BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: Aug. 13, Arlington Park

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Thursday, Aug. 13

Arlington Park, Race 2: Allowance/optional claiming (6 furlongs, 3:35 p.m. ET)

Arlington’s leading trainer, Larry Rivelli, continues to win at a phenomenal rate. He has compiled a 18-9-8 record from 47 starts (38% wins) during the current meet.

He has been particularly hot when he teams up with leading jockey Jareth Loveberry — they’ve won at a 45% rate over the last 60 days — so you can bet #5 Dugout (8-5 on the morning line) will be tough to beat in Thursday’s second race.

A speedy frontrunner, Dugout threw down a 105 Brisnet Speed rating when he battled to victory in the 6-furlong Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley in November, with the Grade 1-placed runners Manny Wah and Call Paul among his beaten rivals.

Although the Steel Valley Sprint was held on dirt, Dugout is also 1-for-1 over the Arlington Polytrack, where he dominated a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race by 7 1/4 lengths last summer.

Thursday’s race will be Dugout’s 2020 debut, but Rivelli wins at a 36% rate with horses returning from long layoffs, so there is no reason to think Dugout won’t fire a big shot in his return. His allowance win last summer came off an even longer 10-month break.

Let’s bet Dugout on top of a cold exacta, with #4 Mojo Man (9-5), who will drop in class, out of a stakes-caliber allowance at Keeneland.

$25 exacta: 5 with 4

Good luck!