The Midsummer Derby aka the Travers Stakes is finally here, along with tons of other important races. Among the big races that will be contested this weekend are the Pacific Classic, Pat O’Brien Handicap, Victory Ride Stakes, King’s Bishop Stakes, Personal Ensign Stakes, Ballerina Stakes, Ballston Spa Handicap, and many more. My free picks which were released here on Wednesday fared very well. From five races I had three winners ($4.50, $5.40, $12.20), and a 9-1 shot who ran second and paid $6.80 to place. Not bad, right?

I’ve done very well on the  big days at Saratoga. Just two weeks ago I had Blame as my best bet of the weekend in the Whitney Handicap. He keyed a $2,564 Pick 4 while returning $8.80 win. He nailed the heavily favored Quality Road on the wire. I’ve had countless winners in the everyday races at the Spa with the biggest price being Settle For Medal ($45.20). The maiden runner made perfect sense to me as the only one in the race with experience. He broke poorly in his first start before rallying to finish well behind a well regarded winner. The bettors let him off at a huge price in that race and he made them pay for it. My subscribers and I had him though!

I have big hopes for this weekend of racing. I do my best work on these big days and I have little doubt that I will have a huge day handicapping. I highly encourage you to play along. Below you will find several packages of picks. Choose the one that suits you best and find it on the drop down menu near the “Buy Now” button.

Travers Stakes & Pacific Classic Package ($5.99)

• Unlike my Triple Crown packages you will get twice the value with this one as I’m throwing in the Pacific Classic which is later on the same day at Del Mar.
• This package includes my top selection to WIN each of those two races.
• Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta plays
• Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4 plays

Stakes Selections ($10.99)

• This package includes everything from the “Travers & Pacific Classic Package” plus:
• Selections for the Pat O’Brien Handicap, Ballerina Stakes, Molly Pitcher Stakes, Personal Ensign Stakes, Victory Ride Stakes, Kings Bishop Stakes, and Del Mar Handicap.

Full Card Saratoga Selections ($15.99)

• Purchasers of this package get everything listed in the “Travers & Pacific Classic Package” plus more:
• Top Selections to win every race at Saratoga.
• Assorted Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta plays
• Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 6 plays

Saratoga Selections+More( ($55.99)

• Buyers of this package will receive everything from the “Full Card Saratoga Selections” plus:
• Selections for every day of racing left at Saratoga ($90 value).
• Selections for the Pat O’Brien Handicap, Ballerina Stakes, Molly Pitcher Stakes, Personal Ensign Stakes, Victory Ride Stakes, Kings Bishop Stakes, Molly Pitcher, and Del Mar Handicap.

Gradedstakes.com Selections

Travers, Pacific Classic Package $5.99 Stakes Selections $10.99 Saratoga Selections $15.99 Saratoga Selections+More $55.99

2 Aprilmayjune Velazquez J R 119 17.40 6.10 4.00

3 It’s Tea Time Leparoux J R 116 5.50 3.60 2.80

2 Get Stormy Castellano J J 117 5.10 3.10 2.80

1 Winslow Homer Albarado R J 120 4.70 3.40    2.20

1 Malibu Prayer Velazquez J R 116 6.70 2.80 2.50

I’m handicapping the races everyday at Saratoga. Don’t miss out this week! You can buy selections by using the form below. The rest of the meet is available for $69, and single day cards are $10. Horse racing results will be posted here afterwards on certain occasions.

Saratoga/Del Mar Picks

Saratoga Meet $69.00 Del Mar Meet $69.00 Saratoga Single $10.00 Del Mar Single $10.00

I would probably visit Del Mar over Saratoga if given the choice. The track sits right on the Pacific Ocean and the beach is stunningly beautiful. There are few things in the world that I like more than horse racing and beaches. Saratoga is no slouch though. The track has tons of historical value as it has been around since 1863.

Some of the races we can look forward to at Saratoga are the Whitney Handicap, Jim Dandy Stakes, Traver Stakes, Woodward Stakes, and Alabama Stakes among many more.

All of those races were very memorable in 2009. The Travers saw Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird romp over Quality Road. We got to see Careless Jewel destroy her foes in the Alabama. Who can forget Rachel Alexandra digging in and holding on to beat older males in the Woodward? That performance will be hard for any horse to top this year.

We can expect to see Rachel Alexandra, Blame, and Quality Road race at the Saratoga meet this year. Rachel Alexandra will race Saturday at Monmouth Park in the Lady’s Secret, but her next start is likely to be in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Blame and Quality Road will meet in the Whitney Handicap next weekend. The victor of that matchup will be solidified as the top older male in the country.

Del Mar will feature the San Diego Handicap, Pacific Classic, Del Mar Futurity, Del Mar Oaks, and Eddie Read Stakes. Last year we got to see Richard’s Kid take the Pacific Classic at a big price for trainer Bob Baffert. The master trainer also took the Del Mar Futurity with future Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky. The biggest attraction for this meet will be the undefeated mare Zenyatta who is likely to compete in the Clement Hirsch Handicap.

I’m already counting down the minutes for these two great meets. Del Mar will begin on Wednesday. Saratoga starts on Friday. I’m going to be watching every race to get a feel for how the track is playing. Be sure to join me on this handicapping adventure! For just $10 per card or $69 for the entire meet (each) you can have all my picks for Saratoga and Del Mar. I thrive on this type of racing and I expect to cash some very nice exotic and win tickets. Don’t miss the action!

