BetAmerica’s Best Bets of the Weekend for Aug. 15-16
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Arlington Park photo by Eclipse Sportswire
America’s Best Racing and BetAmerica team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend in a regular feature blog that will run on Fridays.
Each week, one of our crack handicappers - Jose Contreras, Dan Tordjman, Victoria Garofalo, Mike Johnson or Vince Mathews – will provide at least one “Best Bet” of the weekend, ideal for a win bet. The post also will include some combination of additional bets for the weekend.
For some posts, our handicappers will try to identify a longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet.
Our handicappers also will look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.
Place your bets at BetAmerica, which prides itself on outstanding customer service combined with the safety and security of wagering with a reputable advance-deposit wagering platform. Place your bets and you can walk away with some extra cash in your pocket.
Saturday, Aug. 15
BEST BET/WIN BET
Saratoga Race Course, Race 4, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes, 2:46 p.m. ET
#4 Decked Out: With the best speed numbers and most racing experience in the field, I’m going with Decked Out, one of seven entered for the race, to win the Adirondack for trainer Keith Desormeaux and jockey Junior Alvarado. This filly has finished in the money in all three of her lifetime starts and, after a third-place finish in Saratoga's opening day Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes, is only one of two horses who has competed on this track.
EXACTA BOX
Arlington Park, Race 9, $700,000 Beverly D. Stakes, 6:05 p.m. ET
#10 Secret Gesture: Finishing in the money in 11 of 14 lifetime starts, most of which came against elite competition at distances similar to the 1 3/16 miles of the Beverly D., Secret Gesture, who ran fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (beaten by only two lengths), has the experience and running style to make her a serious contender.
#8 Euro Charline: Defending Beverly D. winner Euro Charline, this year’s morning-line favorite, won at 10.80-to-1 odds last year and, although she won’t pay nearly the same, I’m hoping she can bring home another win. With Jose Lezcano at the reigns, this duo looks to be the first to have back-to-back victories in the Beverly D. Stakes. Since racing in last year’s edition she ran fourth against the boys in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on the Dubai WOrld Cup card and, most recently, finished second in Newmarket's Group 1 Falmouth Stakes.
Sunday, Aug. 16
EXACTA BOX
Saratoga Race Course, Race 9, $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes, 5:29 p.m. ET
#5 Saratoga Mischief: On big days and in big races I ALWAYS go with the big trainers and jockeys, and since Saratoga has been trainer Todd Pletcher’s and jockey John Velazquez’s world, I’m banking on a 25-percent-winning combination. Pletcher sends Saratoga Mischief out to face five others in this year’s 110th running of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes. One-for-one at Saratoga, Saratoga Mischief won by a neck in his career debut on July 25 and only looks to improve from there.
#1 Exaggerator: Shipping in from California, Exaggerator proved that he has the grit to win after rallying from seventh and running four wide into the stretch for a nose victory last time out in a maiden race. Let’s hope he took to traveling and shows us what kind of horse he is.
DAILY DOUBLE
Instead of placing a one-race bet I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest a Race 9-10 Daily Double, taking my picks from above into the next race.
Saratoga Race Course, Race 9, 5:29 p.m. ET and Race 10, 6:03 p.m. ET
Only two of these fillies have ever raced before and neither hit the board in their debut. This race is wide open and anything could happen. My top three are #3 Grey Stark, #7 Liberty Kitten and #9 Claire's Joy – based on their jockey-trainer win percentages. If that’s too silly of a handicapping angle for you, the ALL button can be a big help as long as we can root a longshot home. These races have shown some nice payouts lately, so don’t miss out! Remember, if a favorite wins the 10th race and we still hit the double it’s still a celebration.
The bet? Race 9 Saratoga Special contenders #1 Exaggerator and # 5 Saratoga Mischief WITH ALL in Race 10. (1,5 with ALL)
And may the horse be with you!