Queen's Plate
10F on Tapeta at Woodbine (September 12)
Races Analyzed: Last 21 Woodbine 10-furlong main track stakes
Date Range: January 1, 2013 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Average of Last 3 E1 Pace
Factor Stats: 24 contenders, 8 winners (33%), $71.70 win bet return, 249 ROI%, 15 place/show (61%), $3.70 Place Return and $.50 Show Return.

It's finally time for the 161th running of the $1 million Queen's Plate!

This year's edition has drawn a typically competitive field of 14, just the kind of race that makes the Betmix Angler online handicapping software so valuable.

We scanned the Angler database for 10-furlong main course stakes at Woodbines since 2012 and found that Average of Last 3 E1 Pace has been a lucrative handicapping factor.

Over one third of the contenders ranking first in this factor have found the winner's circle while producing a spectacular $71.70 Win Return for bettors. The sample includes two of the past 7 Queen's Plate winners, Midnight Aria ($35.20) and Holy Helena ($6.30) plus two other Plate placers - Amis Gizmo (2nd at $2.55-1) and Asserting Bear (3rd at $8.40-1).

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Average of Last 3 E1 Pace slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

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A total of 21 stallions have contenders in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks and Derby fields. While the September placement of these two Classics means we have a better idea of the actual distance aptitudes of this year's runners, adding some pedigree context should prove useful.

The Betmix Angler online handicapping database has a wealth of sire information. We queried Angler for Derby/Oaks sire progeny performance in all two-turn races (8.5 furlongs and longer since 2012) and the results are presented in the chart below, sorted by Win %.

From a small sample, Daredevil, sire of two Oaks players including close second choice Swiss Skydiver, leads the way in that category. The great veteran sire Uncle Mo, sire of an Oaks and Derby contender this year, checks in next with a two-turn win rate of nearly 19%.

Angler also revealed some interesting figures in terms of Win Return. The young sire Bayern is the sire of a pair of longshot Oaks entrants and his longshots appear right at home in two-turn races with a $110.60 Win Return. Paynter, sire of Derby longshot Winning Impression, is another with a three-figure Win Return.

Sword Dancer S. (G1)
12F on Turf (August 29)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 13 Saratoga Graded turf stakes at 12F
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in In the Money %
Factor Stats: 14 contenders, 8 winners (57%, $32.10 Win Bet Return 214 ROI%), 10 place/show (71%, $6.60 Place Bet Return)

The penultimate Saturday of the 2020 Saratoga meeting is anchored by a pair of Grade 1 heats, including the Sword Dancer for turf marathoners.

We queried the Betmix online handicapping database for clues to decipher this competitive 8-horse affair and found that consistency is the key.

Contenders ranking first in In the Money % in the 12-furlong graded grass races at The Spa have found the winner's circle on 8 occasions, generating a sparkling $32.10 Win Return.

The 8 winners include 6 of the past 7 Sword Dancer conquerors, including 2017 champ Sadler's Joy ($16.00) and last year's hero Annals of Time ($7.10).

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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Fourstardave S. (G1)
9F on Turf (August 22)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 10 Saratoga Graded turf stakes at 8F
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Avg. Last 3 E1 Pace
Factor Stats: 10 contenders, 5 winners (50%, $29.00 Win Bet Return, 245 ROI%), 5 place/show (50%, .20 Place Bet Return)

The Fourstardave Stakes graduated to Grade 1 status four years ago and this year's exceptional field confirms its status as the premier summer middle distance turf race.

What's fun for horse racing racing fans can also be lucrative for horseplayers, especially with the Betmix Angler online handicapping database on your side.

Angler tells us that the Avg. Last 3 E1 Pace handicapping factor has pointed to 50% winners in the past 10 graded turf races going a mile at Saratoga. The sample includes 3 recent Fourstardave heroes - Wise Dan (in 2013/$2.80), Grand Arch (2015/$18.20) and Voodoo Song (2018/$15.40).

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Avg. Last 3 E1 Pace slider to see which horse ranks first in this factor. That’s the Sharp Angles play.

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Alabama S. (G1)
10F on Dirt (August 15)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 15 Saratoga Grade 1 dirt stakes at 10F
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last Late Pace
Factor Stats: 16 contenders, 5 winners (31%, $33.90 Win Bet Return, 205 ROI%), 8 place/show (50%, 720 Place Bet Return)

The 10-furlong Alabama Stakes is the only chance for top class sophomore fillies to show their talents at the classic 10-furlong distance. This year's race has drawn a strong favorite in multiple graded stakes winners Swiss Skydiver, a valiant 2nd last out against males in the Blue Grass Stakes.

