Judging the talents in an unraced horse can be a very risky business. In some cases, when a top trainer like Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, or Todd Pletcher sends out a firster, that’s reason enough to include the horse in the mix.
Dan’s Double of the week, featuring handicapping analysis from America's Best Racing's New York correspondent Dan Tordjman, is brought to you by Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).
The Grade 3, $200,000 Red Smith Stakes brings together a full field of 10 running 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf course at Aqueduct, plus three also-eligibles which can run if one of the 10 in the main body of the race should scratch. There are also three horses entered for the main track only, should the race come off the turf due to inclement weather.
America’s Best Racing, Belle Premium American Vodka, and handicapper (and avid gambler) Monique Vág team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend.
Vág will identify her top picks as well as at least one longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet. She also will occasionally look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers.
