Best Horse Racing Bets for Friday, September 24, 2021

I decided to take a walk through the parks for my Friday picks—Laurel Park, Monmouth Park, and Remington Park, that is.

Even though I spotted the morning-line one favorite at each, I found plenty of underdog moneymakers at all three tracks. Of course, Remington Park served up a trio of stakes races to add to the excitement.

Remember to check out the full race cards from all three tracks with a visit to one of our recommended online racebooks.

Good luck!

We’re on the turf course for race one, a 5-1/2 furlong starter optional claiming race for fillies and mares three years old and upward. This looks like a battle between the morning-line’s top two contenders, and I’m buying a win ticket on the 9/5 favorite, Unaquoi, ridden by Horacio Karamanos.

This seven-year-old mare finished in the money for 29 of her 52 career starts, winning eleven. She’s also performed consistently better at the stakes level than the second-favored Nellysford. For example, Unaquoi won the Rachel’s Turn Stakes (Black Type) at Charles Town in 2016, and she finished second in the Claiming Crown Distaff Dash Stakes at Gulfstream in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Ollie L. Figgins, III trains Unaquoi for owner-breeder Ray M. Pennington, III.

Race three is a 5-1/2 furlong starter optional claiming run on the turf course for three-year-olds and upward. I like the second-favored (at 9/2) The Predicament, with Charlie Marquez in the irons.

Racing veteran Andrew L. Simoff—who’s having the best year of his career—trains The Predicament for owners Imaginary Stables and Glenn Ellis.

We’re on the main track for race eight, a seven-panel allowance run for Maryland-bred or -sired fillies and mares three years old and upward. My money’s on the third-favored (at 9/2) Dulce Kiara, piloted by top jockey Daniel Centeno.

This three-year-old filly won both of her career starts—her graduation victory at Pimlico in July and an allowance race at Delaware Park in August. There are some solid competitors in this ten-horse field, but Dulce Kiara has the edge.

Carl Doran trains Dulce Kiara for owner Paulette French.

We’re on the main track for race seven, a six-furlong allowance optional claiming run for New Jersey-bred three-year-olds and upward. I’m betting my two dollars on the 5/2 morning-line favorite, Brother Chub, ridden by top jockey Paco Lopez.

This nine-year-old gelding has been campaigned extensively at the stakes level, and his record stands—thus far—at 36 money finishes in 61 career starts, 17 of them wins, including the John J. Reilly Handicap (Black Type) here at Monmouth and the Claiming Crown Express Stakes at Gulfstream—both in 2019.

Michael M. Moore trains Brother Chub for owners Kasey K Racing Stable LLC and Michael Day.

Let’s go to the turf course for race eight, a 1-1/8 miles allowance optional claiming run for three-year-olds and upward. I’m backing the 4/1 third-favored Cash Call Kitten, ridden by veteran jockey Jose C. Ferrer.

Co-owner and Breeders’ Cup veteran Joseph F. Orseno trains Cash Call Kitten for himself and Joseph Orlando.

We’re back on the main track for race nine, a one-mile allowance optional claiming run for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I like one of the fourth-favored entries  (the morning line has four at 6/1), Beatubyachubinose, with Jorge Luis Gonzalez in the irons.

This seven-year-old mare took her own sweet time figuring out what the whole racing thing was about, breaking her maiden only after 14 failed attempts during her first 14 months in the biz. Overall, Beatubyachubinose finished in the money 23 of her 56 career starts, winning eight.

Regularly ranked in the top 100 for both wins and earnings, Patricia Farro trains Beatubyachubinose for Gumpster Stable LLC.

We’re on the turf course for race two—the Remington Park Turf Sprint Stakes, a $70,000 purse, five-furlong run for Oklahoma-bred three-year-olds and upward. I like the 5/2 morning-line favorite, Denver City, ridden by veteran jockey Richard E. Eramia.

This five-year-old gelding finished in the money all six of his career starts, winning five. Eramia has been aboard for two of those wins, including the most recent.

A racing veteran with over three decades in the business, Kenneth Nolen trains Denver City for owner-breeder James W. Rogers.

Race six is the Red Earth Stakes, a $70,000 purse, 7-1/2 furlong turf run for Oklahoma-bred three-year-olds and upward. I’m buying a win ticket on the second-favored (at 3/1) Quality Rocket, with top jockey Ramon A. Vazquez aboard.

Racing veteran Boyd Caster trains Quality Rocket for owner Jeremy D. Ball.

We’re still on the turf for race nine—the Bob Barry Memorial Stakes, a $70,000 purse, 7-1/2 furlong turf race for Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares three years old and upward. I’m betting my two dollars in the third-favored (at 9/2) Lady Orchid, with Floyd Wethey, Jr. in the irons.

Even on paper, this five-year-old mare is the more obvious choice to win this match: 12 money finishes in 16 career starts, eight of those wins. And five of those wins were stakes victories—the Miranda Diane Stakes and the More Than Even Stakes (both at Will Rogers this past May) her most recent.

Francisco Bravo trains Lady Orchid for his wife, owner-breeder Lori L. Bravo. Floyd Wethey, Jr. is a frequent jockey for Bravo and saddled Lady Orchid for her three most recent wins.