Sat, 08/29/2015 - 11:56

DRF Bets GamePlan spot play: Smarty Jones Stakes

SOUPER COLOSSAL (#1, ML 3-1) is reaching his best form after getting off to a late start this year. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. adds blinkers, and Souper Colossal can upset Divining Rod in this prep for the Pennsylvania Derby, Saturday's Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx.

Sat, 08/29/2015 - 11:05

Positive ROI report: D'Amato solid in routes

Trainer Phil D’Amato saddles Rocko’s Wheel (#7, ML 10-1) in Saturday's third race at Del Mar, the one-mile El Cajon Stakes. Since Jan. 1, 2014, D’Amato is winning at a 25 percent clip in route races, for a return on investment of $2.52.

Sat, 08/29/2015 - 10:27

Crist: Travers Day cheat sheet

Below are my horse-by-horse takes on the 55 entrants in Saturday’s six Grade 1 stakes races at Saratoga (now 54 runners after the early scratch of La Verdad from the Ballerina). It would be a great lineup of high-quality racing even without the Triple Crown winner in the Travers.  The six Grade 1 races comprise Saturday’s pick six with a guaranteed pool of $250,000, and the last four (races 8-11) make up the late pick four, guaranteed at $1 million.

Sat, 08/29/2015 - 10:05

DRF Plus handicapping reports for Saturday, August 29

Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Saturday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.

DRF Bets GamePlan

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 17:47

Litfin: Pick three play at Saratoga for Saturday, Aug. 29

I would love to make a play on the $1 million guaranteed pick four, but it’s very tough to get past Flintshire and American Pharoah in the last two legs.

Instead, we’ll take a crack at the all-seven furlong pick three comprising the Ballerina (7th), King’s Bishop (8th) and Forego (9th), all of which are competitive on paper.

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 17:29

Free: How I'd play Del Mar for Sunday, Aug. 30

A low-odds overlay in race 6, a longshot in race 7, and a middle-price overlay in race 10 are the “how-to-play” focal points Sunday at Del Mar.

Race 6

LUCKY STUDENT set a blazing pace and tired in her recent comeback. That race was won by a deep closer who happens to be a stablemate of Lucky Student. Second start back, Lucky Student drops one level to $25k claiming and should be gone up front.

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 15:34

Free: Del Mar pick four play for Saturday, Aug. 29

DEL MAR, Calif. – A 50-cent pick four ending with a longshot single is the play Saturday at Del Mar. The wager on races 7-10 is structured using TicketMaker, and the total cost is $54. The bet allows for one “miss” in the early races, trying to “get live” to the single.

Race 7

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 12:20

Hammersly: How I'd play Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 29

Despite 10 races carded for the seaside Saturday, options seem limited with a few short fields and four races (2, 4, 8, and 10) loaded with firsters. At least one race, however, with a big, contentious field, provides an opportunity, particularly for trifectas/superfectas.

Race 5

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 11:30

Positive ROI report: Brnjas successful with first-time turf starters

Trainer Ashlee Brnjas saddles Sleepy P (#5, ML 3-1) in Friday's fourth race at Woodbine, a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight race on turf. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Brnjas is winning at a 46 percent clip with first-time turf starters, for a return on investment of $5.34.

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 10:30

Key Race report: Tanner's Popsicle returns in optional claimer

Tanner's Popsicle (#5, ML 5-2) returns in Friday's seventh race at Canterbury Park, a 5 1/2-furlong optional claimer. It will be his first start since finishing second by seven lengths in an optional claimer July 2 at Canterbury Park. The first- and third-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.