This Saturday, Belmont Park reopens their doors. Big Sandy will prep races every weekend from now until about three weeks before the 2021 Breeders’ Cup. Check out Horse Racing Odds and more information on the American Jockey Club Invitational, the Jockey Club Oaks and the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park on Saturday as well as a few of the other top stakes races happening on Sep. 18. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Horse Racing Odds & Picks September 13th Edition

Gulfstream Park – Saturday, Sep. 18

• Our Dear Peggy Stakes – 1 mile turf – $100,000

The 2020 Our Dear Peggy Stakes was as competitive as it gets. Quinoa Tifah from the Juan Alvarado barn took first place over Todd Pletcher runner Con Lima. Since then, Con Lima has turned into one of the better three-year-old grass fillies in the nation. Pay attention to this race for sure.  

• Armed Forces Stakes – 1 mile turf – $100,000

Michael Yate’s trained Poppy’s Pride won the 2020 Armed Forces Stakes. Last year’s race happened on the dirt. This year, Gulfstream Park sends the Armed Forces Stakes back to the turf. Will a top two-year-old colt emerge from what promises to be a competitive event?

Laurel Park – Saturday, Sep. 18

• Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash – 6 furlongs dirt – $200,000

Brittany Russell trained Wondrwherecraigis takes a step up in class. If you believe, go for it because Wondr should offer better odds than the gelding has in its last three races.  Jalen Journey, My Boy Tate, and Mucho will challenge the Russell trainee. War Tocsin, Kalu, and Just Might are the other confirmed runners. 

Belmont Park – Saturday, Sep. 18

• Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational – 1 5/8 miles dirt – $300,000

Belmont Park skipped running the Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational last year. Based on the top three finishers in the 2019 race, horseplayers had better pay attention when post-positions are drawn later in the week. You’re to Blame won followed by Marconi and Realm. All three horses found success in 2020 and continue to run in high-level allowance and lower-level stakes in 2021. 

• Jockey Club Oaks – 1 3/8 miles turf – $750,000

Nine horses should enter for the Jockey Club Oaks on Saturday, including the top three finishers in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks. Todd Pletcher trained Con Lima won the Saratoga Oaks followed by Chad Brown trained Higher Truth and Creative Flair from the Charles Appleby barn.  

• Jockey Club Derby – 1 ½ miles turf – $1,000,000

Belmont’s racing secretary expects at least eight runners to enter the starting gate for the Jockey Club Derby. The favorite could end up Christophe Clement trained Soldier Rising, the second place finisher in the Saratoga Derby. Step Dancer won the New York Stallion Cab Calloway in his last and should be considered a contender. Slicked Back finished second in the West Virginia Derby in his last while Charles Appleby trained Yibir has been finishing well in graded races overseas.