Best Horse Racing Bets for Tuesday, August 17, 2021

I found plenty of pleasant surprises while searching for my Tuesday picks.

Indiana Grand Race Course was pretty standard, yielding up a favorite and a couple of second-favored prospects for our wagering entertainment. And then, when I took a look at my selected races at Mountaineer Racetrack, I found an 8/1 sleeper among the favorites.

As I was patting myself on the back for that discovery, I was confronted with three 6/1 sleepers at Presque Isle Downs, each one just begging for a win bet. I was happy to oblige.

Just remember that you can take a look at the full race cards of all three tracks at one of our best online racebooks.

Good luck!

Let’s start with race four, a six-furlong allowance run for Indiana-breds three years old and upward. My win ticket here is on the 6/5 morning-line favorite, Vice Cop, ridden by veteran jockey Marcelino Pedroza.

This three-year-old gelding finished in the money three of his five career starts, winning two, which puts him miles ahead of the rest of this lackluster six-horse field.

Randy Matthews trains Vice Cop for Patrick D. Donahoe and Donald Donahoe.

We’re on the turf for race five; a 1-1/16 miles allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds and upward. My money’s on the second-favored (at 5/2) Quality Step, with Marcelino Pedroza in the irons.

This five-year-old gelding moneyed 19 of his 32 career starts, winning seven.

Keith Nations, a multiple graded stakes winner, trains Quality Step for Nation’s Racing Stable LLC.

We’re back on the main track for race six, a six-panel allowance run for Indiana-bred three-year-olds and upward. I’m betting my two dollars on 5/2 underdog, Thedevilsalgorithm, with Gregory Romero aboard.

This four-year-old gelding won his single career start just a couple of weeks ago, posting a speed figure superior to those of his competitors in this nine-horse field. And yes, Gregory Romero was in the irons for that maiden victory.

John L. Langemeier trains Thedevilsalgorithm for owner-breeder Spooky Hollow Racing, Inc.

We’re on the turf course for race one, a seven-furlong claiming race for three-year-olds and upward. I agree with the morning line and betting on the 3/1 favorite, Distortedatthebar, ridden by Yarmarie L. Correa.

The seven-year-old gelding finished in the money 21 of his 34 career starts, winning 11. That puts him at the head of the class in this ten-horse field.

Distortedatthebar is trained by owner Robert C. Cline.

For race two—a one-mile claiming race on the turf for fillies and mares three years old and upward—I’m backing the 8/1 sleeper, Act Like a Lady, piloted by Joe Musarro.

This four-year-old filly moneyed ten of her 17 career starts, winning four—gives her a statistical edge over on the morning-line favorite.

Act Like a Lady is trained by owner Jay P. Bernardini, a top-ranked winner in his profession for five of the last six years.

Race seven takes us back to the main track for a five-furlong allowance run for fillies and mares three years old and upward. I’m sticking with the 1/1 morning-line favorite here, Dichotomy, ridden by top jockey Angel I. Diaz.

This five-year-old mare finished in the money 12 of her 27 career starts, winning six. In this seven-horse-field, that’s star quality.

Edwin Vizcarrondo trains Dichotomy for El Du-ra-ko Racing.

We start on the all-weather track with race two, a 6-1/2 furlong allowance race for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I like the 6/1 sleeper, Straight Madness, with Addiel J. Ayala in the irons.

This five-year-old mare moneyed 18 of her 39 career starts, winning eight. Yes, I’m aware that she hasn’t won a race this year, but then, neither has Brooklyns Surprise, the morning-line favorite. Yep, this is one of those kinds of races.

Joseph J. Graci, III trains Straight Madness for Little Saint Stable.

Race six is a six-panel allowance race on the all-weather track for three-year-olds and upward. My bet’s on the 6/1 sleeper Ribbons and Medals, with veteran jockey Huber Villa-Gomez in the irons.

William N. Martin trains Ribbons and Medals for owners Martin Brothers, Inc. and The Unstable, LLC.

For race seven, a six-furlong starter allowance race for three-year-olds and upward on the all-weather track, I’m buying a win ticket on the 6/1 sleeper, Stevis Man, ridden by Walber Alencar.

This eleven-year-old gelding finished had money finishes in  35 of his 60 career starts, and 24 of those money finishes were wins. You have to love a horse that knows where the winners’ circle is.

Shelly R. Radosevich trains Stevis Man for owner JSR Stables, Inc.