Sword Dancer S. (G1) at Saratoga
12F on Turf (August 28)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 17 12-furlong graded turf stakes at Saratoga
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st In the Money %
Factor Stats: 18 contenders, 8 winners (44%, $24.10 Win Return, 166 ROI%), 9 Place (50%), 10 show (55%)

The 2021 Saratoga meeting reaches its pinnacle on Saturday with a star-studded card that includes 6 Grade 1 heats.

The Sword Dancer S. is among those and has drawn a very competitive field of 7, all with a chance for glory in the 12-furling turf marathon.

A scan of the Betmix Angler online handicapping database tells us that consistency has has been important in the mile and one half turf stakes at The Spa. The In the Money % handicapping factor has pointed to 44% winners and 55 on the board finishers in this racetype. The Win Return of $24.10 has made bettors smile as well.

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

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Del Mar Mile S. (G2) at Del Mar
8F on Turf (August 21)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 43 8-furlong turf graded stakes at Del Mar
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Best Speed Last 3
Factor Stats: 50 contenders, 17 winners (34%, $19.80 Win Return, 119 ROI%), 24 Place (48%, $0.70 Place Return), 34 show (68%, $23.40)

The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile helps anchor Saturday's big Pacific Classic day card at Del Mar. The field has drawn a highly competitive bunch of older vying for a berth in the Breeders Cup Mile.

We turned to the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for guidance and discovered that 34% of the past 43 8-furlong graded turf stakes at the Pacific shore oval fell to the horse ranking first in the Best Speed Last 3 handicapping factor.

The 17 winners in the sample have generated a healthy $19.80 Win Return and nearly 70% of the contenders have factored in the trifecta with the Show Return ($23.40) actually exceeding the Win Return.

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

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Fourstardave S. (G1) at Saratoga
8F on Turf (August 14)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 16 one-mile graded turf stakes at Saratoga
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st Avg. Last 3 E2 Pace
Factor Stats: 17 contenders, 6 winners (35%, $31.90 Win Return, 192 ROI%), 6 Place (35%), 7 show (41%)

A trio of Grade 1 winners square off against 5 other Graded winners in Saturday's renewal of the Fourstardave S. (G1) at Saratoga.

The Betmix Angler online handicapping database was built to help separate the contenders from the pretenders evenly matched fields like this one. A query reveals that the Avg. Last 3 E2 Pace handicapping factor has pointed to 35% winners of the recent 8-furlong grassy graded stakes at The Spa. These winners have rewarded their backers with a sterling $31.50 Win Return.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Last 3 E2 Pace slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

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Lure S. at Saratoga
8/5F on Turf (August 7)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 40 8.5-furlong non-graded turf stakes
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st Avg. Last 3 Purse
Factor Stats: 50 contenders, 19 winners (38%, $32.4 Win Return, 132 ROI%), 25 Place (50%), 31 show (62%)

The Saratoga meeting shifts into a higher gear on Saturday with a 5-Stakes card that includes a trio of Grade 1 contests.

The Lure Stakes is the first of them and, while it's not the most famous race on the card, it may be the most difficult for handicappers to decipher.

The Betmix Angler online handicapping database was built to help horseplayers with difficult puzzles like this one. A scan tells us that Avg. Last 3 Purse has proven to be a key handicapping factor in the non-graded 8.5F turf stakes at Saratoga. Nearly 40% of the contenders ranking first in this factor have had their pictures taken while generating a juicy $32 Win Return.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Last 3 Purse 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 for the big Del Mar & Saratoga meetings.

Do Barns Really Step Up for Del Mar?

The summer showcase meet at Del Mar is considered boutique for its relatively short length and high quality. For those reasons, there’s a narrative that everyone wants to find the winner’s circle at Del Mar. But are there trainers who actually find more success behind those apparent desires?

Click to read more

Fast Starts Imperative at Saratoga & Del Mar?

Given the relatively short nature of high-class racing meetings at tracks like Saratoga and Del Mar, which get underway this week, horseplayers long have long leaned on those jockeys and trainers who get off to a successful start to the meet. The thought is that momentum is important and time is short on correcting a lack of it.

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Betmix Stats: Golden Gate Fields

Golden Gate Fields returns to live racing on July 23 to start a pair of three-day racing weeks. The winter-spring meet ended June 13, so it’s been about 6 weeks since the track last conducted live racing. With horses returning to the Bay Area from racing on the Pleasanton fair circuit, Emerald Downs in Washington and via Southern California, let’s dig into the Betmix database to see if we can gain any clues.

