Best Horse Racing Bets for Friday, August 6, 2021

Charles Town Races, Monmouth Park, and Pimlico Race Course were my tracks of choice for Friday’s picks.

I especially liked Pimlico’s offering, which yielded three underdogs for maximum betting enjoyment. Monmouth gave up a couple more underdogs, and even Charlestown, which made me agree with the morning-line twice, still offered us a second-favored prospect with good potential.

Good luck!

Let’s start on the main track with race three, a 4-1/2 furlong claiming run for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I’m buying a win ticket on the 3/1 second-favored Hollywood Brown, ridden by Brandon Whitacre.

This three-year-old filly finished in the money three of her six career starts, winning one.

Michael E. Jones, Jr. trains Hollywood Brown for Holmes Racing LLC.

We’re still on the main track for race five, a 4-1/2 furlong allowance race for fillies and mares three years old and upward.

That said, I’m sticking with the 7/2 morning-line favorite, Opeongo, with Gerald Almodovar in the irons.

This six-year-old mare moneyed 24 of her 37 career starts, winning 13. Even better—she’s won all four of her 2021 starts.

Kevin S. Patterson trains Opeongo for Diamond Oak Stable and TEC Racing (Elliott S. Logan).

Race seven is a 6-1/2 furlong allowance optional claiming run on the main track for West Virginia-bred three-year-olds and upward. My money’s on the 6/5 morning-line favorite, Penguin Power, ridden by top jockey Arnaldo Bocachica.

This six-year-old gelding has been aggressively campaigned at the stakes level, and he’s demonstrated time and again that he has the chops: 18 money finishes in 20 career starts, with 13 wins—five of which were in Black Type stakes runs.

In the top ranks professionally in annual wins and earnings for more than a decade, Jeff C. Runco trains Penguin Power for owner David M. Raim.

We’re on the main track for race two, a six-panel allowance optional claiming race for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I’m calling this one for the 5/2 second-favored Jersey Jewel, ridden by Jomar Torres.

This three-year-old filly moneyed three of her four career starts, winning two. She’ll do.

J. Kent Sweezey, already ranked in 2020 among the top trainers in both wins and earnings, works Jersey Jewel for Fano Racing. Sweezey has put Torres in the irons for all four of Jersey Jewel’s races.

Race three is a 1-1/16 miles allowance optional claiming race on the main track for three-year-olds and upward. I agree with the morning line, so my win ticket’s on Brice, piloted by Isaac Castillo.

This four-year-old gelding finished in the money eight of his 15 career starts, winning six.

Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer trains Brice for Hollendorfer LLC, Tri-Star Racing LLC, and George Todaro.

We’re still on the main track for race five, a mile-and-70-yards allowance optional claiming race for New Jersey-breds three years old and upward. I’m betting both of my dollars on one of the fourth-favored entries (there are four at 6/1 )—Royal Coup, with Abner Adorno in the irons.

This six-year-old gelding finished in the money nine of his 27 career starts, winning three.

Oh, and Abner Adorno is having the best year of his career.

Miguel Penaloza trains Royal Coup for owner Jose A. Garcia.

Let’s start with race two, a with a 1-1/16 miles main track claiming run for fillies and mares three years old and upward. I like the 5/2 second-favored Mavilus, ridden by Charlie Marquez.

This three-year-old filly had eight money finishes in her 15 career starts, with three wins—all three in the last 12 months.

John E. Salzman, Jr. trains Mavilus for Bird Mobberley LLC. Salzman tapped Marquez for Mavilus’ two most recent runs, both resulting in money finishes, with one a visit to the winner’s circle.

Race five is a 5-1/2 furlong starter allowance run for three-year-olds and upward. My bet is on one of the fourth-favored entries (there are three at 6/1) in this race: Day the Music Died, jockeyed by Grant Whitacre.

This six-year-old gelding finished in the money 17 of his 25 career starts, winning eight. In comparison, the morning-line favorite moneyed 14 of his 29 starts, winning seven.

And I realize I touted Savagery for a race earlier this week. Still, different races, different outcomes—and I say Day the Music Died clearly has the statistical advantage in this race.

Mario Serey, Jr. trains Day the Music Died for Electric Rooster Racing Stable, LLC.

For race seven—a six-panel starter optional claiming main track run for fillies and mares three years old and upward—I’m buying a win ticket on the third-favored (at 7/2) Joyful Noise, with Grant Whitacre in the irons.

This seven-year-old mare finished in the money 34 of her 62 career starts, winning ten—five of which have been since last December. She’s currently on a three-win streak.

Joyful Noise is trained by owner Mario Serey, Jr., who has had Whitacre saddle Joyful Noise for his most recent five wins.