been set at $200,000. Horse Racing Nation has seven horses listed as entered.

Moving to the top race of the day at Churchill, the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes is a 1 1/16 miles race on turf open to Thoroughbreds four and older. There is also $200,000 in total prize up for grabs among the six confirmed entries in this race.

Below are my top three picks to finish in the money for each of these major graded events.

Saturday, June 4

Pennine Ridge Stakes – Belmont Park

Win: Emmanuel

My top choice to win this race finished third in this year’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 9 behind Zandon and Smile Happy. He will break from the No. 6 post on Saturday with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. leading the way. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of More Than Ready appears to be the class of Saturday’s lineup. He placed fourth in this year’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream in another strong field of contenders.

Place: Unanimous Consent

Trained by Chad Brown, this three-year old colt bred in Great Britain looked sharp in his recent victory in the ungraded Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct on April 23. He will start this race from the outside No. 7 post with Manuel Franco as his jockey. Sired by Almanzor, he has won the first three races of his early career.

Show: Napoleonic War

My choice for third in this race is also trained by Chad Brown. He will break from the No. 5 post on Saturday with jockey Flavien Prat on board. The son of War Front caught my eye with his recent victory at Belmont in a 1 1/16 Allowance race on turf in early May. He has now won two of his first three events this year.

Arlington Stakes – Churchill Downs

Win: Admission Office

This seven-year old veteran has not raced since fading to sixth in last year’s Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream Park. However, with the highest Horse Racing Nation in Saturday’s field at 6.37, he would be my top choice to win in his 2022 debut. Trained by Brian Lynch, breaking from the No. 1 post with veteran jockey John Velazquez adds even more value to this pick.

Place: Field Pass

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., the No. 5 horse would be my second choice to win. Coming off a third-place finish in this year’s ungraded Henry S. Clark Stakes at Laurel Park, this Maryland-bred five-year old horse has a long track record of success on the turf. The son of Lemon Drop Kid has placed in the money in three of his last five events.

Show: Gray’s Fable

Also trained by Brian Lynch, this seven-year old gelding will break from the No. 6 post on Saturday with Julien Leparoux as his jockey. The son of Gio Ponti is coming off a recent victory on May 5 in the ungraded Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs. He covered the mile run on turf in 1:36.22.

 

Betting Monday's Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita

 The following Gold Cup race preview and free trifecta pick is reposted via permission of ScoresandStats.com

Betting the Holiday Weekend Card at Santa Anita Park

The best in horse betting this Memorial Day holiday weekend is on the West Coast at Santa Anita Park. This Sunday’s racing lineup at Santa Anita is highlighted by the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes as one of three major graded stakes events on the live card.

The other two major betting events on Sunday’s card are Grade 3 Daytona Stakes and the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes. Both of these races will be run on the turf. The Daytona is a 6.5 furlong sprint for horses four and older. The Honeymoon covers 1 1/8 miles on turf and it is open to three-year old fillies.

Monday’s featured race is the annual Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes with a total prize purse of $400,000. Contested over 1 ¼ miles on the dirt at Santa Anita, a talented field of Thoroughbreds three and older is coming together for this race.

Complementing the Gold Cup Stakes on Monday’s card is the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile for some of the best turf racers three and older. Also on Monday’s card is the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on the turf for fillies and mares three and older.

As far as betting both days of racing at Santa Anita, I focused most of my attention on the projected field for this year’s Hollywood Gold Cup as the biggest betting event over the Memorial Day weekend. Horse Racing Nation has identified seven probable entries for Monday’s main event and the following three would be my picks for a winning trifecta play.

Monday, May 30

Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes – Santa Anita Park

Win: Stilleto Boy

Fresh off a victory in this year’s Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 30, this four-year old gelding should be the class of the field for this race as well. Trained by Steve Moger, he has now placed in the money in six of his last seven events. Four of the races were run at Santa Anita to provide even more home track advantage for Monday’s main event.

Sired by Shackleford, a few other career highlights include a third-place finish in this year’s Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in late January. His most memorable run last year was a second-place finish at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes.

Place: Royal Ship

Trainer Richard Mandella is looking to run Royal Ship in this year’s Gold Cup after posting an impressive victory at Santa Anita in the ungraded John Shear Mile on April 10. His winning time in that race was 1:36.07 while running past Triple Tap and Affable to get the win. This was the only race this year for the six-year old gelding.

While I am not sure he can get past Stilleto Boy on Monday given the added distance of this race, Royal Ship would be the next best horse in the projected field if he runs.

Show: Spielberg

Once a hot commodity as a promising three-year old, this four-year old Kentucky-bred colt continues to be competitive in any race he runs. He was third behind Stilleto Boy and Express Train in April’s Californian Stakes. He also finished just outside the money in this year’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in early March.

Trained by Sean McCarthy, the son of Union Rags has run the best races of his career at a slightly longer distance.

 

Betting Picks for Saturday's Preakness Stakes

 The following Preakness race preview with betting picks is reposted via permission of ScoresandStats.com

Free Trifecta Pick for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes

Horse bettors have had almost two weeks to get over the beating they took in this year’s Kentucky Derby on May 7. It was hard to win any kind of money in that race unless you handicapped an 80-1 longshot upsetting the field.

With Derby winner Rich Strike bowing out of this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, I am expecting a return to normal where the best three entries run true to form and finish in the money. With $1.5 million up for grabs in total price money for the second leg of the Triple Crown racing series, I have broken down the field of nine three-year old Thoroughbreds set to run on Saturday.

The Grade 1 Preakness Stakes will cover a total distance of 1 3/8 miles on the dirt track at Pimlico. With the post positions, jockeys and morning line odds all in place, the following three entries for Saturday’s main event would be my trifecta pick at the betting window or favorite online racebook.

Saturday, May 21

2022 Preakness Stakes - Pimlico Race Course

Win- Epicenter

This three-year old colt was my top pick to win the Kentucky Derby and he almost got it done as the favorite with the second-place finish behind Rich Strike. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he remains the strongest contender in the field of nine for this race and a value pick to win even at low odds.

The son of Not This Time will break from the No. 8 post as the clear 6-5 favorite on the morning line and jockey Joel Rosario will one again be leading the way. Counting the second place finish two weeks ago at Churchill Downs, Epicenter has placed first or second in each of his last six events going back to November of his juvenile campaign.

Place- Early Voting

Sitting out the Kentucky Derby, this three-year old Kentucky-bred colt will be fresh for this race. Sired by Gun Runner, he placed second in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 9 his last time out. That race was won by Mo Donegal. In his only other race this year, he won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at that same track in early February. Early Voting covered the 1 1/8 miles on the dirt track at Aqueduct in 1:55.90.

With jockey Jose Ortiz getting the call, he will break from the favorable No. 5 post in Saturday’s field of nine. Trained by Chad Brown, he has been opened at 7-2 odds to win on the Preakness Stakes morning line.

Show- Secret Oath

This three-year old filly caught my eye at Churchill Downs the day before the Kentucky Derby by winning this year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. She covered the 1 1/8 miles on dirt in 1:49.44 past Nest and Desert Dawn. This successful run followed a third-place finish against the colts in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 2.

In four races as a three-year old, Secret Oath has won three of those events. Sired by Arrogate, she is trained D. Wayne Lucas. Drawing the No. 4 post for Saturday with jockey Luis Saez aboard, she has been opened at 9-2 odds to win as the third choice on the board.