Horse Racing Betting - Mabee sets up well for Magical Fantasy

• Who: Thoroughbreds – Magical Fantasy, Tuscan Evening
  
• What: Horse Racing Betting – The John C. Mabee Handicap (Grade 1)
  
• Where: Del Mar
  
• When: Sunday, August 16th

When the contenders match up evenly according to speed figures, they can sometimes be separated by the shape of the race. If you bet horses, then you should note that Magical Fantasy figures to get a perfect setup in the John C. Mabee Handicap (G1) at Del Mar on Sunday, and she should prevail.

Let’s take a look at each of the participants:

Tuscan Evening: A model of consistency since her arrival in the U.S., she’s won 5-of-6 starts, including her first Grade 2 score last out at Hollywood. She’s been favored in her last five, and has earned Beyer Speed Figures of 96 or 97 in all six starts stateside. The betting concern is that she’ll have plenty of company on or near the lead, and it’s unclear if she’ll handle the extra furlong of the Mabee (at a distance of 1 1/8th miles).

Meydan Princess: Looked good in her latest win over the Del Mar turf course, but has been beaten by several in here. She appears to be a cut below this bunch.

Magical Fantasy: She’s a better horse as a 4YO, and is the field’s only multiple Grade 1 winner. She won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last summer in her only start locally, and will have plenty of pace in this race to set up her late run. She gets a cozy post position also, which will allow her to save ground before the real running starts. I’ll play her to win at odds of 8-5 or better.

Charming Legacy: The McAnally trainee is in career form, but hasn’t been able to get the job done since entering the stakes ranks. She could round out the tri or super at a decent price.

Bel Air Sizzle: Stone closer falls short on the Beyer scale, with her best fig (89) making her an also ran.

Patricia’s Gem: They paid $1.75 million for this daughter of Mineshaft, and her connections (Mandella/Espinoza) are top shelf. She’s probably got more upside, but her front-running style doesn’t help her in this spot. She’ll be hard-pressed to hold off the closers, especially going a furlong farther than she’s ever been.

Gotta Have Her: She got the best of Tuscan Evening on Santa Anita’s downhill course, but that one turned the tables twice going a mile at Hollywood. Gotta use her on the bottom rung of tri’s and supers.

Visit: Frankel trainee has kept pretty tough company stateside, but has yet to notch a win on this side of the Atlantic. She’s another who could round out the exotics from off the pace.

Briecat: This filly ran her eyeballs out when second to the mighty Zenyatta most recently, but that was on poly. She hasn’t done much on the sod.

Lethal Heat: She displayed a new dimension last out, grabbing the early lead and hanging on gamely for the show spot. She’s wheeling back in just a week, however, and it appears she’s more effective on poly. Pass.

Best of luck in The Mabee, and with all your horse racing betting over the weekend.

Pete Mitchell has been handicapping horses since his teenage years. He has been a professional horse player for many years, and came to BetOnline.com’s attention through multiple referrals from industry insiders/sportsbook owners. Pete is revered for his horse handicapping opinion and industry experts acknowledge his impressive career winning record. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.