Find Key Races & Bets for Friday, July 20th Below

Ontario Colleen Stakes – Race 8 at Woodbine – Post Time 4:47 PM Eastern

Trainer Graham Motion has a pair in this race, Peach of a Gal (5/2 morning line) and Armoricaine (15/1 morning line). Both are stakes winners on turf, the former last month in Delaware in an overnight stakes with a 50K purse and the latter in France last fall in a $70K purse race versus MALES. She ran poorly on heavy turf in April in a group 3 stakes following six months off then imported to the U.S where she was put in a very tough field in the Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont. Losing all chance when leaping in the air at the start she wasn’t asked after that. She’s apparently still highly regarded by one of the best trainers in North America who ships up from his Fair Hills base and gets Garcia to ride. These two teamed up to win the Singspiel Stakes over the course on 6/23 in a mile upset at 5 to 1. The filly will really appreciate the easier company as this field contains three last out allowance level winners and two restricted stakes winners. She ran big on firm turf in her first two races last July and August in France at a mile and the 93 Equibase figure earned in her October win is the THIRD best figure earned by any entrant in this race, ever.

Got Stormy and Peach of a Gal are the two other logical contenders, but open as the two favorites at 7 to 5 and 5 to 2. Got Stormy ships up from New York on the heels of two straight stakes wins at this mile trip, the first of the two with a 102 figure. Peach of a Gal ships up from Delaware off a career best 102 figure effort in a stakes and has really won two in a row because her race in between the wins was the Hilltop Stakes on Preakness weekend when the course was a bog. Hernandez rides, which is a good sign, but it’s interesting to note that no matter how good the jockey is overall on turf (25 for 119 in turf routes over the past year), he is 0 for 9 in graded stakes turf routes over the same period.

Bets: Armoricaine to win and place at odds of 4 to 1 or more.

In the event either Got Stormy or Peach of a Gal are anywhere near 5 to 2 odds near post time, make a win bet on either or both.

Exacta: Armoricaine over ALL and (reverse) ALL over Armoricaine

Box Armoricaine and Got Stormy & Box Armoricaine and Peach of a Gal

Diana Stakes – Race 10 at Saratoga – Post Time 5:55 PM Eastern

Hawksmoor is the one to catch, and to beat. Back in the fall of 2016, Hawksmoor nearly posted the upset in her U.S. debut when coming up a head and nose short on the wire in the QE II Stakes. Following that she ran badly and took the winter off. Last May when she returned, she led from start to finish in the Beaugay Stakes before an even stronger effort winning the New York Stakes leading every step of the 10 furlong trip. Following two runner-up efforts in top company in the First Lady Stakes and Matriarch Stakes last fall including a career-best 114 Equibase Figure in the latter race, Hawksmoor took the winter off once again then ran big in her 2018 debut when stalking the pacesetter early and coming up inches short of winning. She was then sent to post as the even money favorite in the Gamely and lost all chance after a stumbling start denied her to be in front or second at the beginning of the race. In the Diana, there is no real need-the-lead type except this mare and in a seven horse field Leparoux will have the luxury of going to the lead from the start and establishing a leisurely pace or sitting in second if another horse and rider wants the lead more. As a horse that likes the lead, and considering that Hawksmoor can run the last quarter mile about as fast as any other horse in the race (22.7 seconds in the First Lady Stakes), she should be able to continue in front to the wire and win this race. A Raving Beauty has done nothing wrong since coming to North America from Europe, winning the Beaugay Stakes in May (the same race Hawksmoor won the previous year) with a 108 figure followed by a win in the Just A Game Stakes last month, improving to a 112 figure. She may have more improving to do third off the layoff as well and although both her races in the U.S. were shorter than the mile and one-eighth distance of the Diana, A Raving Beauty should have no problem with the nine furlongs which she won at last August in Germany and so she must be given a lot of respect as a contender to win this race. Sistercharlie has also done little wrong since importing to the states last summer, missing by a neck to New Money Honey in the Belmont Oaks Invitational before taking time off. When she returned this past April, Sistercharlie ran as if she had never been away from the races, rallying from eighth to win the Jenny Wiley Stakes and earning a career-best 117 figure that is the best of any entrant in this race. She ran nearly as well last time out in the New York Stakes when rallying from almost 30 lengths back to come up a nose short on the wire with a 110 figure. Shortening up from a mile and one-quarter to a mile and one-eighth for the Diana, Sistercharlie should be putting in a strong late run and it may just be a question of how much ground she has to make up on likely early leader Hawksmoor and how much gas that filly has left in the tank if allowed to lope along on an easy early lead.

Bets: Hawksmoor to win at odds of 2 to 1 or more.

Exacta: Hawksmoor over Sistercharlie, Proctor’s Ledge and A Raving Beauty and then also the opposite, which is Sistercharlie, Proctor’s Ledge and A Raving Beauty over Hawksmoor.

