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The final Saturday in July offers up a trio of major graded horse races at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. This is the place to be in late summer as one of the most popular horse racing tracks in the country for betting fans.
The Bowling Green Stakes for Thoroughbreds four and older starts things off with $250,000 up for grabs in total prize money. This Grade 2 event will cover 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Saratoga. As the field continues to take shape, Akrlow and Tide of the Sea lead the list of seven probable entries.
The other two events are the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and the Jim Dandy Stakes as the featured race on Saturday’s card.
2021 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Predictions
Date: Saturday, July 31st 2021
Track: Saratoga Race Course
This Grade 1 event is open to Thoroughbreds three and older. The total prize purse for this year’s race has been set at $350,000. Run as a sprint, the Alfred G. Vanderbilt covers six furlongs in total distance on the dirt track at Saratoga.
Betting the Favorite
Horse Racing Nation has identified eight contenders as probable for Saturday. Headlining that list is Whitmore with a lofty HRN rating of 7.97. Trained by Ronald Moquett, this eight-year old gelding brings a world of experience into this race.
Going back to last November, the son of Pleasantly Perfect has finished in the money in each of his last four races including a third-place run in this year’s Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day. He placed second in this race last year behind Volatile.
Other Top Probables
Two other top contenders listed as probable for Saturday are Firenze Fire trained by Kelly Breen and Mischevious Alex trained by Saffie Joseph.
2021 Jim Dandy Stakes Predictions
When: Saturday, July 31st 2021
Track: Saratoga Race Course
The 2021 Jim Dandy has an early list of six contenders listed as probable. This race is open to three-year old Thoroughbreds and it carries a total prize purse of $600,000. The Grade 2 stakes race will be contested on dirt covering a total distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Top Trifecta Bet
Based on the early list of probable entries, three familiar names top my betting board. My first choice would be Essential Quality as the class of the field. This three-year old colt has remained idle since winning this year’s Belmont Stakes to close out the Triple Crown racing series on a positive note.
Trained by Brian Cox, the former Kentucky Derby favorite is primed for his first summertime victory. Sired by Tapit, he comes into this race with an elevated 8.46 HRN rating.
My second choice for Saturday’s featured race at Saratoga is Weyburn coming off a second- place finish in this year’s ungraded Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 13. He finished just behind Mandaloun, who place second in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
The Canadian-bred colt opened his three-year old campaign with a victory in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Rounding out my trifecta bet for the Jim Dandy is trainer Robertino Diodoro’s Keepmeinmind. This Kentucky-bred three-year old placed seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness Stakes.
His last time out, the son of Laoban was able to finish in the money with a third-place run in this year’s Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 26.
