Horse Racing Odds: Top Stakes to Wager On

The summer of graded stakes race action continues this weekend when Saratoga runs five graded races and Del Mar runs two. The graded races at The Spa include a couple of grade one events, the Flower Bowl at 1 /38 miles over the turf and the 1 ¼ mile over dirt Jockey Club Gold Cup. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, September 4th. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Top Stakes Races for the Week: Flower Bowl and JC Gold Cup Highlights Weekend Action

Saratoga Race Course – Saturday, Sep. 4

Grade 3 Saranac – 1 1/16 miles turf – $200,000

Trainer Chad Brown could enter the Sarnac chalk. Both Public Sector and Founder will have a chance to win the three-year-old turf race. Other runners include Original, trained by John Terranova II, Mohs from the Patrick McBurney barn, Wesley Ward trained Like the King, and He’spuregold from the Kelly Breen barn.

Grade 2 Prioress – 6 furlongs dirt – $250,000

Eight horses will enter the starting gate for the Grade 2 Prioress on Saturday. Grade 1 Test second-place finisher Souper Sensational figures to go off the chalk. Others that could attract horseplayer betting dollars are Grade 2 Eight Belles winner Obligatory, Amendment Nineteen trained by Linda Rice, and Jose Abreu trained Summer Brew.

Grade 1 Flower Bowl – 1 3/8 miles turf – $600,000

The first of two grade one races at Saratoga on Sep. 4, the Flower Bowl often produces a favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. This year’s Flower Bowl should include top Chad Brown runner My Sister Nat, War Like Goddess trained by Bill Mott, and La Signare, who finished second in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita Park on May 31.

Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup – 1 ¼ miles dirt – $1,000,000

2020 JC Gold Cup winner Happy Saver returns to defend his title. The Todd Pletcher trained runner hopes to build upon a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Suburban in his last. Max Player upset Happy Saver and high-rated Mystic Guide to win the Suburban. Player may go off the chalk to win the Gold Cup. Bill Mott trained Forza Di Oro has won three straight. This is a step up, but the Speightstown sired runner looks like the real deal.

Del Mar Race Track – Saturday, Sep. 4

Grade 2 John C Mabee – 1 1/8 miles turf – $200,000

Dogtag and Maxim Rate are a couple of the top runners in the John C Mabee. Expect Dogtag, trained by Richard Mandella, to go off the chalk unless Yellow Ribbon winner Princess Grace runs. CTT and TOC Stakes winner Neige Blanche may also run.

Grade 2 Del Mar Derby – 1 1/8 miles turf – $200,000

Pixelate beat Margot’s Boy and Dominant Soul in last year’s Del Mar Derby. Which three-year-old will show up and prove their worth over Del Mar’s turf course on Sep. 4? No matter which horses enter the starting gate, expect a competitive event.

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