Horse Racing Betting Odds - Cash in on Saturday's trio of Grade 1's
- Who: Thoroughbreds – Unrivaled Belle, Vineyard Haven, Ventura
- What: Horse Racing Betting Odds – The Gazelle, The Cigar Mile, The Matriarch
- Where: Aqueduct, Hollywood Park
- When: Saturday, November 28th
There are graded stakes races galore this Thanksgiving weekend...we’ll focus on Saturday’s trio of Grade 1 events. The Gazelle and The Cigar Mile are Races 8 and 9 at Aqueduct, which gives us the opportunity to attack the daily double. A few hours later, we’ll fire away at the 28th running of The Matriarch at Hollywood Park.
The Gazelle marks the return of 2YO Champ Stardom Bound off a nearly 8-month layoff. She disappointed in The Ashland at Keeneland last April, finishing 3rd at odds of .70-1. This will be her dirt debut. Flashing is a Grade 1 winner, having captured The Test at Saratoga, and she returns to the dirt after a pair of losing efforts on polytrack. Milwaukee Appeal has done most of her damage in Canada, but did manage a distant 2nd behind Careless Jewel in The Alabama at Saratoga. I’m putting my racebook money on the lightly-raced Bill Mott trainee #4-Unrivaled Belle. She’s 3-for-3 on dirt after just missing in her career debut on Keeneland’s polytrack.
The Godolphin Stable entry of #1-Pyro and #1a-Vineyard Haven appears to be very formidable in The Cigar Mile. Vineyard Haven has won a pair of Grade 1 sprints since his return from Dubai, and this one-turn mile should hit him right between the eyes. In the unlikely event that Vineyard Haven falters, his stablemate, Pyro, should be along to pick up the pieces. You can toss his effort in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile...he’s never done anything in three starts on poly. Dirt is another story, however...he’s earned more than $1.6 million on the natural stuff. I’m singling the entry in the second leg of the daily double. Your winning daily double ticket...4-1.
Finally, in The Matriarch, I have a hard time getting past Ventura. She ran well to be second behind Informed Decision in The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, where her closing style was compromised by a very slow pace. This is just the third start of her form cycle, so she should put forth another top effort. Diamondrella, a multiple Grade 1-winner going a mile on turf, looms as the main threat. However, her 11th-place finish in the BC Turf Sprint casts doubt on her current form. I’ll bet on Ventura to win at odds of 4-5 or better.
Those are my horse racing betting tips for the weekend. Best of luck and happy gambling!
