Horse Racing This Weekend: Key Races, Top Horses & Best Bets [Aug. 23-24]

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Top horses and best bets for horse racing this weekend

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Best Bets for the 2025 Travers Stakes

Read the full analysis here: Betting With, and Against, Sovereignty in the Travers

A compact field of five sophomores will travel 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Saturday in the $1.25 million Travers S. (G1). The headliner of the ‘Midsummer Derby’ is Godolphin homebred #4 Sovereignty (2-5), who is the clear leader of the division after posting a trio of fantastic tallies in succession leading up to this contest. But if your heart is simply not set on the favorite, take a look at these best bets for betting with, and against, Sovereignty. 

Sovereignty – With 

• $20 trifecta key 4 with 1,3 ($40)

Sovereignty – Against

• $10 trifecta 1,3 with 1,3,4 with 1,3,4 ($40)

Top Horses for the 2025 Travers Stakes

#1 Magnitude (2-1) burst onto the scene with a resounding win in the Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds in February, and, following time off to recover from a set back, he proved that his big win was far from a fluke when returning with a powerful, 9 ¼-length romp in the Iowa Derby in his return. The son of Not This Time has surely flipped the proverbial switch after being a bit inconsistent in the early stages of his development, and the bay comes in with five solid morning moves at this venue, including three on the main oval. He has speed and an advantageous rail draw to flaunt his early foot from the break, and the $450,000 yearling purchase might get brave if left alone for too long on the front end with Ben Curtis retaining the ride. 

#3 Strategic Focus (6-1) looked like he was going to run off to a big win in the recent Curlin S. on the surface before being outrun late, most recently, and will add blinkers for his graded debut. The Gun Runner chestnut earned a massive 107 Brisnet Speed figure two back in an allowance heat on the oval and is obviously full of talent, so if the equipment change keeps him focused and moves him forward, then the colt can surely impact this race with Flavien Prat in the stirrups. 

Best Bets for the 2025 Jamestown Stakes

Read the full analysis here: How to bet the 2025 Jamestown Stakes

An octet of juveniles will jaunt 5 1/2 panels on the outer turf oval at Colonial Downs in Saturday’s $125,000 Jamestown S. A trio of the contenders in the cast appear to be the major players in the heat, and I will focus on those three youngsters. 

Jamestown Wagers

• $15 win #6 Karate Island ($15)
• $7 exacta box 2-6 ($14)
• $3 trifecta 2,6 with 2,6 with 1,2,6 ($12)

Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast

Jason welcomes in handicapper Nick Tammaro to the show to talk about Saratoga, Travers Day, and tell some old stories. 

Top Horses for the 2025 Jamestown Stakes

#6 Karate Island (9-2) had a wide post and slow break in his debut offering, but rallied well to be second on the surface for Brittany Russell. The gelded son of Karakontie is the first foal out of a winning dam and ran like a youngster who needed a race in his unveiling. If the March foal isn’t left with too much to do turning for home in the heat, then he could be the one moving best of all in the lane under Jevian Toledo for a potent second out trainer. 

#2 Doubting Thomas (5-2) defeated the top pick with a fine burst into and through the lane on debut for conditioner Michael Trombetta. The two-year-old son of Caravaggio is kin to a stakes winner from a very productive family of grassy performers, and the May foal has come back with a pair of morning moves in advance of his second career appearance. The Virginia-bred colt will track the tempo from midpack prior to being asked for his best with Jorge Ruiz in the silks, and improvement off of his last will make him tough to fend off late. 

#1 Slewperstitus (6-5) has displayed considerable ability from a pair of career runs at this meeting, led by a close second in the Keswick S. on the main strip here last time out. The Great Notion juvenile is surely a fine prospect, but she might be in a tough spot at a short price in the affair. The dark bay filly will face the boys for the initial time while making her turf debut, and I’m not fond of her drawing the rail, either. I’ll include the miss, but I’m not in love with her chances of defeating this group at this stage of her development, with J. G. Torrealba retaining the mount. 

TwinSpires Jury

The TwinSpires Jury of Ashley Anderson, James Scully, and Darin Zoccali debate their best bets for the Travers Day undercard at Saratoga.

The $1.25 million Travers (G1) drew a field of five for the 156th running of the premier three-year-old race, with Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) hero Sovereignty the 2-5 favorite.

Best Bets for the 2025 Rancho Bernardo Handicap

Read the full analysis here: How to bet the 2025 Rancho Bernardo Handicap

Sunday’s $100,000 Rancho Bernardo H. (G2) at Del Mar attracted just five fillies and mares for the 6 1/2-furlong dash, but the affair features an intriguing contrast between the two main players in the heat and will be an exciting feature on the healthy nine-race card. 

Rancho Bernardo Wagers

• $20 trifecta 5 with 3 with 4 ($20)
• $10 trifecta 3 with 5 with 4 ($10)

Top Horses for the Rancho Bernardo Handicap

#5 Sweet Azteca is a clear one to beat, who made her 2025 debut a winning one when topping the fantastic Kopion to defend her crown in the Great Lady M S. (G2) at Los Alamitos. The gray mare, who dominated this race by seven lengths at 1-10 odds last campaign, is a swift gate horse and was also assigned an ideal post slot on the outside of the small cast to avoid trouble. The Kentucky-bred mare is certainly one of the top one-turn ladies in the country and has room to move forward second time off the long absence in her second outing for trainer Richard Baltas. The lightly raced daughter of Sharp Azteca has posted five perfectly spaced morning drills in advance of her second attempt at Del Mar and will be a deserving short-priced favorite with Juan Hernandez retaining the ride.

#3 Formula Rossa is two-for-two in her career with a pair of eye-catching wins, including an allowance stroll in her local bow on Aug. 3. The chestnut daughter of Vekoma earned a stout 103 Brisnet Speed number for her work most recently and we have not seen the best of her as of yet, in my opinion. Purchased for $270,000 as a yearling, the Kentucky-bred got a maintenance work in to prepare for her stakes bow and will get a true class test on Sunday. Formula Rossa will face an older and more seasoned group in this spot, but she looks like a star in the making, and the three-year-old will also receive a substantial 11-pound weight break from the favorite, as well. The move to seven-eighths will also aid the filly, who has closed swiftly in both runs at six panels to date. She will undoubtedly need a big step forward to take down Sweet Azteca in the contest, but I feel that she might be up to the task. 

#4 Visually is my pick to finish third in the affair. Librado Barocio pupil improved with the blinkers coming off in the grassy Daisycutter last time and will try the dirt for the initial time in her career. The late runner will pick up pieces in the lane beneath Armando Ayuso.

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