How to bet graded stakes on Arlington's Ride to the Million card

by JOHN MUCCIOLO

Four graded stakes races will be held on the Arlington Park lawn on Saturday as part of the “Ride to the Million” program. Each of the races serves as preps for events on Arlington Million Day, on August 11.

I will take a look at the marquee events:

American Derby (G3)

Eight sophomores will travel nine grassy furlongs in a solid field. The protagonists in the field include Arlington Classic (G3) hero EZMOSH; Chris Block’s CAPTIVATING MOON; and recent stakes romper TAP DADDY.

The pick here is Captivating Moon with Florent Geroux in the saddle. Malibu Moon colt always fires and is expected to get a healthy pace to rally into second off the short layoff.

Wager

$20 Win #6 CAPTIVATING MOON = $20

$10 Tri Key 6 with 5,8 = $20

Modesty H. (G3)

A baker’s dozen of fillies and mares are set for this 1 3/16-mile affair. 2017 American Oaks heroine DADDY’S LIL DARLING looks like the class of the field but I think is a bet against. Talented McPeek trainee draws widest of all and also will not be fully cranked on Saturday.

PRADO’S SWEET RIDE was a fine runner-up in this race last campaign and faces arguably an easier field today. Six-year-old mare gets back on the lawn after two dirt tries in 2018 and she scorched a bullet five-eighths in preparation of the affair.

Wager

$10 WPS #9 PRADO’S SWEET RIDE = $30

Stars and Stripes S. (G3)

A dozen will go 1 1/2 miles on the green in a well-matched field. SLIM SHADEY faces a tall task jumping up in class and extending in distance, but I like him here at a square price.

Mike Maker claim has superb form and his allowance win on the Belmont undercard was excellent after being trapped for a good portion of the stretch. Val Royal 10-year-old has been resurgent since last summer. He was a stayer earlier in his career and I think he is the ‘now’ horse in a big field.

Wager

$.50-cent Superfecta Part-Wheel 3 with 4,5,7,9 with 4,5,7,9 with all = $54

Arlington H. (G3)

SYNCHRONY has 11 foes to overcome in a likely Arlington Million (G1) prep as the deserving favorite. Stidham trainee has morphed into a different animal since moving to the turf and was a strong third in the deep Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) most recently.

Chestnut son of Tapit gives the impression of one who will thrive with the added distance today beneath Joe Bravo, too. While the Pin Oak homebred will not be at 100% for today, he won’t have to be.

Favorite is the most logical single of the stakes races in my opinion.

Wager

$60 Win #3 SYNCHRONY = $60

Good Luck!

Synchrony photo by Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography