Best Horse Racing Bets for Friday, October 29, 2021

I was hard-pressed to find solid underdog moneymakers in the races I assessed for Delta Downs, Laurel Park, and Santa Anita Park — but I did manage to find a few.

Rather than sing the blues, I’ll just let you get right on to my picks.

Just don’t forget to check out the complete race-cards for all three tracks at our best online race books.

Good luck!

Let’s start with race five — the Magnolia Stakes, a $100,000 purse, seven-furlong main track run for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I’m backing the 7/5 morning-line favorite, Net a Bear, ridden by Timothy Thornton.

This five-year-old mare finished in the money for 18 of her 26 career starts, winning seven — five of which were stakes races.

There are some great competitors in this six-horse field, but none that have proven their abilities as solidly as Net a Bear.

Allen Landry trains Net a Bear for owners Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro. Landry put Thornton in the irons for Net a Bear’s last three  races.

For race eight — a five-furlong allowance run for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward — I’m betting my two dollars on another clear winner, the 5/2 morning-line favorite, Areyouinaband, with top jockey Diego Saenz aboard.

While this five-year-old mare’s record isn’t quite as impressive as my pick for the stakes race above, neither is her competition. Areyouinaband has the statistical advantage here: eight money finishes in eleven career starts, five of them wins.

Twenty-year racing veteran Eduardo Ramirez trains Areyouinaband for owner John Tolson, IV. Saez has saddled Areyouinaband for his last five races.

Race nine is a seven-furlong allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds and upward. My money’s on the 5/1 underdog, St. Louie Guy, piloted by Devin H. Magnon.

Of his eleven starts this year, he competed in six stakes races, and won three — the One Night Lover Stakes in May, the Free Press Stakes in June, and the R.J. Speers Stakes in July — all at Assiniboia Downs. He posted triple-digit speed figures for those three races.

For the record, St. Louis Guy has moneyed 30 of his 44 career starts, winning ten.

Kenneth Decker trains St. Louis Guy for owner Henry S. Witt, Jr.

We’re starting with race four, a seven-panel allowance optional claiming run on the main track for fillies and mares three years old and upward.

It’s hard to ignore a horse that has won all three of her races, so I’m not even going to try. Buy a win ticket on the 8/5 morning-line favorite, Moquist, ridden by Jorge Ruiz.

As I noted, this three-year-old filly won all three of her career starts.

Sure, she’ll see serious competition from the second-favored Dontletsweetfoolya, who last year posted a five-race winning streak beginning with breaking her maiden in July and finishing with two stakes wins — Primonetta Stakes (Black Type) and the Willa On the Move Stakes (Listed).

Forty-year racing veteran Dale Capuano trains Moquist for Mopo Racing.

We’re moving to the turf course for race six, a 5-1/2 furlong claiming run for fillies and mares three years old and upward that have never won three races.

If the 7/5 also eligible/MTO favorite Party At Page’s enters the starting gate, bet her and her jockey, Victor R. Carrasco, to win.

The three-year-old filly moneyed seven of her ten career starts, winning four. She’s trained by Jeremiah C. Englehart for owners Gold Star Racing Stable, Emcee Stable LLC, and Brian McKenzie.

If that doesn’t happen, then bet the 8/5 grass favorite Strongerthanuknow, piloted by Horacio Karamanos. This four-year-old filly moneyed five of her nine career starts, winning two. Strongerthanuknow is trained by Jorge Duarte, Jr. for Colts Neck Stables LLC.

Race eight is a 5-1/2-furlong allowance run on the turf course for three-year-olds and upward. Bet whichever horse veteran jockey Angel Cruz enters the starting gate with.

Or it could be the 4/1 also eligible/MTO fave, Abuelo Paps, trained by Marco P. Salazar for owner Raul DelValle. This four-year-old colt moneyed 13 of his 21 career starts, winning two.

Believe it not, both horses have better stats than the rest of this 15-horse field.

Let’s start on the turf with race one, a 6-1/2 furlong claiming run for three-year-olds and upward. I agree with the morning-line for this race, so my win ticket is on the 2/1 favorite, Grit and Curiosity, with Tiago Josue Pereira in the irons.

This five-year-old gelding finished in the money nine of his 14 career starts, winning four. Notably, he finished third in last year’s Eddie D Stakes (Grade II). Versus the rest of this six-horse field, he’ll do.

Regularly ranked among the top 100 for wins, earnings, or both during the past two decades, Jeff Mullins trains Grit and Curiosity for owner Les Blake.

Race five is a six-furlong starter optional claiming run on the turf for two-year-olds. I agree with the morning line: bet the 4/5 favorite, Sauls Call, with veteran jockey Kyle Frey in the irons.

Steven Miyadi trains Sauls Call for owners Saul Carrillo, Victor M. Flores, Jeff Ganje, and Eugene Zondlo.

Race eight is a one-mile starter allowance run on the turf for three-year-olds and upward. I’m calling this one for the 4/1 underdog, Luck of the Draw, ridden by top jockey Juan J. Hernandez.

While Fly to Mars, the 5/2 favorite, has a better overall record than Luck of the Draw, much of that record is in the distant past. In 2021, Luck of the Draw holds all the cards, with seven money finishes in ten starts, three of those wins.

For comparison, Fly to Mars moneyed four out of six starts this year, winning two.

Doug F. O’Neill trains Luck of the Draw for owner Joseph E. Besecker.