Padding Your Bankroll – Saturday July 25 from Belmont

Today’s stakes take us to two very different places.

At Belmont Park today on closing weekend, a field of eight three year old fillies will go 1 ¼ miles in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

Then we will head off to Canterbury Downs for the final two races of the Claiming Crown.

This is the 11th running of the Claiming Crown, which is sort of like the Breeders’ Cup for blue collar horses that have run for a claiming tag.

The six race series offers $600,000 in purses, a potential big payday for horses that just months ago were running for a claiming price as low as $7,500.

Belmont Park Race 9 Coaching Club American Oaks G1 (5:17 ET)

#2 Wynning Ride 8/1

#1 Livin Lovin 3/1

#7 Hightap 5/1

#8 Funny Mood 5/2

#2 Wynning Ride gets the call in a wide open race, and there really is no telling how good this filly could be as she is trying conventional dirt for the first time in her career. She was fourth last out after a wide trip in the Woodbine Oaks as the beaten favorite. The winner of that race was Milwaukee Appeal, who took on the boys north of the border in her next two starts and was beaten just a neck in the Queens Plate and a nose in the Prince of Wales. Two back our top pick ran a good second to Lady Lumberjack off a five month layoff, that filly running second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks in her next outing. Trainer Bob Baffert is always dangerous shipping into New York. The barn has hit at a 38% clip here over the past two years. We should catch a decent price on this filly.

#1 Livin Lovin was off a step slow in the Grade 1 Acorn last out when checked in traffic, came five wide around the far turn, bumped with a rival and finished up well down the middle of the track, beaten 2 ¾ lengths for the top spot. It was her first go off a seven month layoff. The sharp barn scratched her out of the Delaware Oaks and Del ‘Cap to go here. She has enough pedigree to get the distance and figures to move forward in her second start off the bench.

Wagering

#2 to win at 4/1 or better.

EX: 1,2 / 1,2,7,8

TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,7,8 / 1,2,6,7,8

Canterbury Downs Race 8 Claiming Crown Emerald 5:14 CT

#7 T Harry 12/1

#6 Gran Estreno 4/1

#3 Hard Top 10/1

#12 Spicey Dubai 12/1

#7 T Harry beat Alw-2 optional claimers last out at Delaware Park for the Walder barn, his third win in four starts since landing with the sharp outfit. The gelding shipped south in January and won back to back races before finishing fourth two back against Alw-2 foes. That race produced four next out winners. The winner of the race was Blues Street, who returned to win the Memorial Day Handicap at Mountaineer Park on May 25. Looks like we should catch a decent price here in this wide open race.

#6 Gran Estreno is a perfect 2 for 2 since the Stidham barn claimed this six year old for $20K, a win on turf against $35K claimers, then a victory against $50K foes on polytrack in a race taken off turf. This guy comes in here riding an overall four race win streak and is a Group 1 winner in his native Argentina. This guy has retained his form nicely despite getting claimed away from the Dutrow barn.

Wagering:

WIN: #1 to win at 9/2 or better.

EX: 6,7 / 3,6,7,12

TRI: 6,7 / 3,6,7,12 / 3,6,7,10,11,12

CBY Race 9 Claiming Crown Jewel 5:45 CT

#4 Fancy Runner 5/1

#6 Glamour Guy 7/2

#2 Furthest Land 5/2

#5 Antrim County 2/1

#4 Fancy Runner checked in an even third last out versus Alw-3 optional claimers in his first start for the Lake barn. The trainer took this guy for $50K two back out of a win against non winners of a race in six months. The six year old owns a solid pace profile throughout with good late pace numbers and looks capable of moving forward in his second start for the new barn.

#6 Glamour Guy overcame a tardy start to beat Alw-3 optional claimers last out at Monmouth Park off a 2 ½ month break. The effort was flattered when the third place finisher Pampered Sir returned to beat Alw-3 optional claimers in his next outing on July 4. He has won 3 of his last 4 starts thanks to a DQ three back. The lone loss in that span was two back in a stake at Oaklawn Park that produced three next out winners.

Wagering

WIN: #4 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 4,6 / 2,4,6

TRI: 4 / 2,5,6 / 2,5,6

Good luck padding your bankroll today!