Best Horse Racing Bets for Tuesday, May 18, 2021

I’m going with Louisiana Downs, Mountaineer Racetrack, and Parx Racing. I found plenty of underdogs to tout, with only four of my nine picks in the “morning line favorite” category. The rest are second, third, and even fourth-favored entries. Cha-CHING!

Before you get started on my picks, remember to check out all the races at my three selected tracks at one of our best horse racing betting sites.

Good luck!

Race three is a 5-1/2 furlong main track run for three-year-olds and upward, and my money is on the 9/5 morning line favorite, Bluegrass Pharoah, with Joel Dominguez in the irons.

This Steve Asmussen-trained three-year-old colt moneyed five of his nine career starts, winning one. Asmussen has tapped jockey Joel Dominguez for this run. Blue Grass Pharoah is owned by Calumet Farm, which was founded in 1924.

In race six—a six-furlong main track run for three-year-olds and upward—I like the second-favored (at 5/2) Mocito Rojo.

Mocito Rojo is under training to Shane Wilson for Wayne T. Davis. Wilson has selected jockey Jose Andres Guerrero to pilot Mocito Rojo for this run.

Race seven is a one mile and 70 yards main track run for Louisiana-bred three-year-olds and upward. I’m backing one of the third-favored entries (there are two at 4/1) in this race—Lucky Streaker.

Trainer-owner (via BMS Racing Stable) Sarah Delany has Alexander Castillo in the irons for this race. Castillo was aboard for Lucky Streaker’s most recent win, a claiming race at Delta Downs in March.

I’m starting with race one, a seven-furlong turf run for three-year-olds and upward, and I’m going with one of the third-favored underdogs (there are three at 6/1) in this race—Wink and a Nod.

The five-year-old gelding—owned by Mitre Box Stables—has finished in the money 15 of his 30 career starts, winning seven, which puts him in the statistical lead in this field.

Ranked among the top 100 trainers every year since 2014, Jay P. Bernardini has Charle Oliveros in the irons for this race. Oliveros has ridden Wink and a Nod frequently in his racing career, and was aboard for his two most recent victories, both in November at Mountaineer.

We stay on the turf for race two—a seven-furlong grass run for three-year-olds and upward.

A five-year-old in training to longtime Mountaineer regular Eddie Clouston, He’s Zippin On By moneyed 13 of his 25 career starts, winning eight. Clouston—who’s been among the top 100 trainers for the last five years—has tapped veteran jockey Eddie Jurado to saddle He’s Zippin On By for this race.

He’s Zippin On By is owned by Michelle Helms.

Race seven is a two-furlong main track run for three-year-olds and upward, and I’m betting on the 5/2 morning line favorite, Phonemyposseagain.

This six-year-old gelding is owned by finished in the money 28 of his 40 career starts, winning 16. Trainer Kevin S. Patterson (whose Diamond Oak Stable in Pennsylvania owns Phonemyposseagain) has Charle Oliveros aboard for this run.

I’m starting with race nine at Parx—a seven-furlong sprint for three-year-olds and up. My money in this race is on one of the fourth-favored entries (there are two at 6/1) in this race: Ashaab, ridden by veteran jockey John Bisono.

This four-year-old colt moneyed both of his career starts, with a third-place in his first maiden run in March at Penn National, and a win in his second maiden, at Parx in April.

Jorge J. Maymo, who trains Ashaab for owner Jesus R. Suarez, picked Bisono to ride Ashaab for his graduation victory back in April; he’s going with Bisono for this run, as well.

In race ten, a 5-1/2 furlong main track run for three-year-olds and upward, my win ticket is on the 5/2 morning line favorite, Word On a Wing.

Veteran Kathleen A. Demasi trains Word On a Wing for her own Pewter Stable in New Jersey. She has tapped Mychel Sanchez to ride in this race, which makes sense—Sanchez has been aboard Word On a Wing for all of his wins, and all but two of his starts.

Race eleven is a seven-furlong main track run for fillies and mares, and I’m agreeing with the morning line here and buying a win ticket on the 2/1 favorite, Gypsy Janie.

This six-year-old mare moneyed 17 of her 35 career starts, winning nine, which gives her the statistical edge in this 11-horse field.

Trainer Joseph Tayler has chosen ace jockey Frankie Pennington for this ride. Taylor, who has been in the top 100 trainers in both wins and earnings for the last two years, trains mostly for Top Notch Racing, which owns Gypsy Janie.