Nationwide gamblers embrace a unique Betting Power Hour Saturday from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ. It takes place from 4:38 p.m. until about 5:50 p.m.
That’s a little more than an hour, actually, but the bulk of the handicapping and betting will unfurl in about an hour’s time.
We’re here to offers up Haskell Stakes day odds & predictions. While the $1 Million Haskell Stakes at 5:47 p.m. anchors a sizzling day-long race schedule starting at noon, the final three races form a great wagering wrap.
Bettors love race packages, because it keeps their handicapping sharp and helps them use emerging angles to their advantage.
Saturday’s Late-Betting Overview at Monmouth Park
Here is an overview and some betting suggestions on three late highlight races Saturday from Monmouth.
Race 10: The $500,000 Molly Pitcher, 4:38 p.m. A field of 8 goes 1 1-16 miles on the dirt.
Race 11: The $600,000 United Nations Handicap, 5:06 p.m. A field of 10 battles a unique 1 3-8 miles on the turf.
Race 12: The $1 Million Haskell Stakes, 5:47 p.m. This is the first major race in the second half of the 3-year-old thoroughbred campaign. The winner of this 1 1–8-mile showcase earns an all-expenses paid berth in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. There are eight horses in the field.
Monmouth pays out $3,335,000 in purse money Saturday, by far the most in the entire horse-racing industry. There is money to be made all day, with three marquee betting events to wind it up.
Molly Pitcher Top Contenders
Search Results
Won the Molly Pitcher here last year and returns off a game second in the $500,000 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on the undercard of the Belmont Stakes.
Established as an 8-5 favorite, and makes all the sense in the world to be in it.
Le Da Vida
Looked the part of a winner in capturing the $250,000 Lady Jaqueline Stakes at Thistledown. Previously ran game in losing to Kentucky Oaks champion Secret Oath.
Love
Won last three races by 28 lengths. Regardless of class levels, this is a fit horse.
Misty Veil
Second in the Allaire Dupont, a minor stake.
Shotgun Hottie
On a major improvement angle, romping in the Lady’s Secret after finishing a distant third to Distinctly Possible in the Serena’s Song.
Distinctly Possible
Won the Serena’s Song over the host track, always a plus.
Betting Angles
Win Bet
4 horse, Search Results
Exacta Wager
Box the 4 and 5 horses. (Search Results, Le Da Vida).
Cost: $4 for every $2 exacta box.
Trifecta Wagers
$1 box, 4-5-6 (Search Results, Le Da Vida, Loved).
Cost: $6.
50-cent trifecta box, 4-5-6-8. (Search Results, Da Vida, Loved, Shotgun Hottie).
Cost: $12.
United Nations Handicap Top Betting Contenders
Red Knight
Earned a terrific victory in the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park. He circled the entire field, prevailing handily at this exact distance for $600,000. Hot contender. His race to lose. I will bet him to win.
Planetario
Lightly-raced and won for fun at the lower-level San Jan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita. Able to run 1 3-4 miles that day. Drops back to 1 3-8. Live, improving horse will get his share of money.
Catnip
Had an exhilarating rally to nab a triumph in the $150,000 Monmouth Stakes. Cheaper race, but a win over the track matters.
Limited Liability
Ran second in the $200,000 Louisville Stakes.
Betting Angles
Exacta Wager
Besides the win bet on Red Knight, an exacta box 9, 6. (Red Knight and Planetario).
Cost: $4 for every $2 box.
Trifecta Wagers
$1 trifecta key, 9 over 6, 3, 5. (Red Knight over Planetario, Catnip, and Limited Liability.) Red Knight must win, any combo of the others must fill in the second and third slots.
Cost: $6.
Second trifecta key, 6, 3, 5, with 9. Red Knight finishes second with any combo of the aforementioned horses occupying first and third.
Cost: $6.
Superfecta Wager
Spot Play Stab, $1 superfecta of 9, 6, with 3, 5.
Cost: $4.
The 9 and 6, Red Knight and Planetario, must finish in the first two positions, in either order (9 and 6 or 6 and 9). If one of them is third or worse, the bet loses.
Catnip and Limited Liability must finish in the third and fourth spots in either order (3 and 5 or 5 and 3). If either of them wins, for instance, this bet loses.
The idea is to get a superfecta bet on the cheap. A 3, 5, 6, 9 box costs $24 for the $1 superfecta wager and covers any combinations for these horses to take up the first four positions.
Nailing the exact placements within the top four is far less expensive.
The 8, Foreign Relations, will be placed in one superfecta bet underneath.
Top Betting Contenders in Haskell Stakes
Arabian Knight was installed as the 5-2 favorite off of dominant early-season form. Kentucky Derby-winning Mage and Belmont Stakes show-finisher Tapit Trice are legitimate 3-1 co-favorites in the eight-horse field.
Tapit Trice finished third in the Belmont Stakes and is a noted closer.
Geaux Rocket Ride ships in from California with rail speed, while Salute the Stars is the most improving horse in the field and is a live longshot.
Extra Anejo is moving up off of past efforts, as his connections believe he will peak.
Arabian Knight hasn’t run since late January. He was taken off the trail during the winter, when trainers were not happy with his workout patterns. He’s back, but hasn’t been tested.
The pace scenario is prominent here. Arabian Knight will be forwardly placed and should have the lead for much of the race. Anyone betting Mage, Tapit Trice, or one of the closers wants at least one horse, perhaps Geaux Rocket Ride, to make the pace contentious for Arabian Knight.
That would set the stage for a closer to win. If Arabian Knight is not pushed, he may run right into the winner’s circle.
Betting Analysis
Tossup
Early Selection
Mage, the 4, will be my key, but this is a light bet.
Win Wager
Mage, 4 horse, small.
Salute the Stars, 3.
Exacta Wagers
Boxes of 4, 8. (Mage and Arabian Knight) and 4, 3. (Mage, Salute the Stars).
Cost: $4 for every $2 exacta box.
Trifecta Wager
50-cent box, 3, 4, 5, 8. (Salute the Stars, Mage, Tapit Trice, Arabian Knight).
Cost: $12.
Unless you love a longshot, this race won’t pay to spread the bread. A precise win bet and slamming of one favorite in exotics combo will be the key to a payday.
Good luck with all of it!
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