Pennine Ridge S. (G2) at Belmont Park
9F on Turf (May 29)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 37 9-furlong graded turf stakes at Belmont Park
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Horses Beaten %
Factor Stats: 38 contenders, 12 winners (31%, $42.00 Win Return, 155 ROI%), 18 place (47%), 25 show (55%, $4.30 Show Return)

The Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes, the Saturday feature at Belmont Park, drew a solid field of nine 3-year-olds, all vying for their first graded stakes victory.

The lineup includes a refugee from the Triple Crown, a pricey recent maiden winner, a turf debuter along with several showing blacktype form on the grass. With such a handicapping puzzle facing bettors, we turned to the Betmix Angler online database for some perspective.

Angler reveals that the Horses Beaten % handicapping factor has produced 31% winners in the 9-furlong grassy graded races at Belmont. These winners have generated a stout $42 Win Return and have hit the board over two thirds of the time.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Horses Beaten % slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

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Honeymoon S. (G3) at Santa Anita
5F on Turf (May 22)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 54 9-furlong graded turf stakes at Santa Anita
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg Last 3 Race Classes
Factor Stats: 55 contenders, 19 winners (34%, $52.20 Win Return, 147 ROI%), 25 place (45%, $4.10 Place Return, 29 show (52%)

The Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes is one of pair of graded events on the Saturday card at Santa Anita.

We turned to the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for assistance with this grassy event for sophomore fillies. Angler tells us that Average Last 3 Race Classes has pointed to 34% winners of the 9-furlong graded turf stakes at the Arcadia oval. These winners have generated a juicy $52.20 Win Return and include two recent Honeymoon heroines - Nashoba's Gold ($3.40) and Lady Prancealot ($8.40).

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Average Last 3 Race Classes slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

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Jim McKay S. at Pimlico
5F on Turf (May 15)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 27 5-furlong turf stakes at Pimlico
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last Late Pace
Factor Stats: 27 contenders, 8 winners (29%, $26.20 Win Return, 148 ROI%), 14 place (51%, $34.20 Place Return, 15 show (55%, $1.60 Show Return)

The Jim McKay Turf Sprint honors the late, great ABC sportscaster and Maryland racing advocate and it just might be the most compelling handicapping challenge over Preakness Stakes weekend at Pimlico.

The 5-furlong turf affair has drawn full field of 12 with a 5/2 morning line favorite. Races like these are prime candidates for the big data handicapping analysis provided by the Betmix Angler online database.

Angler reveals that the Last Late Pace handicapping factor has shown good results in this race type. Nearly 30% of the contenders ranking first in this factor have won, generating a smart $26.20 Win Return.

It's also pointed to some live longshots in the exacta spot as evidenced by the even higher $34.20 Place Return. Among the runners finishing 2nd are Tempt Me Twice, the 30-1 runner-up in the 2019 McKay.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Last Late Pace slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

Want to look for your own Angles using Betmix handicapping software?
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Xpressbet.com & Horseplayer.com's Jeremy Plonk has been using the Betmix online handicapping database to investigate some common handicapping myths. Read & click below for his discoveries in April.

Does Turf-to-Dirt Deliver?

While you’ll often hear horseplayers tout the “turf-to-dirt” angle, can we validate that as a positive move overall, or in certain situations?
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Were Lasix-Free Derby Preps Less Predictable?

With the announcement late last year that all Kentucky Derby qualifying points races would award points only if contested Lasix-free, many wondered (some aloud) about the performances to come. Would the lack of the anti-bleeder medication create chaos? Could you trust the results of the races? 
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More Time Between Starts?

What’s the best time between starts? Do all modern horses need more time or just the stakes performers?
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Derby Day 'Dumb' Money

You’ll often hear seasoned horseplayers and racetrackers talk about the ‘dumb’ money in the Kentucky Derby pools, not only in the big race, but the supporting features.
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Bet-Against Derby Alumni Next Out?

The taxing nature of the Kentucky Derby, its mile and one-quarter distance under 126 pounds and uniquely large field size, are reasons why many handicappers openly look to beat those runners in their next starts. 
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William Walker S. at Churchill Downs
5.5F on Turf (April 24)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last six 5.5-furlong turf stakes at Churchill Downs
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg. Last 3 Late Pace
Factor Stats: 6 contenders, 3 winners (50%, $11.20 Win Return, 193 ROI%), 4 show (66%, 7.80 Place and Show Return)

Turf sprint stakes are a relatively new phenomenon at Churchill Downs, especially at the 5.5 furlong distance. However, a scan of the Betmix Angler online handicapping database has revealed a compelling trend in this newer race type.

Half of the first six 5.5 furlong turf stakes at under the Twin Spires have been won by the horse ranking first in Avg. Last 3 Late Pace. These winners have generated a double digit Win Return along with positive Place and Show Returns.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Last 3 Late Pace slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

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Elkhorn S. (G3) at Keeneland
12F on Turf (April 10)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 31 12-furlong graded turf stakes at Keeneland
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg. Best 2 of Last 3 Speed
Factor Stats: 37 contenders, 9 winners (24%, $32.60 flat win bet return, 144 ROI%), 19 show (51%)

The Elkhorn Stakes highlights the final Saturday card of the 2021 Keeneland Spring meeting and the turf marathon has drawn a typically competitive 10-horse field.

