Weekend Stakes Races Free Picks

Race-day: 1/3/2008

Both Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita will provide this weekend’s best sports betting graded races.

It’s a good idea to always look for online racebook overlays in graded races. Even though favorites do win often when they don’t online racebook fans make serious money because favorites are always over bet by the general public in stakes races.

Let’s get to it!

Gulfstream Park – Race 8

Grade III Hal’s Hope

$100,000

For Four Year Olds and Up

1 mile on dirt

Now a Victor has done nothing wrong since debuting in August of 2007. He has won 4 out of 5 lifetime races with his lone defeat being a second place finish. Jockey John Velasquez will be able to use his speed to get good position and trainer Michael Trombetta wins at 24% with horses stretching out. He’s the play. Delightful Kiss should finish in the top two after his terrific run in the Grade II Clark Handicap. The problem is that Kiss is a dead closer and this is Gulfstream Park. Still, he’s the class of the field. For third, I’m going with Bribon who finished third in the Cigar Mile. I hate the 12 hole, but if he duplicates either of his last two races he could be tough in this.

1. Now a Victor

2. Delightful Kiss

3. Bribon

Santa Anita Park – Race 8

Grade III Monrovia Handicap

$100,000

For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Up

6 ½ furlongs on the downhill turf course

Horses that have shown the ability to run on the Santa Anita turf course usually do well in this race. To me, that horse is Lethal Heat who is 2 for 2 on this turf course. Heat will probably go off the chalk and the one hole is a concern, but I can’t look past her. Jibboom for Bobby Frankel has never raced down the hill but gets Garrett Gomez and has serious back class. She could surprise. La Tee was terrible in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint but her speed is second to none in this and there are no Indian Blessings or Venturas that she has to deal with. Gate to wire? Maybe.

1. Lethal Heat

2. Jibboom

3. La Tee

Good Luck!