2021 Top Stakes Races for the Week March 8th Edition

2021 Top Stakes Races for the Week March 8th Edition

Written by on March 8, 2021

This Saturday, Oaklawn Park runs the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, a 1 1/16 mile dirt race for a $1,000,000 purse. The Rebel is the signature race on an Oaklawn card that includes the $500,000 Essex Handicap and the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, March 13th. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Horse Racing Odds & Picks for March 13th Races

Top Stakes Races for the Week 

  • When: Saturday, March 13

Gulfstream Park

  • Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie Stakes – 6 ½ furlongs dirt – $100,000

The Hurricane Bertie will likely attract at least seven runners, including Saffie Joseph Jr. trained Sound Machine and Pacific Gale from the John Kimmel barn. No doubt, Bill Mott trained Frank’s Rockette will go off the chalk. Rockette has finished first or second in 11-of-12. Her lone off the board finish happened in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.  

Oaklawn Park

  • Grade 2 Azeri Stakes – 1 1/16 miles dirt – $350,000

Connections for just four horses so far have said they will run in the Grade 2 Azeri. One of those confirmed for the race is 2020 Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil hasn’t raced since finishing third behind Valiance and Ollie’s Candy in the Grade 1 Spinster last October.  

  • Essex Handicap – 1 1/16 miles dirt – $500,000

Silver State, from the Steve Asmussen barn, is confirmed for the Essex Handicap. Expect Night Ops, Snapper Sinclair, and a few others to join Silver State in the Essex starting gate.

  • Grade 2 Rebel Stakes – 1 1/16 miles dirt – $1,000,000

So far, connections for seven horses have said they will run in the Rebel Stakes. The huge purse could attract at least three more runners, bringing the total to 10. Of the seven, all eyes will be on Bob Baffert Concert Tour, the San Vicente winner sired by Street Sense, and Brad Cox trained Caddo River. Sired by Hard Spun, Caddo River blew away the Smarty Jones field in his last. Robertino Diodoro is also pointing Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club winner Keepmeinmind to the Rebel. 

Santa Anita Park

  • Grade 2 San Simeon – 6 furlongs turf – $100,000

In the San Simeon, Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes second-place finisher Bob and Jackie figures to go off the chalk. The Richard Baltas trained runner also finished second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes. Both of Richard Mandella’s runners, Bombard and Jolie Olimpica, will attract action. 

  • Grade 1 Beholder Mile Stakes – 1 mile dirt – $300,000

Kenny McPeek may run 2020 Preakness Stakes winner Swiss Skydiver in the Beholder Mile. If he does, she could go off at even money or worse. Harvest Moon, Hard Not Love, As Time Goes By, and Golden Principal are all quality runners, though. Don’t accept short odds on any horse, even Swiss Skydiver, unless you’re confident.