Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [Sept. 20 - 22]

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Weekend Windup

Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend

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Best Bets for the 2025 Dogwood Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Betting With, and Against, Echo Sound in the Dogwood Stakes

An octet of sophomore fillies will travel seven-eighths on the Churchill Downs main surface in Saturday’s $300,000 Dogwood S. (G3). Two-time Grade 3 heroine #1 Echo Sound (9-5) has been installed as the favorite in the deep field consisting of numerous quality fillies. However, if your not convinced the favorite will make it into the winner's circle, here are some best bests for you to consider. 

Echo Sound – With

• $10 trifecta 1 with 4 with 3,7 ($20)
• $3 trifecta key 1 with 3,4,7 ($18)

Echo Sound – Against

• $3 trifecta key 4 with 1,3,7 ($18)
• $1 trifecta 3,4,7 with 1,3,4,7 with 1,3,4,7 ($18)

Top Horses for the 2025 Dogwood Stakes

#4 Ragtime (2-1) is the obvious major danger to the favorite, having run three big races at Saratoga in succession to begin her career. The Union Rags lass fell just a neck short in the Test S. in her stakes bow most recently, and she has arguably the best turn of foot in the group. The Godolphin homebred has run solely at seven furlongs to this stage of her development, and she would not be a surprise with blinkers off in her initial run beneath the Twin Spires. Junior Alvarado retains the ride. 

#3 Kay Cup (8-1) has never run a bad one and will benefit from cutting back in distance for Abreu. The Instagrand filly dominated the Bouwerie S. at the distance two back in her lone effort at the trip and will bring pace to the race with Torres in the irons. 

 #7 Delightful Claire (3-1) has flashed a lot of potential from a trio of lifetime races to date and could be a serious threat with another step in the right direction on Saturday. Phil Bauer's trainee was a close third on the surface at first asking and will stalk the action early on with Jose Ortiz on board. 

Best Bets for the 2025 Bourbon Flight Stakes

Read the full analysis here: How to bet the Bourbon Flight Stakes

A field of eight sophomores will travel 1 3/16 miles on the main surface at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbon Flight S. Who is your best bet for the Bourbon Flight Stakes. 

Bourbon Flight Wagers

• $5 exacta key box 5 with 2,3,7 ($30)
• $2 trifecta key 5 with 2,3,7 ($12)
• $1 trifecta 2,3,7 with 5 with 2,3,7 ($6)

Top Horses for the 2025 Bourbon Flight Stakes

#5 Chunk of Gold (8-5) is the one to beat for conditioner Ethan West, and it’s hard for me to dismiss the talented son of Preservationist. The colt finished second in both the Risen Star S. (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds earlier this season, and following an unplaced try in the Run for the Roses in May, he has returned with a pair of big runs in succession. The bargain $2,500 yearling purchase was equipped with blinkers for the initial time at Mountaineer most recently and led throughout in a fairly dominant performance. Chunk of Gold comes in fresh and zipped a pair of bullet morning moves in preparation for his second run beneath the Twin Spires. I feel that he will handle the distance with relative ease with Jareth Loveberry in the irons. 

#3 Excite (5-1), the Speightstown colt couldn’t break through in three runs on the lawn to begin his career, but the sophomore has improved with the move to the dirt and comes off a pair of nice local runs as of late. The homebred was runner-up behind a nice prospect last time out and gives the impression of a three-year-old who will thrive with the added distance beneath Junior Alvarado. 

#2 Brotha Keny (6-1) has been in good form since April, since getting back on the main strip, and wouldn’t be a surprise to me. Trained by Bill Morey, the Mo Town gelding gets a good draw to save ground to the top of the lane with Jose Ortiz in the irons. 

#7 Admiral Dennis (2-1) scored in the Delaware Derby two back, which preceded a third-place result in the Ellis Park Derby last time out. The Constitution colt is capable of a big run on his best day and will be in the thick of it late under the guidance of Luan Machado. 

TwinSpires Jury

The TwinSpires Jury of Ashley Anderson, Darin Zoccali, and Kyle Hampton discuss their best bets for Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Day at Parx and the Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Best Bets for the 2025 Winter Memories Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Exotics Plays for the Winter Memories Stakes

A total of 10 sophomore fillies are entered for the lawn in Saturday’s $175,000 Winter Memories S. (G3) at Aqueduct. The one-mile affair on the main grassy oval will be led by the pair of fillies drawn to the inside, and I envision the duo settling things inside the final furlong. What's your best bet.

Winter Memories Exotics Play

• $5 trifecta 1,2 with 1,2 with 3,9 ($20)
• 20-cent superfecta 1,2 with 1,2,3,9 with 1,2,3,9 with all ($16.80)
• 50-cent superfecta box 1,2,3,9 ($12)

Top Horses for the Winter Memories Stakes

#1 Opulent Restraint, one of two in the field for conditioner Chad Brown, has gone close in a pair of graded races in succession in advance of this one and looms large with even minor improvement. The well-bred Dubawi filly went close behind a pair of top-notch ladies two back at Saratoga in the Belmont Oaks (G1), and she is a stakes winner on the local lawn, as well. The cutback to one mile seems like a logical choice, too. Manny Franco has the assignment. 

#2 May Day Ready changed tactics when going to the front early and leading throughout in the Lake Placid S. (G2) in her most recent performance. The bay daughter of Tapit looks to be rounding into her best form in advance of Saturday, and she is two-for-four with a second at the eight-furlong voyage, as well. Joseph Lee pupil will be in the mix late with something resembling her best showing beneath Frankie Dettori.  

#9 Griselda was purchased in December and was a winner in her first U. S. showing off the long layoff at Saratoga. The City Light chestnut has trained well in the interim, and it’s worth noting that Prat opts to ride her on Saturday. 

#3 Ready for Candy broke her maiden in a big way while making her 2025 debut for conditioner Phil Antonacci. By Twirling Candy, the $400,000 purchase goes from maiden to graded foes, but the dark bay owns a trio of black-type placings from her busy juvenile campaign and also has the second-best last-out Brisnet Speed rating in the group, too. She wouldn’t be a major surprise under Ricardo Santana, Jr.

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