Weekend Stakes Action - Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes and Grade I Goodwood Stakes

It’s finally here! The first Saturday of the Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita. There are a bunch of stakes races this Saturday at the Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita. I’ve highlighted the best two for my weekend stakes article below.

Online racebook fans should note that the best horse in the world, Curlin, is running this Saturday in the Grade I Jockey Gold Cup at Belmont Park. I thought long and hard about writing about that race in this article, but decided that BetUS online betting fans deserve more than four hundred words on how Curlin should romp in that race.

We need to stick to overlays. Both the Grade I Oak Leaf and the Grade I Goodwood should provide those overlays.

Let’s get to it!

Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita – Race 8

Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes

$250,000

For Fillies, Two Years Old

1 1/16th miles on Pro-Ride

Empressive Lady - - 4/1 fair online wagering odds

This daughter of Empire Maker went off as the favorite in her last start, the Grade I Del mar Debutante. She wasn’t nearly as “empressive” as she was in her previous race, a maiden victory at Del Mar. What online racebook fans need to remember is that besides getting stamina from her daddy, she also gets stamina from her mother. Her granddaddy on her mother’s side was no other than A.P. Indy. A.P. Indy has become a huge stamina influence. She will improve going two turns. Let’s just hope she keeps her online wagering odds.

Stardom Bound - - 5/2 fair online wagering odds

The likely chalk was ultra-impressive in her last race but like all of the other fillies in this thing, she will be going around two turns for the first time in her life. She too should have no problems going longer since her daddy is Tapit. Still, I can only recommend at 5/2 or higher.

Will O Way - - 5/1 fair online wagering odds

She finished third to Stardom Bound in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante. She has the ability and probably just needed another race after her maiden score in order to get things right. She’s still learning the game and getting the inside post should help jockey Joel Rosario figure out where to place her. She’s a good online bet at odds of 5 to 1 or higher.

Wagering Strategy

I like Empressive Lady quite a bit in this race and I will place an online bet on her to win and place.

I will also use her as a key horse in my exacta and trifecta wagers over Stardom Bound and Will O Way

Oak Tree Meet at Santa Anita – Race 10

Grade I Goodwood Stakes

$500,000

For Three Year Olds and Up

1 1/8th miles on Pro-Ride

Well Armed - - 3/1 fair online wagering odds

Well Armed almost pulled off the shocker in the Grade I Pacific Classic. He finished third to Curlin in March in the Dubai World Cup and already has shown the ability to fire on artificial surfaces. There is speed and then there is Well Armed speed. This tough customer could easily wire this field.

Tiago - - 5/1 fair online wagering odds

The likely chalk could find things to his liking if Well Armed is challenged early on in this race. He should close with a flourish and there’s no discounting his class. The only thing I don’t like about Tiago is the fact that he really only has one way of running - - lag behind and then kick it into gear late. That might not be good enough in this race.