posted July 18, 2008 at 14:57 in Triple Crown Articles

Belmont Park wraps up their spring meet with the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday. The race is lacking a huge field but online racebook fans could find a nice overlay as Musical Note will no doubt be the heavy, heavy horse betting favorite.

Race-Day: 7/19/2008 Grade I CCA Oaks
Race-Day: 7/20/2008 Grade I Eddie Read

Del Mar showcases the Grade I Eddie Read this Sunday with Lava Man returning to the turf. Lava Man bypassed the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup and decided instead to take his chances in this Grade I. Can the old fella do it? Maybe.

Let’s get to it!

Belmont Park - - Race 9 7/19/2008

Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks

$300,000

For Three-Year Old Fillies

1 ¼ miles on dirt

There’s no Proud Spell in this race but Proud Spell’s arch nemesis, Musical Note, is in here. Musical Note will go off the chalk which means I can’t really pick her as my top online bet, can I? Heck, no! I’m going with the David Carroll trained Acoma. This daughter of Empire Maker is riding a three-game win streak. More importantly, she’s improved in every single race. With that cushy inside post, where she can track the speed, I expect jockey Julien Leparoux to bide his time before taking her up the rail for the victory. For second, Little Belle, going from trainer Kiaran McLaughlin to Saeed Bin Suroor, has to be considered for an online wager. She’s a proven graded stakes winner and out of A.P. Indy there really isn’t a reason for her not to love the 1 ¼ mile distance. For third, Musical Note, the chalk, is the choice. No knocks against her accept the price which will be very short.

1. Acoma
2. Little Belle
3. Musical Note

Del Mar - - Race 8 7/20/2008

Grade I Eddie Read

For Three-Years Old and Up

$400,000

1 ¼ miles on the turf

Lava Man was brilliant in the Grade I Charles Wittingham in his last race. He looked like a winner but ended up finishing third. Still, his ability to attend a wicked pace and hang on to lose by only a neck was breathtaking. But I’m still not going for him in this race. I like the looks of long-shot Whatsthescript for trainer John Sadler. Whatsthescript is coming off of the best race of his life and their will be some online betting fans wondering if he’ll have any shot in this race, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for improving horses. Plus, the writer for the racing form described Whatsthescript as “inhaling his rival” in his last race. Come on! That means something, right? It’s going to be tough to keep Monzante from the winners’ circle in this race. The only issue will be his price, I feel as if he will go off the chalk in this affair, so I very well can’t put him on top. For third, I’d love to pick Lava Man but Spring House should bounce back from his Dubai debacle for trainer Julio Canini. Let’s make Spring House third.

1. Whatsthescript
2. Monzante
3. Spring House

Check the BetUS Locker Room for the latest info on Horse Racing, Big Brown the Triple Crown, Full Track Odds, Past Triple Crown Winners, and the 2008 Belmont Stakes