San Diego Handicap – Race 7 at Del Mar – Post Time 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific

Harlan Punch looks very capable of posting the upset here as he ships in from Monmouth for Jacobson off a five length win in the Iselin Stakes last month. That win came when leading from start to finish but he does not need the lead to win, having won the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct in March from 2nd in the early stages and having won a classified allowance before that when fourth for the first half-mile. Those two wins were part of a three race streak started in February and since his win last month came after a trio of losses following the last of the trio, he’s set to hold his top form for a couple more races. Likely to improve 2nd off a layoff for Jacobson, who wins with a good percentage of 2nd off layoff starters in dirt routes, Harlan Punch‘s best two efforts this year earned 113 and 115 Equibase figures. Those don’t match up with any of the last four Accelerate has earned (119 and 120) BUT Harlan Punch opens at 8/1 compared to 8/5 and he gets an eight pound break in the weights, which could help him to post the upset.

Sharp Samurai also has an upset chance, opening at 6/1. He’s won 7 of 11 races, six on turf, and he may be underbet because even though he’s a multiple Grade 2 stakes winner running in a grade two stakes those wins came on turf. The win on dirt was just fine so there’s no reason he can’t transition back to the main track and his effort on 6/17 (a win), which came following seven months off should be improved upon in his 2nd start off a layoff. His recent work on dirt was exceptional, five furlongs in 59.8 and the 4th best of 66 on the day, and Stevens, who has been aboard for his last five wins, rides him back. Last year when winning the Twilight Derby on turf he earned a 114 figure then 117 when beaten a length in the Hollywood Derby and with his comeback effort good for a 114 figure and improvement likely, he’s got a shot to run as well or better than the favorite at a better price.

Accelerate doesn’t have any knocks except low odds. Winner of this race last year by 8 lengths after adding blinkers, he’s won or placed in five straight, all top efforts good enough to win here, so we have to use him on any and all exacta, trifecta and multi-race bets made. We don’t have to bet him to win, however.

Dr. Dorr and Two Thirty Five are two to use for exactas and trifectas in the 2nd and 3rd positions. Dr. Dorr won the Californian in April with a 115 figure before a 2nd place finish behind Accelerate with a 114 figure in the Gold Cup. He may have not liked Belmont or didn’t ship well when 9th in the Suburban two weeks ago, and it may be he doesn’t like Del Mar either (which as Baffert’s excuse for Arrogate) as he hasn’t hit the board in two tries. However, if it’s not the case he hates Del Mar he could be part of the exacta. Two Thirty Five has run three “A” races since moving to the Baltas barn in March and although a cheap horse for his career prior to that his last effort earned a 112 figure at the trip so he must be respected as he may not have run his best race yet.

Bets: Harlan’s Punch and Sharp Samurai to win at odds of 5 to 2 or higher. To bet more than one horse to win, use a DUTCHING TOOL like the one available for free at Amwager as it helps allocate your win bets in the most efficient manner possible.

Exacta: Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai and Accelerate over Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai, Accelerate, Dr. Dorr and Two Thirty Five.

Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai, Accelerate, Dr. Dorr and Two Thirty Five over Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai and Accelerate.

Trifecta: Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai and Accelerate over Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai, Accelerate, Dr. Dorr and Two Thirty Five over Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai, Accelerate, Dr. Dorr and Two Thirty Five.

Double: Harlan’s Punch¸Sharp Samurai and Accelerate in Race 7 with Animosity, Ms Bad Behavior and Miss Sienna in Race 8.

San Clemente Stakes – Race 8 at Del Mar – Post Time 8:30 PM Eastern/5:30 PM Pacific

Animosity is one of three in here proven at this Grade 2 level, 2nd last out in the Honeymoon Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita. She won her first two races before that and with Honeymoon winner Paved not here this gal inherits top honors. She improved from a 91 figure first out, to 97, then to 102 when 2nd in the Honeymoon, her first turf route, leading from the start and coming up short late but clearly 2nd. She doesn’t need the lead to win as she finished well from 5th in her debut and with it very likely War Heroine and Pursuing the Dream (plus perhaps others) will go way too fast early from outside posts for their own good, Animosity can get up in time.

Ms Bad Behavior nearly wired the field in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes when last seen in April, beating Paved in the process, who came back to win the Honeymoon over Animosity. That puts Ms Bad Behavior squarely on the radar today with as much probability as Animosity. She earned a 105 figure in the Providencia and prior to that, in her first turf route, Ms Bad Behavior lagged five lengths back early before winning so we know she doesn’t need the lead as others do, more reasons to expect a big effort.

Miss Sienna was making her U.S. debut in the Honeymoon and was decently regarded at six to one, but ran just so-so to end up fourth. Blinkers go on as does Smith, a BIG sign she could run back to either of her two efforts in France in March and April, a win and a neck defeat. As such, she is also a contender but just a bit less probable than the top two in my opinion.

Ollie’s Candy is unbeaten in three starts including her first route last out, on dirt, in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks. She is bred to adore the turf but the 14 post at this mile turf trip could be problematic. Rockin Ready and Flammetta finished 2nd and 1st, respectively, separated by a nose, in a high rated downhill turf sprint last month, each earning 100 figures. Both won at a mile on turf prior to that and are not need-the-lead types so have to be used on exacta tickets played, possibly on multi-race tickets like the double and pick 3 as well.

Bets: Animosity and Ms Bad Behavior to win at odds of 5 to 2 or more.

Exacta: Animosity and Ms Bad Behavior over ALL, and also the reverse, which is ALL over Animosity and Ms Bad Behavior.

Trifecta: Box Animosity, Ms Bad Behavior, Miss Sienna, Ollie’s Candy, Rockin Ready and Flammetta.