But is she vulnerable? A scan of the Betmix Angle online handicapping database reveals that she might be.

Last Late Pace has pointed to 31% winners in the recent 10-furlong dirt Grade 1's at The Spa and it's one of her talented competitors that ranks first in this handicapping factor.

The overall Win Return for Last Late Pace is a healthy $33.90 and among the five winners are Alabama heroines Princess of Sylmar ($3.00) and last year's winner Dunbar Road ($5.50).

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.

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Yellow Ribbon S. (G2) & La Jolla S. (G3)
8.5F on Turf (August 9)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 20 Del Mar graded turf stakes at 8.5F
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Average Last 3 Purse
Factor Stats: 20 contenders, 7 winners (35%, $67.60 Win Bet Return, 209 ROI%), 9 place/show (45%, 5.20 Place Bet Return)

A pair of 8.5F graded turf stakes face Del Mar handicappers this weekend - the Yellow Ribbon S. for older distaffers on Saturday and the La Jolla Stakes on the Sunday slate that puts eight sophomore turfers in the spotlight.

A scan of the Betmix Angler online handicapping database tells us that class has been an important handicapping approach in this racetype, specifically Average Last 3 Purse.

The contenders ranking first in this handicapping factor have captured 35% of the graded turf stakes going 8.5F 'where the turf meets the surf', generating a whopping $67.60 Win Return.

These winners include the past two Yellow Ribbon heroines in Beau Recall ($6.00) and Cambodia ($5.40) and two of the past seven La Jolla winners - River Boyne ($3.00) and Dice Flavor ($19.80).

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

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Monmouth Oaks (G3)
8.5F on Dirt (July 30)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 28 Monmouth Park graded dirt stakes at 8.5F
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st Horses Beaten %
Factor Stats: 29 contenders, 12 winners (41%, $11.10 Win Bet Return, 119 ROI%), 19 place/show (65%, 8.10 Place Bet Return)

The Monmouth Oaks has drawn a very competitive field of 9 fillies set for a Saturday battle on the Jersey shore.

Using the powerful Betmix Angler online handicapping database, we uncovered a positive handicapping factor for the 8.5 furlong graded dirt races at Monmouth.

Angler tells us that Horses Beaten % has yielded 41% winners and 65% in-the-money finishes over the past 8 years. Among the winners that have contributed to the positive Win and Place Returns for this factor is last year's Monmouth Oaks heroine Horologist ($12.80)

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

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Marine S. (G3) and Selene S. (G3)
8.5F on All Weather (July 25)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: Last 58 Woodbine graded all-weather stakes at 8.5F
Date Range: January 1, 2012 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st Jockey Current Year
Factor Stats: 62 contenders, 19 winners (30%, $23.60 Win Bet Return, 119 ROI%), 43 place/show (69%, $15.40 Place Bet Return)

The first two 2020 route stakes for the Ontario sophomore set highlight the July 25 card at Woodbine - the Marine Stakes (Race 3) and the Selene Stakes for fillies (Race 8). Both carry Grade 3 status and both feature candidates for the Canadian classics.

We turned to the Betmix online handicapping database to look for positive handicapping factors in the 8.5F main track graded heats at the Toronto track. We found that Jockey Current Year has been profitable.

30% of the contenders carrying the year's winningest jockey have had their pictures taken, while generating double digit Win and Place Returns. In addition, nearly 70% of the contenders have factored in the triactor.

Find this race in Betmix Birddog and use the Jockey Current Year 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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In a world that changes by the minute, handicappers can take solace in Saratoga returning for another historic season and ushering in another several weeks of exciting and important juvenile racing.

Trainers & pedigree - particularly sires - are the two most important factors in handicapping these races and Betmix has a wealth of data on both.

For this post we queried the Betmix Angler database for sire performance in all 2-year-old races at Saratoga since 2012. The chart below contains figures for over 50 of the most relevant stallions, including five based in the Empire State and whose runners will have to be considered in the many heats restricted to New York-breds.

For this year's survey we also included the top five from last year's impressive first crop sire class.

Triple Crown hero American Pharoah is one of those sires and his stallion career is beginning to look very much like his racing career. His early performers at Saratoga have certainly rewarded gamblers with a 26% win percentage and $35.20 Win Return.

Among the veteran stallions, Speightstown continues to shine with his Spa juveniles - 20% winners, 44% in the money and a sparkling $43.30 Win Return.

The chart below contains the full results of the Betmix Angler Saratoga juvenile sire query (sorted by Win Return):