Churchill Downs and Saratoga spot plays for Sept. 3

There is some excellent racing to bet on Thursday at Churchill Downs and Saratoga. Here are a pair of spot plays to get you started.

Churchill Downs, Race 6: claiming, $30,000, N2L (1 Mile, 3:40 p.m. ET)

#8 Sea of Hope (7-2) is one of two dropping first-time claiming. His trainer, Ben Colebrook, excels with runners dropping first time for a tag: 22% over the last three years, with a +$2.05 win bet ROI.

Sea of Hope has tactical speed. His best race since an extended lay came over the one-turn mile at Churchill, and his off-track pedigree is solid, if overnight rains leave moisture in the dirt.

A flat win bet on Sea of Hope makes sense. However, exotic players should consider playing him around #7 Zapper Van Winkle (6-1), who ran surprisingly well in a N1X last time out and has excellent slop breeding; #5 El Supremo (6-1), who drops in for a tag for the first time since his maiden win; and #10 Oxide (3-1), who drops first-time claiming for a barn that doesn't usually win with that move, but frequently hits the board.

$10 to win on #8 Sea of Hope

We are off the turf for racing today @ChurchillDowns. First post 1pm. pic.twitter.com/n8MdTmh4Js
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) September 3, 2020

Saratoga Race 8: allowance optional claiming, N2X, $62,500 (6 furlongs, 5:12 p.m. ET)

#3 Palace Avenger (2-1) won't have it easy on the front end, but she has proven time and again that she can go fast early, fight, and keep her interest. She also comes out for trustworthy connections: trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Jose Ortiz have shined this meet.

She'll be a favorite, but let's make her pay off with some exotics.

#6 Fair Regis (3-1) is always competitive but has a habit of not winning. Her three starts since moving to the Rob Atras barn earlier this year have been good races at this level, but not winning races.

Play her underneath with #1 Bertranda (6-1), who comes first off the claim for the red-hot Orlando Noda. Noda puts her up confidently in class, but he hits the board 64% of the time first off the claim, and Bertranda's better races can put her in the exotics against these tougher open mares.