Horse Racing Betting Lines, Odds & Picks for July 2nd

On Saturday, Churchill Downs has their second biggest day of the current meet. The Grade 2 Wise Dan, Grade 2 Fleur de Lis, and the Grade 2 Stephen Foster happen. Check out more Horse Racing Betting info for those three races and three other graded stakes events happening on Saturday, July 2.

Horse Racing Betting Analysis, Odds & Picks for July 2nd

Gulfstream Park

Grade 2 Princess Rooney – 7 furlongs dirt – fillies & mares

So far, six runners have confirmed to race at Gulfstream in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney. Among the six, Ce Ce will go off the chalk. All Worthy, Make Mischief, Corey, Glass Ceiling, and Spirit Wind should also run. None of those equines should have much shot of beating the likely 3-to-5 choice.

Belmont Park

Grade 3 Dwyer – 1 mile on dirt – 3 year olds

Todd Pletcher trained Charge It returns to the races in the Grade 3 Dwyer. The three-year-old only race could produce one or two Travers Stakes contenders. Connections for Unbridled Bomber, Nabakov, Fluid Situation, and No Sabe Nada will enter their runners.

Churchill Downs

Grade 3 Bashford Manor – 6 furlongs dirt – 2 year olds

Trainer John Hancock puts the saddle on likely favorite Mr. Gordy. After breaking his maiden in his first start, Mr. Gordy came back to finish fourth in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes behind Tom’s Regret, The Big Wam, and Ryvit.

Grade 2 Wise Dan – 1 1/16 miles turf – 4 year olds & up

Wise Dan is one of the greatest turf horses to ever step onto grass. The raced named after the two-time horse of the year will attract at least four top turf runners. Brad Cox trained Set Piece, Cavalry Charge from the Dallas Stewart barn, and a couple trained by Mike Maker, Somelikeithotbrown and Atone are confirmed. Expect many more horses to join the starting gate before the doors open on Saturday, including at least one more from Chad’s barn.

Grade 2 Fleur de Lis – 1 1/8 miles dirt – 4 year old fillies & mares

Shedaresthedevil trained by Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen charge Pauline’s Pearl headline a salty group of four-year-old fillies and mares. Pauline’s Pearl beat Shedaresthedevil in the Grade 1 La Troienne on Derby Day. Pearl followed up the win with a fourth-place behind She’s the Wolfe and Ava’s Grace in the Shawnee Stakes. Both She’s the Wolfe and Ava’s Grace will run in this, making the Fleur de Lis one of the most competitive events of the day.

Grade 2 Stephen Foster – 1 1/8 miles dirt – 4 year olds & up

Three of the top older horses in North America throw down in the annual Stephen Foster. Bill Mott trained Olympiad has won four straight races. Three of the four wins happened in graded events.

Brad Cox counters Olympiad with 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun and the fearsome Caddo River. Mandaloun bombed in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup. He should run much better in his return to the races. Caddo River has blown away his competition in three straight allowance races. Last year, Caddo was one of the winter favorites to win the Run for the Roses.

If you’re looking for a possible upsetter, consider putting money behind Michael Stidham trained Proxy. The Godolphin runner finished second to Olympiad in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic earlier this year. In his last, Proxy finished second behind Dynamic One in the Blame Stakes.

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