posted July 4, 2008 at 18:13 in Triple Crown Betting Trends

Two huge Grade I races at Hollywood Park on Saturday highlight the thoroughbred racing world’s July 4th weekend. For online racebook fans, Hollywood Park is definitely the track to pay attention to as huge pools are expected.

Online sportsbook horse racing betting fans could do worse then take a gander at these two very interesting and important sports wagering races.

We will start with one of my favorite races of the year, the Grade I American Oaks.

Let’s get to it!

Hollywood Park - - Race 9

Grade I American Oaks

$750,000

For Three-Year Old Fillies

1 ¼ miles on the turf

Trainer Demont Weld has a terrific percentage when he brings over a filly to run on the grass in the American Oaks. I expect that percentage to get even better after he sends out Caribbean Sunset in the American Oaks on Saturday afternoon. Caribbean Sunset looks to be the class of this field after finishing 3rd in two straight Grade I races in Europe - - one at the Curragh in Ireland and the other at Ascot in Great Britain. Those are two highly-classed tracks. It’s going to take a monstrous effort from another gal to beat this three-year old filly out of Danehill. For second, I’m going to go back stateside and throw a few online wagering dollars behind Pure Clan. Pure Clan, the likely favorite in this race, gets the one hole, which means she can save all of the ground, and has proven herself to be an exceptional filly on the turf. She finished third in the Kentucky Oaks this year - - so her dirt form isn’t that bad either - - but it’s on the turf where she has shined. She is undefeated, going 3 for 3, on the turf. She is the only American runner that could challenge Caribbean Sunset. I like front-running Raw Silk for third. She could have things her own way on the front-end but even if she’s pressured this miss has enough guts to hang on until the finish line. An upset might not be in the making, but finishing third is very doable.

1. Carribbean Sunset

2. Pure Clan

3. Raw Silk

Hollywood Park - Race 10

Grade I Triple Bend Handicap

$300,000

For Three-Years Old and Upward

7 furlongs on cushion track

I’m going to have to get chalky in this race because there is no other horse that I believe can beat the Bruce Headley trained Street Boss. Street Boss has been brilliant lately. He clipped his heels shortly after the break in the Grade III Los Angeles Handicap in his last race and still managed to beat both Sailor’s Sunset and High Standards. Yes, neither of those horses is of the quality of a Midnight Lute, but Street Boss still had to overcome a lot to get the victory. He wins this by open lengths. For second, Elite Squadron, coming over from Churchill Downs, is a terrific wager. Elite Squadron gets the one hole and should get the lead considering that the only other front-runner in this race is High Standards. Squadron could pull the upset but it would take Street Boss to bounce for him to do it. For third, High Standards, who should be either winging it on the front-end or tracking Elite Squadron, is a solid online wagering play. He has the speed and could definitely hang on for the show money.

1. Street Boss

2. Elite Squadron

3. High Standards

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