Saratoga: Whitney top play

Saratoga Race 10

4 - Frosted

The Grade I Whitney handicap is all Frosted. The four-year-old colt has turned into something really special. He has returned with three victories by a combined 21 lengths since competing in the Triple Crown last year, including a performance in the Met Mile (biggest winning margin in race history) last time out that jumps off the page. Regular rider Joel Rosario knows the colt and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has his horse working perfectly (5F 1:00 breeze) in preparation for this event. Frosted has the top speed figures in the Whitney field and is simply too much for these runners to handle.

Del Mar: Best Bet 8/3

Del Mar Race 2

4 - Gloryzapper

This is a two horse race between favorites Vale Dori and Gloryzapper. The difference is Gloryzapper enters as the active horse, racing in July, while Vale Dori hasn't run since March. The Philip D'Amato trained filly ran her career best performance last time out, producing the top speed figure in the field. Gloryzapper should not only get first run today, but also improve off that run, making her third start off a layoff. Jockey Edwin Maldonado knows this filly and should be able to defeat the main rival Vale Dori with the expected continued improvement over the route of ground. 

Del Mar: Top Plays 7/23

Del Mar Race 1

6 - Papa Papa Papa

This maiden has turned the corner. Papa Papa Papa showed blazing speed last time out (:21 & :44) for the first time in his career and set the pace to only lose by a half-length. Trainer Mark Glatt saw the improvement and now shows huge confidence stepping his gelding back up in class to the maiden special weight ranks. Jockey change to Flavien Prat adds to the intrigue and the quickest 3-year-old in the field is the best bet on Saturday's card. 

Race 7

9 - Mokat 

There is a lot of speed signed on in this Grade II event. The pace favors Mokat as he has proven himself best when able to race off the pace. Look for jockey Kent D. to make one winning run.

Race 9

6 - California Chrome 

No one is beating Chrome in California. The champion has been burning up the track for his return and his numbers and class speak for themselves. Dortmund is a solid runner, but California Chrome is just too good. 

Del Mar: Best Bet 7/21

Del Mar Race 5

3 - Warm Endowment  

This three-year-old filly has really turned the corner since running on the turf, improving her speed figures by 20+ points. Sired by top turf sire Unusual Heat, her improvement is no surprise. Warm Endowment doesn't face any monsters here in this maiden special weight event and love the fact that jockey Flavien Prat sees fit to ride. This filly has been close before, finishing second twice, tops in the field. Look for her to continue to improve and find the winner's circle today.

Del Mar: Best Bet 7/17

Del Mar Race 1

2 - Brainspin  

Sunday's first race is a short field of six maiden runners and Brainspin is the fastest. This 3-year-old filly ran a solid third place finish first time out, and earned the quickest speed figure of the field this year. She grabbed the lead after breaking slowly from the gate, and still held on for a clear third. Fillies often show improvement in their second career start. That improvement should put her over the top for trainer John Sadler. Jockey Santiago Gonzalez has also had the hot hand opening weekend and that will continue to start Sunday.  

Del Mar Best Bet 7/16

Del Mar Race 6

5 - Rinse and Repeat

This is a very competitive 2 y/o maiden race and experience is key. Rise and Repeat has some of the most experience in the field of youngsters, including a third place finish in a stakes race last time out, and has the highest speed figures of the field. The powerful connections of trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey Mario Guiterrez always click, with more than  20% winners, and it's not often a stakes placed colt gets to take on a field of maidens again. Rinse and Repeat is class and is the best bet on Saturday's card. 

Del Mar Opening Day Top Plays

Del Mar Race 4

3 - My Samurai Warrior

The hot horse is key in a claiming race and this hard knocking 7-year-old has found his niche again with these mid-level claimers. The gelding is fresh off a stellar victory that produced the best last race speed figure in the field that should translate into another win today. Trainer Mark Glatt saw fit to claim Warrior for $16K and it's always a positive to see a move up the class level. Jockey Santiago Gonzalez enters back on the remount and the same team should make it back-to-back victories. 

Del Mar Race 6

12 - Song for Jade 

This race is about as cheap as the Southern California circuit gets, $20K maiden claiming race, but we find another play of the day with Song for Jade. This 3-year-old filly has speed to burn that sets up perfectly in a short 5.5F race. She cleared the field last time out to only lose by a neck and proved she runs better without the blinkers, as she produced her best effort when they were removed. Again jockey Santiago Gonzalez gets the call and should simply out run this lower level field to the winner's circle at a decent price. 

Belmont Oaks: Best Bet

Belmont Park Race 10

12 - Catch a Glimpse

The morning line favorite is deserving of the title. She has never been this far, but she also has never been this good. Catch a Glimpse, 3-year-old filly, enters winner of 7 straight races, including an impressive wire-to-wire victory last time out in the Penn Mile against the Boys, and earning her highest lifetime speed figure. The hottest filly in the race even catches a field today void of early speed, which spells doom for the rest of the runners. The 3-year-old has the hot streak, the highest speed figures, and a favorable race flow in this spot. She is truly the best bet. Regular rider Florent Geroux should be able to cruise on the lead and take the $1.5 million Belmont Oaks Invitational gate to wire.

Santa Anita: Best Bet 7/3

Santa Anita Race 7

2 - Gone With It

Usually an 11-time maiden is not a top play of the day, but this is an unusual race with a 4 and 5-year-old making their debuts. Once eliminating those two for the top spot Gone With It emerges as the clear choice. The 3-year-old is the most consistent runner in the field, 8 in the money finishes out of those 11 starts, with the highest speed figures in the field. Regular rider Tyler Baze sticks and all of those positives, along with an expected pace pressing trip, Gone With It should finally get out of the madien ranks. 

Santa Anita: Best Bet 7/2

Santa Anita Race 3

5 - Yodelsong 

Yodelsong brings the top speed figure of the field to the table, two starts back at Los Alamitos, and should love the added furlong today at the distance of 7F. This 3-year-old filly fits on class and more importantly should get a great trip sitting off the pace in this small field, which is key at the tricky distance. Look for Yodelsong, under new rider Santiago Gonzalez, make one move around the turn and kick clear late to an easy victory at a nice price.