Weekend Stakes Action – Grade I Pattison & Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile

The two big stakes races this weekend won’t be going off at Santa Anita or Belmont Park. Instead, they will be going off at Woodbine in Canada and the Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.

For online racebook fans, this weekend showcases exactly why BetUS Sportsbook online betting fans should look to the BetUS online racebook when making their horse wagers. Most OTB facilities and American based racebooks rarely offer both Woodbine and Keeneland. For a lot of places it’s either one or the other.

But the BetUS online racebook offers both tracks.

Let’s get to the races!

Race-day: 10/04/2008

Woodbine Racetrack - - Race 10

Grade I Pattison Canadian International

$2,000,000

For Three Year Olds and Up

1 ½ miles on turf

Doctor Dino - -5/2 fair online wagering odds

In 2007 Doctor Dino came to the United States, finished third in the Arlington Million, won the Grade I Man O’ War stakes and then went back overseas. Doctor Dino managed to win two Grade I races after his brief U.S. foray, including the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin Racecourse. There’s just nothing in this race that comes close to Dr. Dino. He’s got the best Time Form Ratings, used by overseas handicappers to express how well a horse has run in a race, and has the best form. Doctor Dino is 1-1-2 in his four races this year. All four of his races were either a Grade I or a Grade II. He should be able to trounce this field. The only problem will be his online betting odds.

Quijano - - 4/1 fair online wagering odds

A Grade I winner in Italy, Quijano shouldn’t be able to beat Doctor Dino in this race, but if Dino falters, then this is the horse to take control. He’s been running in some good company overseas and barely lost by a nose to Champ Elysees in his first race on this side of the pond. That by no means should have been his best shot. I expect him to be tough on Saturday.

Lucarno - - 6/1 fair online wagering odds

Lucarno, a former Grade I winner, will look to turn his form around in this huge race. He will need to in order to beat the likes of Doctor Dino. After winning the Prince of Wale’s Stakes at Newmarket, Lucarno has been trounced in his last two races. A reversal of form isn’t out of the question but even then he will have to contend with Dino.

Wagering Strategy

If Doctor Dino goes off anywhere close to 5/2, heck, 8/5, online racebook fans should make an online horse bet on him to win. He’s that much better than the rest of this field. No matter what the odds are, Doctor Dino should be keyed over both Quijano and Lucarno in an exacta and trifeccta.

Keeneland Racecourse – Race 8

Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile

$600,000

For Three Year Olds and Up

1 mile on the turf

Shakis - - 7/2 fair online wagering odds

This race came up very tough. That means online racebook fans should look to a horse that has been consistent in his last couple of races. That would be Shakis who after winning the Grade II Bernard Baruch, finished only ¾ lengths behind Big Brown in the Monmouth Stakes. Shakis has the right closing kick for this race and because he breaks from the rail, jockey Rafael Bejarano can save ground before waiting for an opening. I like Shakis as the online bet to make in this race.