Saturday Racing Picks: Del Mar And Saratoga

Top class racing will take place coast to coast this Saturday, August 1, with Grade 1 sprints, routes, and a Kentucky Derby prep on the docket. The best action takes place at Del Mar in California and Saratoga in New York.

Saratoga Race 5 - $500,000 Personal Ensign (G1) - Click here to bet with TVG

Best Bet: #3 Midnight Bisou (2-5) is a virtual lock, being in the prime of her career and having won eight of her last 10 starts. She is the defending champion in this spot and would take some serious beating.

Saratoga Race 9 - $750,000 Whitney Stakes (G1) - Click here to bet with TVG

Best Bet: Favoritism will go to #5 Tom’s d’Etat (6-5) but this race is awfully competitive, with #2 Improbable and #3 Code of Honor both sitting at 5-2 morning line, and #1 By My Standards at 9-2. Code of Honor is unbeaten on the track, won the prestigious Travers here last year, and should give Tom’s d’Etat everything he can handle in this rich contest.

Saratoga Race 10 - $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) - Click here to bet with TVG

Best Bet of the Card: This is a good betting race for sophomores going seven furlongs. #6 No Parole (9-5) won the Grade 1 Woody Stephens last out, and is five for six on his career with his lone loss coming around 1 1/16 miles. #8 Three Technique (6-1) has been off since March 14 and was first and second in two tries here last year, including a maiden romp by more than five lengths over this trip 11 months ago. Jose Ortiz is back aboard for the first time since that win.

Saratoga Race 11 - $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2)​​​​​​​ - Click here to bet with TVG

Best Bet: Trainer Mike Maker will start two in here, with #2 Cross Border (5-2) the better prospect to face #5 Channel Maker (7-2) and #6 Sadler’s Joy (2-1). Keep an eye on #4 Dot Matrix (9-2) for trainer Brad Cox; the New York-bred has been first and second in two tries on this course with the loss coming by a neck, and was bumped and still finished in a blanket finish in Grade 1 company last out.

Del Mar Race 2 - $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes​​​​​​​ - Click here to bet with TVG

Best Bet: All eyes will be on Kentucky Derby hopeful #5 Honor A. P. (8-5), who is fresh off a win in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). But this race shortens him up, and he already has enough points to make it into the Derby field. A horse like #6 Cezzane (7-2) who is unbeaten but has no stakes experience absolutely needs to win to make the Kentucky Derby field. Trainer Bob Baffert will have him cranked and ready to go, while Honor A. P., who ultimately may prove the better horse, simply needs another prep before the big dance.

Del Mar Race 10 - $250,000 Bing Crosby (G1)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ - Click here to bet with TVG

Best Bet: #9 Collusion Illusion (9-2) is unbeaten on the track, unbeaten sprinting, and is out to prove that he belongs in Grade 1 company here in this spot. #6 Fashionably Fast (7-2) has been knocking on the door for a big win and has won six of his last seven starts. #1 Lexitonian (6-1) was entered in Grade 1 company at Saratoga last weekend but was scratched at the gate and shipped all the way out to California to run in this spot.

Watch every race of the Del Mar meeting live with TVG, which is pleased to announce that residents in Michigan can now watch and wager on live horse racing. TVG will be operating in partnership with Northville Downs, a Michigan Standardbred racing facility. TVG can be watched via cable or satellite, and is available via its app, which offers all the races and betting opportunities of the website or television stream.

To bet on the card at Del Mar or Saratoga and claim your $300 risk-free bet with TVG simply:

1 - Open a TVG account HERE

2 - Register using code RISKFREE1 and make a deposit

3 - Place a single horse win bet and if it loses they’ll refund you up to $300