Saturday horse racing Best Bets
We’re in the dog days of summer, but Team Tuley continues to look for value at tracks from coast to coast.
Last Saturday, we did just that as our team cashed winning tickets in Florida, Ohio and California. I gave out Lightning Tones in Gulfstream’s 8th race (the Carry Back Stakes) at 15-1 and he went off at 28-1 and closed in the stretch as we predicted and paid a whopping $58.40 to Win and $14.40 to Place. Rampart race and sportsbook manager Duane Colucci followed that up by completing a $172.55 Pick 5 ticket at Los Alamitos and then Ed Sehon (aka Mr. Ed) had Two Phil’s ($3.40) on top in the Ohio Derby.
We’re all back this Saturday – along with semi-regular John Lauro – with plays at Belmont Park in New York; Delaware Park in, well, Delaware; Gulfstream Park in Florida (you know I have to be looking there again); and Ellis Park in Kentucky.
Good luck today (and every day!).
Belmont Race No. 4 (2:38 p.m. ET/11:38 a.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes #6 Daunt (5-2 morning line). “Super-consistent son of Nyquist stretches out to 1 1/4 miles on turf in deep optional claiming event for veteran trainer Bobby Ribaudo. Javier Castellano retains mount following two near-misses. Wager: Win and box in Exactas with 2 and 4.”
Ellis Race No. 5 (2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes #10 Not So Close (8-1 morning line). “Trainer Norm Casse sends out speedy daughter of Empire Maker for turf debut. I’m willing to forgive last as she picks up accomplished rider Florent Geroux while losing the blinkers. Contrary to filly’s name, I expect her to be closest to wire when winner’s picture is taken. Wager: Win and Place.”
Ellis Race No. 6 (3:18 p.m. ET/12:18 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes money-machine #5 Marsalis (6-1 morning line) in the upgraded $225,000 Kelly’s Landing Stakes. “Late-blooming 4-year-old son of Curlin has never finished worse than second in five tries for top trainer Steve Asmussen. Joel Rosario knows this guy well and climbs back aboard for first stakes-company encounter. Wager: Win and box him in Exactas with 2 and 3.”
Delaware Race No. 8 (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #3 Opus Forty Two (15-1 morning line) in the Grade 3, $300,000 Delaware Oaks. “This 3-year-old filly is being ignored after fading in last two races, but her prior form fits here. Trainer Arnaud Delacour hits at 31% when taking blinkers off and Opus Forty Two should be able to sit right off the pace and have a big chance turning for home at a price. Wager: Win and Place.”
Belmont Races Nos. 7-10 (4:13 p.m. ET/1:13 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes a $0.50 Pick 4 (cost $36)
Race 7: 1,3
Race 8: 2,5,9
Race 9: 1,3,5
Race 10: 1,2,4,7
Duane Colucci likes a $0.50 Pick 4 (cost $60)
Race 7: 1,2,3,6
Race 8: 2,5,6,11,12
Race 9: 1,5,7
Race 10: 2,7
Ellis Races Nos. 8-11 (4:22 p.m. ET/1:22 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes a $.50 Pick 4 (cost $54)
Race 8: 5,6
Race 9: 3,6,8
Race 10: 1,2,4,5,6,8
Race 11: 3,5,7
Duane Colucci likes a $.50 Pick 4 (cost $50)
Race 8: ALL (1,5,6)
Race 9: 3,4,8
Race 10: 2,5,6
Race 11: 2,3,5
Belmont Race No. 8 (4:47 p.m. ET/1:47 p.m. PT)
Duane Colucci likes #2 Timbuktu (7-2 morning line). “Dutrow takes over this turf runner from Shuman, switching to jockey Jose Ortiz, who should be able to navigate a good trip drawing inside his major competitors. Bet 2 to Win and key 2 over 5,6,11,12 in Exactas, Trifectas and reverse.”
Belmont Race No. 9 (5:19 p.m. ET/2:19 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #4 Twisted Ride (6-1 morning line) in the Grade 2, $250,000 John A. Nerud Stakes. “This 4-year-old gelding just missed in Grade 3 Runhappy at 9-1 back in May after winning his prior four races at lower levels. He should be right off the pace with jockey Andy Hernandez, who is a solid 25% (7-for-28) when riding for trainer Michael Moore. Wager: Win and Place.”
Ellis Race No. 10 (5:26 p.m. ET/2:26 p.m. PT)
John Lauro likes #1 Proxy (4-1 morning line) in the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes. “I think we have a fair price on Proxy at 4-1 with Joel Rosario coming off a nice win and I think he’ll be able to repeat that. I know there’s serious competition lined up for him, but he gets the perfect set-up from the rail. Wager: Win and Daily Double on 1 with 5 in the finale.”
Gulfstream Race No. 10 (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #8 Big and Classy (6-1 morning line) in the Grade 3, $100,000 Smile Sprint Stakes. “This 4-year-old gelding is on a five-race winning streak. We realize he’s stepping up in class, but we think he can handle it with the switch to the dirt as he’s 7-for-16 on this track and 1-for-2 at the 6-furlong distance. Trainer Bobby Dibona is also 47% when moving horses from all-weather track to dirt, plus 45% when using jockey Leonel Reyes. Wager: Win and Place.”
Ellis Race No. 11 (5:58 p.m. ET/2:58 p.m. PT)
John Lauro likes #5 Xigera (2-1 morning line) in the ungraded $225,000 Tepin Stakes. “This 3-year-old filly is rounding back into form and holds class edge in this ungraded stakes race.”