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May Handicapping Myths

April Handicapping Myths

March Handicapping Myths

Eddie Read S. (G2) at Del Mar
9F on Turf (July 224)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 41 9-furlong turf graded stakes
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Jockey Current Meet
Factor Stats: 45 contenders, 13 winners (28%, $38.80 Win Return, 140 ROI%), 20 Place (44%, $10.00 Place Return), 25 show (55%, $5.70)

The Grade 2 Eddie Read S. helps anchor the second Saturday card of the 2021 Del Mar summer meeting and it's drawn a salty group of older middle-distance turf stars.

We turned to the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for guidance for this difficult handicapping puzzle. Angler tells us that 28% of the past 45 8-furlong graded turf stakes at the Pacific shore oval fell to the horse ranking first in the Jockey Current Meet handicapping factor.

The sample includes six of the past seven Eddie Read champs - United (2020/$4.80), Bowies Hero (2019/$8.80), Catapult (2018/$44.00), Hunt (2017/$8.60), Gabriel Charles (2015/$11.40), Tom's Tribute (2014/$6.60).

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Jockey Current 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
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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 for the big Del Mar & Saratoga meetings.

Is Saratoga Still The 'Graveyard of Favorites'?

Long ago given the moniker “The Graveyard of Favorites,” Saratoga is where Upset beat Man o’ War in 1919 and Onion knocked off Secretariat in 1973. It’s a badge worn both of hope and fear, but is it accurate? Do favorites perform any better or worse these days at Saratoga than other tracks?

Click to read more

Do Barns Really Step Up for Del Mar?

The summer showcase meet at Del Mar is considered boutique for its relatively short length and high quality. For those reasons, there’s a narrative that everyone wants to find the winner’s circle at Del Mar. But are there trainers who actually find more success behind those apparent desires?

Click to read more

Fast Starts Imperative at Saratoga & Del Mar?

Given the relatively short nature of high-class racing meetings at tracks like Saratoga and Del Mar, which get underway this week, horseplayers long have long leaned on those jockeys and trainers who get off to a successful start to the meet. The thought is that momentum is important and time is short on correcting a lack of it.

Click to read more

Belmont Derby (G1) & Belmont Oaks (G1) at Belmont Park
10F on Turf (July 10)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 41 10-furlong graded grass stakes at Belmont
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg. Best 2 of Last 3 Speed
Factor Stats: 45 contenders, 14 winners (31%, $77.10 Win Return, 185 ROI%), 17 Place (37%), 23 show (51%)

The Belmont Derby & Belmont Oaks have quickly become important fixtures for the 3-year-old grass set since they appeared on NYRA's reconfigured in 2014. The 2021 editions of these races have drawn typically competitive fields so we turned to the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for some extra help.

Angler reveals that the Avg. Best 2 of Last 3 Speed factor has pointed to some juicy winners of these races, especially the Derby.

Three Derby winners - Mr Speaker (2014/$23.50), Force the Pass (2015/$22.20), Catholic Boy (2016/$12.20) - are part of this sample. The great Lady Eli ($3.60) ranked first in this factor ahead of her victory in the 2015 Oaks.

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.

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Smile Sprint Inv S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park
6F on Dirt (July 3)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 30 6-furlong main track stakes
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in In the Money %
Factor Stats: 43 contenders, 16 winners (37%, $43.20 Win Return, 150 ROI%), 26 Place (60%, $22.80 Place Return), 29 Show (67%)

The Grade 3 Smile Invitational S. is the co-feature on Saturday's annual Summit of Speed card at Gulfstream Park.

This year's edition drew an evenly-matched group of eight so we turned to the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for some clues. Angler tells us that 37% of the past 30 6-furlong main track graded stakes at Gulfstream Park have been won by the horse ranking first in the In the Money % handicapping factor.

Overall, this factor has generated a juicy $43.60 Win Return and a very healthy Place Return as well.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the In the Money % 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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Chicago S. (G3) at Arlington Park
7F on All Weather (June 26)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 20 7-furlong main track stakes
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Best Lifetime Speed
Factor Stats: 26 contenders, 9 winners (34%, $17.20 Win Return, 133 ROI%), 11 Place (42%), 18 show (69%, $5.70 Show Return)

The Grade 3 Chicago S. highlights the Saturday card at Arlington Park and has drawn a field of 11 distaff sprinters.

We turned to the Betmix Angler online handicapping database for guidance for this dificult handicapping puzzle. Angler tells us that 34% of the past 20 7-furlong main track stakes at Arlington Park have been won by the horse ranking first in the Best Lifetime Speed handicapping factor.

Overall, this factor has generated a $17.20 Win Return and nearly 70% of the contenders have ranked filled out spot in the trifecta.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Best Lifetime 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?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
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