Racebook Betting – Saratoga’s 8th on Friday, the John Call Stakes, is Full of Overlay Potential

Horseplayers can’t go wrong picking any horse to win Saratoga’s 8th, the John Call Stakes, on Friday.  When it comes to racebook betting, it doesn’t get any better than the John Call Stakes where the favorite on the morning line is listed at 4/1.

I’m not ready to blindly bet the favorite although at 4/1.  4/1 horse betting odds on the favorite means that there are many more possible horses to bet in the John Call Stakes on Friday.

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Saratoga calls for clear skies and a muggy, hot 80 degrees.

Saratoga Racecourse – Friday

Where:  Saratoga Racecourse – Race 8
When:  August 6th, 2010 at 4:56 pm EST
TV:  HRTV and TVG

John’s Call Stakes

Purse $70,000. For Four-Year-Olds And Upward Which Have Not Won A Graded Sweepstake In 2010.

1 5/8th over the turf

3-Solitaire – - 5/1 morning line odds

Winning at 1 5/8th, which is longer than 1 ½ miles, requires a horse to break well and relax close to the lead.  The horse that figures to do that the best is Solitaire who, unlike likely pacesetter Gangbusters, has proven the ability to run close to the pace over long distances.  Solitaire almost upset the very good Spice Route in his last race.  He out finished Perfect Shower and actually led briefly at the top of the stretch.  With no Spice Route in this race, Solitaire, with terrific grass jockey Julien Leparoux on his back, should be able to lie right behind Gangbusters and then take over when that one gets tired.  He’s a solid play at 5/1 horse betting odds to win the John Call Stakes on Friday.

11-Perfect Shower – - 6/1 morning line odds

If Perfect Shower was breaking from the 3 hole and Solitaire was breaking from the 11 hole, I’d be wagering on Perfect Shower to win.  Unfortunately for Perfect Shower, who finished 3rd in the Grade III Singspiel in his last where Solitaire finished 2nd, jockey John Velasquez has to get him out of the 11 hole quickly, get position early, and then hope that he doesn’t have to go too wide or runs into too much traffic in the race.  Perfect Shower was close to the lead in the Singspiel.  It’s going to be tough to get close to the lead in this after breaking from the 11 hole.   What Velasquez does early in the race will determine if Perfect Shower can run down Solitaire in the stretch.
 
5-Dry Martini – - 8/1 morning line odds

The 1.3 million dollar winner will find the competition in the John Call much easier after running against Duke of Mischief, Summer Bird and Quality Road in his last few races.  Dry Martini has limited turf experience, having run over the surface only 3 times in his career, but his class could take him to victory and there’s no doubt that he’s going to give it his all. Will he like the distance?  Who knows?  But I can think of worse 8/1 shots to bet on than Dry Martini to win this race on Friday.

Horse Wagering Strategy

Solitaire should be able to get the dream trip in the John Call Stakes on Friday.  Because of the depth of this field, Solitaire’s horse betting odds should stay at roughly 5 to 1 or so.  That makes him the best bet to win Friday’s 8th at Saratoga.

Besides betting on Solitaire to win, I’m going to bet an exacta keying Solitaire over Dry Martini and Perfect Shower.  I will reverse that exacta for less.  I’m also going to bet a trifecta with Solitaire, Dry Martini, Perfect Shower over Solitaire, Dry Martini, Perfect Shower, over ALL.

Good luck!

Log onto the racebook for free horse racing picks.

Sources:  brisnet.com, equibase.com