We used the Betmix Angler online handicapping database to see what handicapping factors have been predictive in these grassy graded long-distance heats and found that Avg. Best 2 of Last 3 Speed may be the one to focus on.

Nearly a quarter of the contenders ranking first in this factor have been led into the infield winner's circle while producing a $32.60 Win Return. The sample includes the last three Elkhorn winners: Zulu Alpha ($4.00), Bigger Picture ($16.60) and One Go All Go ($21.20).

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Best 2 of Last 3 Speed slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

Want to look for your own Angles using Betmix handicapping software?
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Lexington S. (G3) at
9F on Dirt (April 10)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 44 8.5-furlong graded dirt stakes at Keeneland
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg. Lifetime Earnings
Factor Stats: 44 contenders, 16 winners (36%, $21.60 flat win bet return, 124 ROI%), 22 place (50%, $2.80 flat place bet return)

We're down to the final two Kentucky Derby points races this weekend. While the Arkansas Derby drew a short field with an overwhelming favorite, the Lexington Stakes is a more attractive races for horseplayers.

We used the Betmix Angler online handicapping database to analyze the field of 10 sophomores and found that Avg. Lifetime Earnings has shown good results in this racetype at Keeneland.

Over one third of the contenders ranking first in this handicapping factor, generating a $21.60 Win Return.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Lifetime Earnings slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

Want to look for your own Angles using Betmix handicapping software?
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Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita
9F on Dirt (April 3)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 43 9-furlong graded dirt stakes at Santa Anita
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg. Last 3 Late Pace
Factor Stats: 45 contenders, 17 winners (37%, $28.10 flat win bet return, 131 ROI%), 27 place (60%, $21.60 flat place bet return, 34 show (75% $2.40 flat show bet return)

The Santa Anita Derby became a very interesting race for handicappers the moment that projected odds-on favorite Life Is Good was sidelined with a minor ankle surgery,

Ten more evenly-matched sophomore colts will now try to earn their way into the Kentucky Derby starting, a perfect situation to call on the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for some help.

Angler tells us that the horse ranking first in the Avg. Last 3 Late Pace handicapping factor has triumphed in 37% of the 9-furlong graded dirt stakes in Arcadia since 2012, generating plus returns across the board.

Among those are a trio of Santa Anita Derby champs since 2014 - California Chrome ($3.40), Dortmund ($3.20) and Roadster, the $8.20 winner two years ago.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Last 3 Late Pace slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

Want to look for your own Angles using Betmix handicapping software?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix

Xpressbet.com & Horseplayer.com's Jeremy Plonk has been using the Betmix online handicapping database to investigate some common handicapping myths. Read & click below for his discoveries in March.

Older Horses on the Comeback Trail

Stars Monomoy Girl and Got Stormy returned victorious from Breeders’ Cup layoffs (112-113 days) this past weekend at age 6. Were they notable exceptions to the long-prescribed theory that it takes older horses more time to race back into shape than younger ones? 
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Miss the Wedding, Attend the Funeral?

This point of interest comes up this week as we just witnessed longshot winners of the Gotham (Weyburn) and Tampa Bay Derby (Helium) on Saturday, and we’ll have to decide what to do with them next time on the Triple Crown trail.
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Short Field, Big Price

When posed with small field sizes, you’ll often hear TV commentators and handicappers utter the phrase “small field, big price.” They’ll back it up many times with how the race dynamics of a small field lend themselves unpredictable pace scenarios and more traffic than you’d expect. The cat-and-mouse games are supposed to create some sense of chaos and not lean to the obvious.
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Best Jockeys on the Best Horses

But if all things were equal, how much does the jockey matter? I wanted to find out if the success of the jockey could actually help the success of the horse, and if so, by how much. By looking at race favorites, those horses projected to be best in every race, we can gauge the rider’s impact.
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Are Classier Horses More Likely to Repeat Wins?

Most horseplayers say that that the lower-class horses are least-trustworthy when it comes to maintaining their winning form race after race. Is that true? And are the highest-class horses like Greatest Honour the most trusted to repeat victories? Let’s find out.
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Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park
9F on Dirt (March 26)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 10 9-furlong graded dirt stakes for 3YOs at Gulfstream Park
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Trainer/Jockey Combo Win % Meet
Factor Stats: 11 contenders, 7 winners (63%, $27.40 flat win bet return, 224 ROI%), 8 win/place/show (72%, $6.20 flat place bet return & $3.60 flat show bet return)

Since the turn of the century, a total of six Florida Derby winners have gone on to capture the Kentucky Derby. Time will tell where the 2021 Florida Derby ranks historically, the more urgent concern for handicappers is which colt will get his picture taken Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

A query of the Betmix Angler online handicapping database shows that the 1st in Trainer/Jockey Combo Win % Meet factor has yielded a high percentage of winners in 9-furlong graded dirt stakes for the sophomore set in Hallandale.

63% of the contenders ranking first in this factor have scored and they've rewarded win bettors with a healthy $27.40 Win Return. This sample of winners include 5 of the past 9 Florida Derby champs.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the 1st in Trainer/Jockey Combo Win % Meet slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

Want to look for your own Angles using Betmix handicapping software?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix