DerbyJackpot’s Best Bets of the Weekend for Sept. 6-7
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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)
Belmont, Race 10, 5:49 p.m. ET
#9 Lil' Zilla: This filly by Noonmark looks well spotted to break her maiden (win her first race) in her fifth career try. After a disappointing effort on the grass at Saratoga, her connections make two key changes that should work to Lil’ Zilla’s advantage. She adds blinkers to keep her more focused late in the game and they drop her back in for a tag (claiming price). She faced some salty company in her previous race, but Lil’ Zilla was beaten just a length at this $40,000 state-bred maiden claiming level two races back at Belmont.
Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)
Belmont, Race 4, 2:38 p.m. ET
#2 Karakorum Legend: The 8-year-old gelding has still got some kick and gets to dance on his favorite turf course at Belmont, where he’s hit the board (finished first, second or third) in 14-of-17 lifetime starts. He should also enjoy the cutback to 7 furlongs and the drop in to this $25,000 claiming level.
#4 Animal Style: His only race at Belmont was a good one, back in May. He was beaten by just a neck when in against tougher in that one. Added ground in this spot should suit him.
#6 Beeliner: Looking to add some value with this bomb, listed at 20-1 on the morning line. He gets a jockey upgrade to Rajiv Maragh, who was pretty hot all summer. Maragh also has scored twice from five mounts for the trainer this year. The horse might be able to flash some speed from the gate, which would benefit him if the pace up front is as slow as expected.
#7 Lay It Down: He would probably be the pick to win the race. The Noble Causeway gelding has tired late in his last few, but those were going a route of ground. The cutback to 7 furlongs will be much more to his liking, especially if he can get out to a loose lead early. Trainer Abigail Adsit had a nice spring at Belmont and looks to pick up where she left off. She scores at a nice 33% clip going route to sprint, albeit from a fairly short sample size.
Sunday
Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)
Belmont, Race 7, 4:13 p.m. ET
#6 Raglin River: Summer in Saratoga wasn’t all it was cracked up to be for this 5-year-old, who could finish no better than sixth in two starts at the Spa. Thankfully, that means we’re going to get a lot more value betting him in this spot, which has him returning to the Belmont turf, where he broke his maiden last October. He also gets Rajiv Maragh, who piloted that maiden victory last year, back aboard. He should get a nice pace setup with several speedsters entered. Expect him to fly late at a nice price.
Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)
Belmont, Race 9, 5:17 p.m. ET
#4 Coolusive: This horse has been begging for more distance. Not sure 7 furlongs will do the trick, but expect an improved run here. In fact, I would toss the last at Parx Racing and assume he’ll produce the kind of race that’s seen him hit the board in 4-of-6 starts at Belmont. He might need some pace up front if he’s legitimately going to challenge for the win.
#5 Dyker Beach: Top jockey Javier Castellano returns after guiding this one to victory last out. Not much to knock here, but he's never won in four tries on the main track at Belmont. He missed by just a neck at this distance two races back; tough to not use him on your tickets.
#6 Waco: This 3-year-old by Medaglia d'Oro looks like he might be the controlling speed. He comes off of back-to-back impressive races at Saratoga, including the last-out effort that saw him beaten just 1 ½ lengths against similar competition. If they let him go on the lead, he’s going to be tough to catch.