DerbyJackpot’s Best Bets of the Weekend for Aug. 30-31
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America’s Best Racing and DerbyJackpot 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 or Cory Moelis – will provide at least one “Best Bet” of the weekend, ideal for a win bet (Monkey Bet on DerbyJackpot).
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 (a top-three finish or “The Granny” on DerbyJackpot).
Our handicappers also will look for strong exacta plays for the weekend (a Gonzo Bet on DerbyJackpot) or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity to bet a trifecta (The Fiddy on DerbyJackpot) or superfecta (The Dime Bet on DerbyJackpot).
Place your bets at DerbyJackpot. Races open for betting about five minutes before post time. It’s fun, it’s easy, and you can walk away with some extra cash in your pocket.
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This Weekend’s Bets
Saturday
Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)
Saratoga, Race 2, 1:33 p.m. ET
#6 Gold Shield: Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his Grade 1 winning dam, Dream Supreme, (the late George Steinbrenner’s first Grade 1 winner) this Lane’s End Racing and Kinsman Stable colt was purchased for $1-million at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. This 7-furlong maiden special weight race looks to be the perfect fit for this 2-year-old to make his racing debut, not to mention his workouts have been impressive. When jockey Joel Rosario teams up with trainer Shug McGaughey they win 33% of the time — a stat like that never hurts.
Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)
Saratoga, Race 10, 6:14 p.m. ET – FOREGO STAKES
#8 Clearly Now: Coming off a career-best in the Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes back in July, Clearly Now has finished in the money in all seven of his 7-furlong races (three of which were graded stakes victories). After passing on the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap to wait for this ideal race, I truly believe it’s a perfect spot for Clearly Now and jockey Jose Lezcano.
#9 Weekend Hideaway: He ran a nice race in the John Morrissey Stakes and is moving up in class here. He aims to be the third New York-bred to win a Grade 1 sprint this meet. He loves this track - winning 3-of-4 Saratoga starts and placing in the other. I think he’s got a good shot, and if anyone can get him to be in the exacta it will be white-hot jockey Javier Castellano.
Sunday
Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)
Saratoga, Race 9 5:15 p.m. ET
#8 Gombey Dancer: While Gombey Dancer hasn’t won at the Spa (yet!), he has shown that he's a horse for the course — finishing second in three of his four Saratoga starts. I’m hoping he finds the winner’s circle in this race.
#9 Gentrify: After being carried wide around the turn in his last start, Gentrify won by a head for his first career victory. Looks like a high-probability repeat winner.
Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)
Saratoga, Race 10 5:47 p.m. ET – SPINAWAY STAKES
Durkin’s Last Call: This race will be bittersweet no matter who wins because it will be Tom Durkin’s last race call. Lucky for him, it looks to be a good race with nine promising 2-year-old fillies. After the race, there will be a ceremony for the beloved track announcer, so if you’re at the Spa be sure to stay until the end!