Horse Racing This Labor Day Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [Aug. 30 - Sept. 1]

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Weekend Windup

Check out the weekend windup to see what's coming up this weekend. 

Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend

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Best Bets for the 2025 Pacific Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Betting With, and Against, Nysos in the Pacific Classic

A stellar rendition of the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) will take place at Del Mar on Saturday with a robust field of eight set to go postward. The once-beaten #4 Nysos (8-5) has been installed as the slight morning-line choice in the marquee event for conditioner Bob Baffert. However, if your heart is not set on the favorite. Here are some options for you to entertain. 

Nysos – With

• $12 trifecta key 4 with 1,6 ($24)
• $2 trifecta 4 with 1,6 with all ($24)

Nysos – Against

• $28 win #1 Fierceness ($28)
• $1 superfecta 1,6 with 1,4,6 with 1,4,6 with all ($20)

Top Horses for the 2025 Pacific Classic Stakes

#4 Nysos (8-5) has been installed as the slight morning-line choice in the marquee event for conditioner Bob Baffert. By the surging Nyquist, the four-year-old is a head shy from being unbeaten with the lone setback in his lifetime coming when he was a brave runner-up in the Churchill Downs S. (G1) in May off of the 15-month layoff. The $550,000 juvenile purchase was a facile winner of the San Diego H. (G2) in his latest performance while running beyond one mile for the initial time, and the brilliant Kentucky-bred gives the impression of a colt that will endure 10 furlongs quite well, too. I expect Flavien Prat to keep the star within a few lengths of the early pace before asking him for his best approaching the turn for home. 

#1 Fierceness (3-1) is a formidable third choice from the rail for Todd Pletcher. The City of Light colt is a Grade 1 winner at the distance; he was a powerful second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in his lone prior try at Del Mar, and he is also versatile enough to adapt to any pace scenario, as well. The four-year-old didn’t give the best account of himself in the Whitney S. (G1) when tiring in the stretch at Saratoga last time, but he can surely rebound and top this cast with a top performance. John Velazquez comes in to ride. 

#6 Journalism (9-5) has only been defeated by the sublime Sovereignty over his last eight appearances and will tackle his elders for the initial time for Michael McCarthy. The three-time Grade 1 victor broke his maiden at Del Mar and has worked well on the course in advance of his toughest assignment to date. The Curlin sophomore faces a challenging chore in a very strong cast, but he is a genuine colt who might be up to the task. He also receives a six-pound weight break from his major foes in the group, as well. I expect the Kentucky-bred to be well off the early tempo in a field with plenty of speed in it before he puts in his stout closing kick in the lane with Umberto Rispoli retaining the ride. 

Best Bets for the 2025 Spinaway Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Exotics Plays for the 2025 Spinaway Stakes

A fine field of 10 juvenile fillies will travel seven panels over the Saratoga main strip in Saturday’s $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1). The deep event features eight two-year-olds that were winners last time out, while the other duo in the heat were second best over this course most recently. 

Spinaway Exotics

• $5 exacta 1 with 4,5,7,8 ($20)
• $1 trifecta key 1 with 4,5,7,8 ($12)
• $.20-cent superfecta 1 with 5,8 with 4,5,7,8 with all ($8.40)
• $.10-cent superfecta 5,8 with 1 with 4,5,7,8 with all ($4.20)

Top Horses for the 2025 Spinaway Stakes

#1 Ornellaia (9-2) brought $1.1 million in May and could be well worth the hefty investment. The daughter of Girvin debuted in a loaded maiden race on Whitney Day, and following a tardy break, the dark bay lass exploded through the lane to win in going-away fashion at the finish. Trained by Chad Brown, the March foal took some money in her unveiling and has worked twice following her victory for a conditioner who is better with horses having a level of experience, in general. The Kentucky-bred was assigned a tricky post on the fence, but she faces a group with a lot of early pace and could sit a fine voyage off the tempo while saving ground to the top of the lane. I think she will run by late once again beneath Dylan Davis. 

#5 Percy’s Bar (6-1) made a visually impressive move leading up to the stretch and finished with fine energy to romp in the Debutante S. to move her mark to two-for-two. Ben Colebrook pupil, who was a powerful winner on debut at Keeneland two back, has trained swiftly in advance of her first run in the Empire State and could be very dangerous with even slight improvement in the dash. The Upstart filly will have regular rider Luan Machado in the irons. 

#8 Tommy Jo (2-1) did mostly everything right at first asking when sailing home a 3 3/4-length heroine on the oval for Todd Pletcher. The Into Mischief filly was flattered when the horse that she trounced on debut came back a winner in her subsequent effort, and the Spendthrift homebred is very logical on this occasion, with Kendrick Carmouche inheriting the mount.  

 #4 Mythical (5-2) has yet to be headed from a trio of career runs for trainer Jorge Delgado. The St Patrick’s Day Florida-bred will face the deepest field of her lifetime, but the January foal is proven over the surface with two local wins and will likely be the one to run down turning for home under Jaramillo. 

#7 Steer Clear (12-1) was second to the top pick in the Whitney Day contest and can’t be ignored in her second career attempt. The $575,000 yearling purchase picks up Jose Lezcano. 

TwinSpires Jury

The TwinSpires Jury of James Scully, Darin Zoccali, and Ashley Anderson deliver their picks for the Nashville Derby (GIII), Pacific Classic (GI), and Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI).

Best Bets for the 2025 Jockey Club Gold

Read the full analysis here: How to bet the 2025 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

An excellent cast of nine, led by four Grade 1 winners including the defending champion in the contest, will vie in Sunday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) at Saratoga. The 1 1/4-mile dirt test will reward the victor with a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar in the ‘Win and You’re In’ event. 

Jockey Club Wagers

• $25 win #2 Highland Falls ($25)
• $5 exacta key box 2 with 3,4 ($20)
• $2 superfecta 2 with 3,4 with 3,4 with 1,8 ($8)

Top Horses for the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes

#2 Highland Falls (5-1) this season, and he comes into the race with reason to move forward once again in his third try of 2025. A four-length winner in the tilt last campaign, the chestnut comes off a clear runner-up showing in the deep Whitney S. (G1) on the strip in his latest appearance and shows a pair of solid morning drills in the interim. Highland Falls is getting better with age, and I love how he has performed in his two local runs to date. The five-year-old has plenty of positional speed to gain a good spot in the early stages of the race and also has the acceleration to gain some separation from his foes when asked for his best. I feel as though he has never been better and will be a solid price under Luis Saez. 

#4 Mindframe (2-1) has done little wrong in his seven-race career and finished a big second in the Belmont S. (G1) in his lone local try, which was also his only prior attempt at the 10-furlong distance. The Todd Pletcher pupil, who was last seen bagging the Stephen Foster S. (G1) at Churchill Downs in June, can handle any distance and is versatile enough to run from on the lead or off the pace with equal effectiveness. The Constitution four-year-old figures to be prominent from the break in this particular spot beneath Irad. 

#3 Sierra Leone (8-5) rallied from last to garner a fine tally in the Whitney S. (G1) in his latest effort for conditioner Chad Brown. The Gun Runner four-year-old has never finished out of the money in his career and is a proven commodity at the trip, evidenced by his triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar in November. Flavien Prat will get this one winding up approaching the turn for home, and the colt will be tough to deny with his peak performance. 

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