Leading up to next Saturday’s 2021 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, there are two graded stakes races on this weekend’s card worth a closer look for anyone who loves to bet on horse racing.

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The first race is Friday’s Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. Saturday’s card at Santa Anita Park in Southern California is highlighted by this year’s Margarita Stakes as the featured betting event.

2021 Bewitch Stakes Picks

When: Friday, April 23rd

Where: Keeneland Racecourse

The Bewitch is a Grade 3 stakes race open to fillies and mares four years and older. It will be contested on the turf at Keeneland covering an extended 1½ miles in total distance. The total prize purse for this year’s event has been set at $150,000.

A full field of 11 fillies and mares have been entered in Friday’s race. Leading the way with the highest Horse Racing Nation rating (5.45) among all the contenders is Kalifornia Queen.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, this four-year old German-bred filly will break from the No. 6 post.

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The sire of Lope de Vega is looking to redeem herself in this race after slipping to sixth in the Grade 3 The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park her last time out on Feb. 27. Her biggest career victory came last year in the Grade 2 Diana Trial in Germany on May 31.

My “one to watch” in this race is trainer William Mott’s War Like Goddess breaking from the No. 8 post. Jockey Julien Leparoux will get the ride. This four-year old Kentucky-bred filly has a HRN rating of 5.12 coming off an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 27. She covered the 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:12.34.

You could also add Gun Society and Pass The Plate to the list when betting exotics in this race.

2021 Santa Margarita Stakes Picks

When: Saturday, April 24th

Where: Santa Anita Park

Staying with fillies and mares four years and older, the Grade 2 Santa Margarita will cover 1 1/8 miles on the dirt track at Santa Anita. The total prize money up for grabs in this race is listed as $200,000.

The main event on Saturday’s card at this famous West Coast track has six contenders listed as probable with the official field, post positions and morning line odds yet to be determined.

The likely favorite on the morning line would be Harvest Moon if trainer Simon Callaghan gives this four-year old filly the green light to go in this race. The sire of Uncle Mo has the highest HRN rating in the projected field at 6.37.

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She finished fourth in her only previous start this year at Santa Anita in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile. This followed a fourth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland. Prior to that race, she posted a victory in each of her previous four outings.

Trainer Craig Lewis is expected to run Warren’s Showtime in this race coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita on April 3. The sire of Clubhouse Ride has the second-highest HRN rating in the projected field at 6.25.

Famous West Coast trainer Bob Baffert should be well represented with both Crystal Ball and As Time Goes By expected to run.

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