Saturday's Best Bet: Shantisara carries day in Jockey Club Oaks
Saturday’s 9th race from Belmont Park is the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks for three-year-old fillies traveling a mile and three-eighths on the inner turf course (Post Time - 5:14 p.m. ET).
#6 SHANTISARA (7-2) sat back and blasted home as the favorite in the Pucker Up (G3) on good ground at Arlington Park Aug. 14. That was a very nice effort under Flavien Prat and she scored at a mile and a quarter in France late last year. I am not too concerned about the added ground and she could easily be this good.
#7 Harajuku (4-1) makes her stateside bow for crafty trainer Andre Fabre. She won the Prix Cleopatre (G3) May 1 and her winning pilot Stephane Pasquier stays put. She probably fits with these on her best day.
#1 Creative Flair (7-2) shipped to this country and rallied for the show in the Saratoga Oaks (G3) Aug. 8. She won’t get much pace to chase but the added ground of this race probably helps her cause.
#2 Higher Truth (3-1) stalked slow fractions and settled for minor awards in the Belmont Oaks (G1) and Saratoga Oaks (G3). She has struck twice at Belmont Park and should be in a contending position throughout.
#3 Baby Blythe (9-2) enjoyed the added distance in her romping off the pace maiden win at Saratoga Aug. 14. She got pace to chase that day but won’t have that luxury in this spot.
#4 Be Up (15-1) has tactical speed and should work out a decent trip, but she is light on numbers and might be in a bit over her head.
#5 Madone (6-1) won four graded races at one mile on turf in Southern California. She does her best running late and I am concerned about the lack of pace and added ground.
Wagers:
#6 to Win
Exacta 6/1-2-7
Exacta 1-2-7/6
Trifecta 6-7/ALL/1-2
Recent Best Bet Winners
Sept. 7 - Midnight Bella/Princess Javoncia Exacta ($20.40)
Sept. 8 - Snapper Sinclair/Bob and Jackie/Midnight Tea Time Trifecta ($128.00)
Sept. 9 - HENDY WOODS ($6.60)
Sept. 10 - Red Valor/Self Taught Exacta ($12.80)
Sept. 11 - NOT SO QUIET ($5.00), Trifecta ($463.80)
Sept. 13 - YOU LOOK COLD ($5.20), Exacta ($12.80)
Sept. 17 - Colonelsdarktemper/Allege/Beau Luminaire Trifecta ($459.60)