Weekend Stakes Action - Grade I King’s Bishop and Grade I Travers Stakes

I was going to do a write up on the Pacific Classic at Del Mar that’s being run this Sunday, but I’m picking a horse in that race as my Sunday play of the day.

So I thought, “Why not write about the two biggest races at Saratoga on Saturday for the Weekend Stakes Action article?”

Hey, the more information that I can give BetUS online racebook fans, the better, right? It’s a huge weekend at both Saratoga and Del Mar. Saratoga will pretty much own this Saturday. Del Mar will own this Sunday.

Let’s get to it!

Saratoga Racecourse – Race 10

Grade I King’s Bishop

$250,000

For Three Year Olds

7 furlongs on the dirt

Golden Spikes ran into all sorts of trouble in his last, steadying at the turn, but he still managed to win. He had to go three wide in the race before and still won. This race is wide open so online racebook fans should bet on a horse at a nice price. That would be Golden Spikes whose 6/1 morning line is awfully juicy. Larry Jones saddles Kodiak Kowboy and any time Jones saddles a horse I take notice. Kowboy will go off the favorite in this, especially since he’s coupled with Lantana Mob, but I really can’t knock him for anything right now. I’m So Lucky should be behind a wicked pace duel. He will be in front of Golden Spikes in the lane but I expect Spikes to run him down before the wire.

1. Golden Spikes

2. Kodiak Kowboy

3. I’m So Lucky

Saratoga Racecourse – Race 11

Grade I Travers Stakes

$1,000,000

For Three Years Old

1 ¼ miles on the dirt

This year’s version of the Summer Derby came up incredibly tough. Pyro, Da’Tara, Macho Again, Colonel John and Harlem Rocker will all get plenty of support. They all have a shot, with the exception of Da’Tara, in this race but my online wagering dollars will be on Mambo in Seattle. Mambo in Seattle has won three races in a row including a smashing neck victory in a non-graded stakes race over the Saratoga dirt course in his last. Trained by Neil Howard, this son of Kingmambo has 4 wins and 2 second place finishes in 7 starts. He will be tested for class, but I have no doubt that the best Mambo in Seattle will show up on Saturday. Macho Again ran extremely well in the Jim Dandy. He encountered trouble and still managed to win. He might be rounding into a top three-year old. He could run huge on Saturday. Pyro is good enough to win this but the horse just hasn’t shown the class he displayed in finishing second to War Chant in last year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile. I like Pyro but he’s probably looking at a third place finish at best.

1. Mambo in Seattle

2. Macho Again

3. Pyro

Good Luck!