Six gambling tools for beginners
- Start simple with a simple guide to horse racing betting.
- Not sure what that word means? Horse racing terminology is a language in itself. Let us translate for you
- What the heck is a speed rating? This beginner’s guide to speed figures has everything you need to know.
- Betting on horse racing can be intimidating. Team ABR has put together a number of Do’s and Don’ts for the new fan who is starting to bet on racing.
- We all make mistakes when it comes to horse racing betting, here are eight lessons learned from experience.
- Find out in advance how much each bet will cost with our betting calculator, presented by NYRA Bets.
Saturday December 20
Saturday is Fair Grounds’ Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, with the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes being the next official prep race on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve course. The Gun Runner Stakes is the feature race among four stakes races on Saturday’s 12-race Fair Grounds schedule. For this weekend’s winners, let’s take a look at two of the Fair Grounds program’s stakes races, including the Gun Runner Stakes and the turf on the card, the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes. If we can pick the winners of these two excellent Saturday races, we will be well on our way to a successful day at the fairgrounds. Good luck.
Fair Grounds, Race 9, $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes, post time 5:45 PM ET
The Buddy Diliberto Memorial has put together a quality field of nine older horses that will race 1 1/16 miles on the grass and it’s a great race because you can defend seven or eight runners. One of the longest shots on the board in this area is #8 I am blessedwhich looms as a legitimate contender at odds of 12-1 on the morning line. He had a comeback preparation race behind him last time, with a break of almost five months, and will have the chance to return to the best form in this second race after the layoff. He is already a Grade 2 winner on this turf track from last season, when he won the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Nation in March, and his losses last April and May came when he overextended to 1.5 kilometers. Idratherbeblessed will show speed and can lead the way on this better 1 1/16 mile distance for trainer Chris Hartman. Hartman is off to a fast start in this match with four wins with his first eight starters. #2 grandfather didn’t even seem to be a turf horse until his last race when he switched to the grass as per trainer Norm Casse’s claim. He exploded to score a quick victory in the Turf Mile at Churchill Downs with a strong speed figure, and while this race will be a tougher venue, you definitely have to like what you saw last time. Finally, if you like Idratherbeblessed, you should add this too #9 Huge on your exacta and trifecta tickets. Gigante and Idratherbeblessed faced each other three times at Fair Grounds last season and Gigante won two of those races, including the same stakes race a year ago.
The play: Bet #8 Idratherblessed (12-1) to win and play him in exacta and trifecta boxes #2 grandfather (7-2)And #9 Giant (3-1).
Fair Grounds, Race 11, $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes, post time 6:45 PM ET
The Gun Runner Stakes drew a field of eight soon-to-be 3-year-olds, ready to run 1 1/16 miles for Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a $100,000 purse. It’s another good betting race with a competitive field and if you ask five different people about their choices you might get five different answers. Let’s start the discussion with a choice #2 Honcho chip for trainer Steve Asmussen, who also trained this race’s namesake Gun Runner. Chip Honcho made a solid career debut for second in seven furlongs at Keeneland behind the speedy Dr. Kapur, who returned last month to finish sixth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. Chip Honcho stretched out last time and took the win a mile into the doldrums with a gate-to-wire performance after setting up completely legitimate factions. He threatens to go all the way in this race around two corners with a similar effort. The big X factor here is #5 Crown the Buckeyean Ohio-bred apparent monster, based on his consecutive state stakes, wins in his last two races by a combined margin of 16 ½ lengths. He won easily from distance last time with a stalking trip and looks quick enough to beat this field, despite the fact that this will be his first appearance against open company. Mike Maker is training and Jareth Loveberry, who won aboard last time, has the horse. #3 Freedom National is the morning line favorite, based on Churchill Downs’ big win last time. He was soundly beaten by Chip Honcho when the pair met at Keeneland two races ago, but Liberty National showed enough skill when stretching to this route distance to at least earn a spot in exactas and trifectas.
The play: Bet #2 Chip Honcho (9-2) to win and play him in exacta and trifecta boxes #3 Liberty National (7-2)And #5 Crown the Buckeye (5-1).
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