On Saturday, Saratoga runs the Grade 1 Alabama and Del Mar runs the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Then on Sunday, Woodbine Racetrack runs the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds for the Top Stakes Races of the Week from Saturday, August 20th to Sunday, August 21st. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.

Horse Racing Odds, Picks, and Betting Analysis | August 15th Edition

Top Stakes Races of the Week

• When: Saturday, Aug. 20 – Sunday, Aug. 21

Monmouth | Saturday, Aug. 20

• Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin – 1 1/16 miles dirt – 3 year olds and up

Connections for 10 horses plan on entering the Philip H. Iselin starting gate. Chad Brown will saddle a couple, Pipeline and Highly Motivated. Todd Pletcher will also saddle a couple, Mind Control and Untreated. 

Tax, trained by Danny Gargan, and Forza di Oro, from the Bill Mott barn, could vie for favoritism. Ridin with Biden, Spa City, Informative, and Keystone Field are also likely to run.  

Saratoga | Saturday, Aug. 20

• Grade 2 Lake Placid – 1 1/16 miles turf – 3 year old fillies

In the Lake Placid, Chad Brown trained Eminent Victory and Customer List will be difficult to beat. Cristophe Clement has a runner in Canisy. Sparkle Blue, from the Graham Motion barn, Robert Falcone trained Spirit and Glory, and Arnaud Delacor runner Koala Princess should also enter the gate.   

• Grade 1 Alabama – 1 ¼ miles dirt – 3 year old fillies

The 2 top rated fillies in North America will run in this Saturday’s Alabama stakes. Belmont second place finisher and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Nest goes for trainer Todd Pletcher. D. Wayne Lukas trained and Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath will also run. 

So will Coaching Club American Oaks third place finisher Nostalgic. Skratch Kat, Gerrymander, and another Pletcher filly, Goddess of Fire, should break from the gate.

Del Mar | Saturday, Aug. 20

• Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks – 1 1/8 miles turf – 3 year old fillies

So far, only 4 fillies have confirmed for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. All 4 confirmed runners can win Del Mar’s top race on Saturday. 

Phil D’Amato trained Bellabell is undefeated after a couple of races and beat Sixteen Arches and stablemate Island of Love to win the Grade 2 San Clemente in her last. Before the San Clemente run, Island of Love had won the Grade 2 Senorita Stakes and had finished second behind Cairo Memories in the Grade 3 Honeymoon. 

Cairo Memories had won 2 straight grade 3 races before finishing fifth in the deep Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in her last. McKulick won the Belmont Oaks. This field isn’t close to the Oaks’ field. 

Graham Motion trained Spendarella finished second to Inspiral in the Grade 1 Coronation Stakes in her last race. The Coronation happened at the famous Royal Ascot meet. Don’t be surprised if the Motion runner goes off the chalk.  

Woodbine | Sunday, Aug. 21

• Grade 2 Canadian Stakes – 1 1/8 miles turf – 3 year olds and up

No information on the horses running in the Grade 2 Canadian on Sunday. But although we don’t know which horses will run, the field should be deep. Last year, La Dragontea beat Court Return and Barkin.

In 2020, Rideforthecause beat Cambier Parc and Court Return. Starship Jubilee won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.  No matter who enters the gate, we’re going to have to wear our handicapping hats, that’s for sure. 

Horse Racing Betting Center

Get your Updated Horse Racing Betting Odds here!