Horse Betting World

The Ladies Shine in Weekend Stakes Action

By Michael Dempsey

The ladies came out in full force this weekend, and they did not disappoint. Bettors sent off Rachel Alexandra, Devil May Care, and Evening Jewel each as the short priced favorites, and the trio found their way to the winners circle.

The reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra might have had to work a bit harder than many expected, but came away with a three-length victory in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret at Monmouth Park. Horse Betting

The early pacesetter Queen Martha put up a fight as they came together at the top of the stretch, but Rachel Alexandra’s class and talent shined through as she proved much the best inside the final furlong.

The winner paid a paltry $2.20 to win and topped an $8.20 exacta.

A crowd of 13,000 came to Monmouth Park to see the champion run, and all source handle totaled $11,421,794, a new record for the track outside of a Breeders’ Cup or Haskell Day in track history.

Next up for Rachel Alexandra is the $400,000 Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 and the rumblings are already starting about a possible showdown with Zenyatta in that race.

The two super females better start looking over their shoulder, because the three-year-old filly Devil May Care won her fifth race in eight career starts in Saturday’s $250,000 Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.

The filly drew off smartly to win by four lengths under jockey John Velazquez. The Todd Pletcher trainee won her second Grade 1 in a row, having won the Mother Goose on June 26.

She ran tenth when taking on the boys in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1)

“You can see by the way that she won today why we tried the Derby,” Pletcher said. “The thing that I think gets lost in the shuffle a little bit is how much there is left in the tank. We tried to do the right thing after the Derby and give her plenty of time to the Mother Goose and she rewarded us with a big effort and did the same today. I’ve felt all along that this filly is the best of her generation and if she continues to run like today, I think she’ll prove it.”

Her next outing likely will come in the $500,000 Betfair TVG Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 21.

On Sunday at Del Mar, Evening Jewel prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap (G2).

With jockey Victory Espinoza aboard, the filly rallied to grab the lead at the top of the stretch and did not disappoint her backers, returning $5.40 for the win. Horse Racing Betting

The ultra consistent filly has now landed in the exacta in 10 of her eleven career starts and has bankrolled $696,943.

Jim Cassidy, who had a great weekend, trains Evening Jewel. Cassidy saddled The Usual Q.T., who won Saturday’s $300,000 Eddie Read Handicap (G1), who was also ridden by Espinoza.

Look for written and video analysis of this weekend’s stakes action coming Friday right here at Online Horse Racing