Santa Anita: Oct. 1 Best Bet

Santa Anita Race 6

4 - My Boo

This Maiden Special Weight field is not the toughest group of maidens, but My Boo is clearly the top choice. The 2-year-old colt showed great promise with a strong closing kick to finish second in his debut run at Del Mar. That effort produced one of the top speed figures in the field and horses often improve in their second start. Sired by multiple Grade I winner Ghostzapper the pedigree is also there. Jockey Joe Talamo stays, for trainer Gary Sherlock, and he should be able to work a perfect trip today sitting right off the pace. My Boo is the best bet on Sunday's card at Santa Anita. 

Awesome Again Stakes Best Bet

Santa Anita Race 10

6 - Mubtaahij

Arrogate and Gun Runner are not here today and that's good news for Mubtaahij. The 5-year-old graded stakes winner enters the Awesome Again after finishing fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March and luckily gets a chance to escape those champion runners in this event. There is class in this Grade I but not enough to match the competition faced by the Irish bred that has also included American Pharoah and California Chrome. Mubtaahij should enjoy the class relief and being the fresh face in the field for trainer Bob Baffert. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke has also held a hot hand of late in these key races. Mubtaahij looks like he can handle this field based on his class and solid speed figures already produced against some of the best horses in the world. Look for Baffert to return to the Winner's Circle with Mubtaahij on Saturday.  

Santa Anita: Opening Day Play

Santa Anita Race 8

1 - Major Cabbie

Horse racing returns to the Great Race Place and we find huge value on this 2-year-old colt making just his second career start. Major Cabbie did not show much in his debut, away slow from the gate, but pedigree wise says he should love the added distance today. A $260,000 purchase says the connections know what they have and no class drop from the Maiden Special Weight ranks is also very encouraging. Trainer Dan Hendricks has solid numbers (30 percent) with horses making their second start and jockey Drayden Van Dyke stays. The Into Mischief colt has the quickest posted 6F workout of 1:11 in the field on Sept. 20 and that should translate into showing a lot more speed on the stretch out. Major Cabbie is the best bet on Santa Anita's Opening Day card at a very nice price. 

Mabee Stakes Best Bet

Del Mar Race 9

4 - Cambodia 

No one in the John C. Mabee Stakes is as hot as this 5-year-old mare. Cambodia enters fresh off a gutsy victory in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap, over this same turf course, that produced her top career speed figure. This number was not only her best but one of the top performances of her challengers today. The Thomas Proctor trained mare has not finished worse than third since the end of 2015 and appears to be getting stronger. Cambodia is bred for the turf and running long with War Front in her family tree; all of her career victories have come routing on the grass. Regular rider Drayden Van Dyke returns to the saddle and he should get the perfect trip. Look for Van Dyke to sit behind the early pacesetters and get first run on the closers when turning for home. Cambodia has the proven class, numbers and pedigree that makes her the best best in the John C. Mabee. 

Del Mar Mile Top price Play

Del Mar Race 8

5 - Blackjackcat

This 4-year-old gelding has really turned the corner with back-to-back hard fought victories and now moves up the class ladder. Blackjackcat is the hot horse in the field and that cannot be underestimated - even defeating one of today's favorites Vyjack last time out in the Wickerr Stakes. Trainer Mark Glatt shows a ton of confidence moving his horse from the Claiming ranks to this Grade II event since July. Blackjackcat doesn't have the highest speed figures in the field, but will make up for it with a perfect trip under jockey Kent Desormeaux. Look for the 4-year-old to sit behind Midnight Storm, make a move around the final turn, and continue this hot streak with another victory as the hot horse in the field. 

Whitney Stakes Best bet

Saratoga Race 9

6 - Gun Runner

This 4-year-old has turned himself into one of the top runners in North America, finishing in the exacta six straight races and firing triple-digit numbers in all of them. Gun Runner brings the top class, speed and figures with him here and appears just too much for this field to handle. Trainer Steven Asmussen has given his colt some time off since his romp in the Foster back in June and enters the Whitney fresh with a number of sharp breezes - including a 5F 1:00 workout on July 23. Regular rider Florent Geroux is back aboard for this Grade I event and Gun Runner will be a short price but an easy winner Saturday afternoon. 

Del Mar: Best Bet July 29

Del Mar Race 9

4 - Ransom the Moon

Ransom the Moon is stepping up in class today and connections of trainer Philip D'Amato and jockey Flavien Prat mean business with such a move. Moon has been in the exacta five straight, including running one of the quickest 6.5 furlong victories in the Kona Gold Stakes. Prat has been aboard for these runs and holds the hot hand to take advantage of champion Drefong while he is returning at a very short price. Can't ever underestimate a horse rolling at a nice price and on the way up with top connections. 

Del Mar: Best Bet July 22

Del Mar Race 8

10 - Girl Downstairs

Del Mar is about the connections and jockey Corey Nakatani on the turf at the seaside oval is as good as it gets, especially with a full field of 13 runners. Nakatani got a chance to know her last time out as she enters this race off a solid second place finish in a starter handicap and now finds herself dropping into the Allowance ranks. Trainer Ron Ellis has some solid works in tow and this mare brings top numbers, top connections and most importantly a solid winning trip with a top turf rider. 

Del Mar: Opening day best bet

Del Mar Race 1

4 - Our Nation

We are kicking off the meet in the winner's circle with Our Nation and top rider Flavien Pratt. Our Nation drops in price and is sitting on a win. Trainer Vladimir Cerin freshened his speed with a sprint last time out and his quick tactical speed should be up front and on display today. Pratt returns for the mount and Our Nation holds the class, connections and speed that will start the meet in first. 

Belmont Stakes Top Play

Belmont Race 11

7 - Irish War Cry

Without a Triple Crown on the line today Irish War Cry returns to the top of our contenders to take the final leg. As stated before, the son of Curlin has a top pedigree for the route of ground and the perfect amount of speed to get a solid trip over the 1 1/2 mile distance. Irish War Cry took off the Preakness to return full strength for his New York try and has solid works since that loss. Love the fact that not a lot of speed is signed on today, which means expect Irish War Cry to get brave on the lead under now regular rider Rajiv Maragh.