Garrity's Sunday Stakes picks the Tyro at Monmouth, G2 Bowling Green at Saratoga, G2 Eddie Read at Del Mar
We have plays in three three turf races, all of them stakes, for the last Sunday in July: a 5 furlong sprint at the Jersey Shore, and a pair of longer races in Upstate New York and Southern California. We expect firm turf in all three, so let’s go.
Monmouth Park, Race 9, 4:20 pm ET
$100,000 Tyro Stakes, 5 furlongs, Turf, 2-Year-Olds
A dozen juvenile colts line up for this turf sprint. It’s a terrific betting race. The pick is 11-Ship Cadet, a Mike Maker trainee who won his career debut, which was on turf and at this 5 furlong distance, at Belmont Park back in May, then tried dirt in the Tremont Stakes last month, where he finished second. We think that dirt race will be a perfect prep for this spot, and expect him to stalk the pace from his outside post, and rally to the front in the race’s final furlongs. We will bet him to win at 9-2. The bet: Monmouth Park, Race 9, $40 to win on 11-Ship Cadet.
Saratoga, Race 9, 5:49 pm ET
Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes, 1 ⅜ miles, Turf, 4 & Up
A field of ten older turf horses lines up for the Bowling Green. It’s a race where the likeliest winner is a lousy wagering proposition: 9-Rebel’s Romance, a starter from the powerful Godolphin/Charlie Appleby barn, won last year’s Breeders Cup, and looks the best here, but is going to be a minuscule price, certainly far shorter than his 8/5 morning line number. As a result, we’re going to try to beat him, and are doing so with 5-Soldier Rising, who comes off near misses in two Grade 1 races at Belmont Park, the Manhattan in June and the Man o’ War in May. We think he finds the winner’s circle today, and will bet him to win at 4-1 odds. The bet: Saratoga, Race 9, $40 to win on 5-Soldier Rising.
Del Mar, Race 9, 9:09 pm ET
Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes, 1 ⅛ miles, Turf, 3 & Up
An interesting group of nine lines up for the Eddie Read. While it might not be quite a Grade 2 field, it’s a good betting race. We’re taking a gamble on a horse who has been away for a long time, 9-Count Again, who was arguably the best turf horse in California last spring, winning the Kilroe Mile and Shoemaker Mile, two Grade 1 races at Santa Anita, before an injury sent him to the sidelines. He last raced in March of 2022, a layoff of over a year, and he’s 8 now, an advanced age for a racehorse, but we think that he possesses the most ability in this group, and we think that trainer Phil D’Amato can coax one more big race out of his old legs. We will bet him to win at 3-1. The bet: Del Mar, Race 9, $40 to win on 9-Count Again.
That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, and, as always, be safe.
