Best Horse Racing Bets for Tuesday, December 7, 2021

I’m not sure I’ve seen a better day for underdogs and sleepers than this Tuesday at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Parx Racing, and Remington Park.

All three tracks had at least one sleeper to tout, with Parx leading the parade with two (count ‘em, two!) sleepers to improve both our dispositions and our bankrolls.

Remember to check out the full race cards for all three tracks at our best horseracing wagering sites.

Good luck!

We’ll start on the main track with race five, a six-furlong allowance race for Ohio-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. My money’s on the 8/1 sleeper, Hampton Dancer, ridden by Agustin Bracho.

There are three entries in this race at 8/1, but only one of those has won both of her career starts. For comparison, the 7/2 favorite, Shez Shacked Up, moneyed 15 of her 23 starts, winning two.

Longtime racing veteran Susan L. Anderson trains Hampton Dancer for owner-breeder Douglas Jacobson. Anderson has chosen Bracho to saddle Hampton Dancer for both of her career victories.

Race six is a six-furlong run for Ohio-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I’m going to agree with the morning line here and bet on the 4/5 favorite, Star Rules, with Jeffrey Sanchez in the irons.

James H. McDonald trains Star Rules for owner-breeder Doris Tummillo.

Race seven is a six-furlong allowance optional claiming run on the main track for Ohio-bred three-year-olds and upward. I like the second-favored (at 5/2) Classic Mo, with veteran jockey Erik Barbaran aboard.

This seven-year-old gelding takes the statistical spotlight in this nine-horse field with 28 money finishes in 48 career starts, 16 of those wins.

Jeffrey Skerrett trains Classic Mo for owner Danielle Agnello.

Let’s begin at Parx with race two, a one mile and 70 yards claiming run on the main track for fillies and mares three years old and upward.

I’m betting my two dollars on the 6/1 sleeper, Grace’s Drama, piloted by jockey Luis M. Ocasio.

This seven-year-old mare’s record speaks for itself – 36 money finishes in 56 career starts, 12 of those wins. While the M/L favorite in this race has similar overall stats, Grace’s Drama has a slight statistical edge with her performance in 2021—eight money finishes in 13 starts, two of them wins.

Newcomer Jose M. Santaella-Calderon trains Grace’s Drama for owners Cirexis Stable and Santaella Stable.

Race eight is a one mile and 70 yards allowance run on the main track for three-year-olds and upward. I’m agreeing with the morning-line on this one. Bet on the 9/5 favorite, I Am Redeemed, ridden by Abner Adorno.

Penny Pearce, who’s having the best year of her career, trains I Am Redeemed for owner Larry Rebbecchi. Pearce has put Adorno in the irons for I Am Redeemed’s last five races.

Race nine is the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes, a $200,000 purse, seven-furlong run on the main track for Pennsylvania-bred two-year-olds. I see an upset here, with the win going to the 6/1 underdog, Dance Code, with veteran jockey Nik Juarez aboard.

I agree that the current three-win streak of the 9/5 favorite—Disco Ebo—is formidable, but the uncertainty of who will ride Disco Ebo in this race gives me pause.

So, I’m backing Dance Code, a colt with a solid record himself: Three money finishes in four career starts, two of those wins. He also finished third in the Sanford Stakes (Grade III) at Saratoga in July.

Juan C. Vazquez trains Dance Code for Richie’s World Stables LLC. Vazquez put Juarez in the saddle for Dance Code’s most recent victory.

Let’s begin with race five, a six-furlong allowance race on the main track for three-year-olds and upward. I’m backing the 5/1 third-favored Mover, piloted by Jose L. Alvarez.

This three-year-old colt moneyed four of his seven career starts, winning two. Mover broke his maiden on his second attempt and has posted solid speed figures since that time.

Granted, the morning-line favorite, My Golden M, has a slightly better money-finishes-to-starts ratio, but all his races have been maiden runs, and his single win was his sixth and most recent graduation try.

Twenty-year racing veteran Ronnie E. Cravens, III trains Mover for owner Geral Dewitt.

Race seven is a six-furlong allowance race on the main track for three-year-olds and upward. I’m betting my two dollars on the 3/1 underdog, Favorable Outcome, with Stewart Elliott in the irons.

He’s posted triple-digit speed figures in four of his five most recent races.

Mindy J. Willis trains Favorable Outcome for owners Amy Hardy and Westside Racing Stable.

For race eight—a six-furlong allowance race for Oklahoma-bred three-year-olds and upward—I’m betting on the 8/1 sleeper, Just Chillin, ridden by Floyd Wethey Jr.

This three-year-old gelding has the best statistical record in this nine-horse field: Six money finishes in nine career starts, with two wins. He also finished third in the Will Rogers Stakes at Will Rogers Downs in May and second in the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes at Remington Park in September.

Thirty-year racing veteran Francisco Bravo trains Just Chillin for owner Michael Grossman.