How to Bet Let 8 Ride as Thursday racing returns to Arlington

Thursday racing returns to Arlington International Racecourse on July 7 and along with it the popular TwinSpires.com promotion Let 8 Ride.

This week also marks five weeks until the International Festival of Racing, and Arlington Park will mark the occasion on Saturday, July 9, with its Million Preview Day.

But before we get there, we have to get through today's affair, and to spice up the 8-race card, @Stuckey_Alec & I have engaged in a #TopPickThursday challenge. We're making one pick in each race with the better ROI on a $2 win bet of each selection winning the prize. If either of our picks scratch then the whole race is cancelled.

Here are my top picks for each race:

1: #4 Looktheotherway

2: #4 Out of the Woods

3: #3 Nikaluck

4: #1 Sol d'Oro (BEST BET)

5: #4 My Moment

6: #6 Daddy's Boo

7: #4 Cammack

8: #1 Gyp Rope

As for Let 8 Ride, the task to survive day 1 got a little easier with the scratches of both #s 2 & 6, but it's still a contentious affair, and I'd want to make $8 win bets on #s 1, 5, & 7 in an attempt to advance to Friday's program. Gyp Rope has a favorable rail draw (22% winners at six furlongs), and if speed holds, he's the most likely one to see it on through, but for alternatives I'll take the ones likely to be running late.

GOOD LUCK Alec and all.