Saratoga/Del Mar Picks

Saratoga Meet $69.00 Del Mar Meet $69.00 Saratoga Single $10.00 Del Mar Single $10.00

I’ve handicapped nine races this weekend. My top selections range in price from 8-5 to 10-1, but most are above 3-1. It’s very unusual for me to do nine stakes races in a week, but I saw many things I liked and a number of price horses have great chances to win. I  feel really good about several picks this week. You can play along for just $10 this week, or join me for a month for only $35.

Be on the lookout for Saratoga picks starting next week. I will be handicapping the card every day and I highly encourage you to play along. Last year my highest priced winner was 21-1 shot Dattt Echo. I also gave out several Pick 4 plays paying in excess of $700. I’m ready to do it again.

Don’t miss out!

Gradedstakes.com PicksPicks

Selections (One Week) $10.00 Selections (One Month) $35.00

Those who purchased my selections this weekend were rewarded when I correctly picked the winner in 5 of 7 races. I’m hoping to continue handicapping hotly this weekend and I am looking forward to all of the stakes action! Let’s examine the races where I was successful.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes: Caracortado ($11)- I had a REALLY good feeling about this gelding. He had never failed in four tries and had already proved he could go two turns whereas the favorite had not done so. Paul Atkinson gave him a great ride and he won fairly easily. Trainer Michael Machowsky is pointing him to the San Felipe Stakes where he could meet up with Lookin at Lucky in a matchup akin to David and Goliath.

San Vicente Stakes: Sidney’s Candy ($6.60)- I believed this colt would trounce all comers in this race and he did so. He lived up to the form he showed over the summer at Del Mar. He won this race quite easily and has to be the early favorite for the Santa Anita Derby. He looked scary good and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him.

Santa Maria Handicap: St Trinians ($4.60)- I believed that Life Is Sweet freaked when she won the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic due to the fast pace set by Careless Jewel. While she ran second, I was right to believe she couldn’t handle my top selection St Trinians who improved her record in the US to a perfect four for four. Mike Mitchell wants her next start to come in the Santa Anita Handicap. I may support her there also depending on the field!

Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship: Munnings ($4)- It seems that all this son of Speighstown really needed was a fast track. Trainer Todd Pletcher wants to target a Grade 1 race for his next start. If the track is fast he will have a heck of a chance to win.

Las Virgenes Stakes: Blind Luck ($2.40)- Who didn’t have this filly? She is incredibly fast although she narrowly got up after a perfectly timed ride by Rafeal Bejarano. I advised bettors to sit this race out because she looked overwhelmingly good, but wasn’t worth a bet at such a short price. Like many of the other previously listed horses, I can’t wait to see more of her!

This weekends lineup includes:

Fountain of Youth Stakes

Risen Star Stakes

Hutcheson Stakes

El Camino Real Derby

Mineshaft Handicap

San Carlos Handicap

San Luis Obispo Handicap

I’m going to try and best last week. It won’t be easy but I think I can do it. For information on how to get my picks click here or use the form below!

I wasn’t too happy when I awoke Saturday morning to learn that Santa Anita had cancelled racing. 3 of the 6 races on my tip sheet were on the card and I felt very good about my chances in the Robert B Lewis. The remaining three races were solid. I had $17.40 winner Peppi Knows in the Whirlaway who was my de facto top selection after the defection of Turf Melody. That race was marred when jockey Jorge Chavez fell off the heavily favored Eightyfiveinafifty who jumped the rail. I have read reports that Chavez is OK, and the horse sustained only a minor injury. I am thankful for that. I love to win, but the well being of the horses and jockeys comes first!

The remaining two races I had given picks for were the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and the Donn Handicap. My top pick in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap was Yate’s Black Cat, who was a victim of a poor ride by Kent Desormeaux, although he probably wasn’t good enough regardless. Kent tried to go through what I call a “phantom hole”. There was no place for him to move, and his horse clipped heels with Take The Points who was DQed from the win. Court Vision benefited from the decision and was placed first at odds of 4-5.

I strongly disagree with the decision to remove Take The Points from first, and I read that Todd Pletcher may appeal the decision. My comments for the race noted that Yate’s Black Cat was my top choice narrowly over Take The Points, and I used both on top in my exotic bets. Take The Points DQ cost me a trifecta. Although it wasn’t going to pay a ton for a buck, it was a cheap ticket and I had a $5 wager.

I had Quality Road winning the Donn Handicap, along with everyone else on the planet. He returned $2.80 for the win. Dry Martini rallied for second and Delightful Kiss was third. I was able to come up with the exacta that paid $17.20 for $2 on a ticket that cost $6. My trifecta ticket cost $16 to bet and returned $93. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to break the bank with these races, but I am glad I hit them regardless of how much they paid. Like they old saying goes; you can pick the winner but you can’t pick the price.

This weekends lineup includes horse racing picks for Saturday and Presidents Day.

• Sam Davis Stakes
• Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship
• Las Virgenes Stakes
• Robert B Lewis Stakes
• Strub Stakes
• Hurricane Bertie Stakes
• General George Breeders Cup Handicap
• Southwest Stakes
• San Vicente Stakes

Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays. You will be glad you did.