Kentucky Derby ‘23 Best Bet

Churchill Downs — Race 12

#3 Two Phil’s

We are going with a longshot in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Two Phil’s enters this race with the best speed figure of the field in their last start along with the best pedigree to get the 1 1/4 mile trip. You don’t see many trip notes saying, “cleared with authority” but that is what Phil has in his last race. Look for Phil’s to sit behind the speed and power home down the stretch as he enters this race on an upswing that should continue Saturday at a very nice price under regular rider Jareth Loveberry.

Kentucky Oaks ‘23 Best Bet

Churchill Downs — Race 11

#3 Gambling Girl

We are going with a closer in this year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Gambling Girl should be rolling down the stretch with what looks like a good amount of pace signed up in this large field. Girl doesn’t have the highest speed figures but she appears to have the best closing kick and Irad Ortiz knows her well. We’ll not see Ortiz and trainer Todd Pletcher at this large of a price which adds to the appeal. Pace makes the race and that’s what we are going with here. Girl should also get the jump on fellow closer (and favorite) Wet Paint at a much better price.

Kentucky Derby week: Thursday Best Bet

Churchill Downs — Race 2

#3 Academic Honor

This is a two-horse race between Academic Honor and #4 Scarlet Stripe with Honor winning the battle. This 4-year-old filly is not without health issues with two long layoffs in just three career starts but she enters without a layoff here off a solid third-place finish at this level. Honor should improved off that effort, an effort that produced a solid speed figure, and put it together for the win. With A.P. Indy in her bloodlines the distance is not a problem and love the fact that Hernandez stays aboard for what should be a winning ride.

kentucky Derby week: Wednesday Best Bet

Churchill Downs — Race 4

#8 Gloria’s Princess

Look for this filly to improve second-time out, especially after a great debut run. It’s tough to win first-time out going long but this 3-year-old filly ran a great 2nd going 1 mile on turf nonetheless. Her speed figure is already tops in the field so with the expected improvement it’s lights out. Add solid connections with jockey Luis Saez and speed and we’ll meet in the winner’s circle.

Kentucky Derby week: Tuesday Best Bet

Churchill Downs — Race 3

#3 Electric Sense

Love the way this race should shape up for this 3-year-old filly shipping in from Fairgrounds. She already sports some of the best speed figures in the field which should translate into her pushing the pace without a lot of others to worry about. Velazquez at the helm is more than capable on a filly that also has the best distance pedigree for the 6 furlongs. Let’s start Kentucky Derby week off with a solid winner at a nice price. .

Keeneland Opening Day: Oct. 7

Keeneland — Race 8

#3 Delight

Looks like we have a solid young horse who is rounding herself into form and is bred to get this distance and turf. This filly by Medaglia d’Oro should love the turf and the connections believe that too with the aggressive move from a maiden victory at Delaware Park to a Grade 2 at Keeneland. She already brings some of the best numbers in the field and her light race record means she can only improve from here. Jockey Luis Saez is one of the best in the country and we’ll be able to still get a decent price on Delight on Friday for this victory.

Del Mar Opening Weekend: Sunday, July 24

Del Mar — Race 8

#3 Heywoods Beach

Take the winner with some value in the Grade 2 Cougar with Heywoods Beach. The 5-year-old should be ready to go in start No. 2 this year after returning a solid number in a Grade 1 event at Santa Anita on May 30. Trainer John Sadler has excellent numbers in these types of situations and with all eyes on favorite Tizamagician (who hasn’t run since November 2021), Heywoods Beach should get us a much better price. He already has some of the field’s best speed figures that should only get better today in this second start along with a slight drop in class and jockey Ramon Vazquez taking the call.

Del Mar Opening Weekend: Saturday, July 23

Del Mar — Race 5

#5 Stayincotai

Trainer Peter Eurton does not have strong numbers with international runners but this Irish-bred colt should enjoy a solid off-the-pace run today at a nice price. Stayincotai is making just his third career start but already brings some of top numbers in the field, which means they should only go up in this start. There is a lot of pace signed on here today and love jockey Joe Bravo on the turf, especially from off-the-pace. Look for Bravo to be making moves down the lane with this 3-year-old colt who also just happens to have some of the top turf numbers in the field pedigree-wise.

Belmont Stakes 2022 Best Bet

Belmont — Race 11

#6 Mo Donegal

Trainer Todd Pletcher knows how to bring a horse into the Belmont after running in the Derby and Mo Donegal has a great running style for the grueling 1.5 mile distance. The 3-year-old should get pace to run at while sitting mid-pack under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. where he should be a lot closer to the front than when stuck on the rail during the Derby. Mo Donegal enters on an upward trend, with solid numbers and will be making his third start off a layoff (often a horse’s best). Love the pedigree to go long with Uncle Moe and Indian Charlie in his bloodlines. Mo Donegal pretty much checks all the boxes for this year’s Belmont and is our best bet.

Preakness Stakes 2022 Best Bet

Pimlico — Race 13

#5 Early Voting

We are going with a fresh face in this year’s Preakness with Early Voting. Epicenter is the deserving favorite but it’s never easy to come right back just two weeks after such an effort. Early Voting is trained by Chad Brown and has a very similar profile to Brown’s previous Preakness victor in 2017: Cloud Computing. Early Voting has been getting better and better in each of his starts and enters Saturday’s race fresh thanks to his connections passing on the Derby. Early Voting has a solid pedigree with Gun Runner is his bloodlines. So, going this distance is not a worry. The 3-year-old should continue to improve in career start No. 4, sit a great trip being near the leaders (on a speed-favoring course), and that one more move up looks to be enough to win this year’s race.