Thursday’s Best Bets and Quick Picks: Delaware and Saratoga maidens

Handicapper J. Keeler Johnson shares best bets and quick picks for Thursday, Aug. 8 at Delaware Park and Saratoga, including a first-time starter at 6-1 odds.

Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include:

• Harness 15% Trifecta Boost: Receive a 15% boost (up to $25 per day) on winning trifecta wagers in any eligible race at all harness tracks every Thursday through Saturday in July and August.
• Hoosier Park $1,000 Late Pick 4 Hit It & Split It: Hit the Late Pick 4 at Hoosier Park on any Thursday in July to win your share of a $1,000 daily prize pool.
• Del Mar 25% Double Down: Hit two daily double wagers at Del Mar to receive a 25% boost on all your winning daily double wagers for the day at Del Mar.

Best Bets and Quick Picks

Delaware Park: Race 2: $25,000 Maiden Claiming (six furlongs, 1 p.m. ET)

#3 Chillow (6-1) is a first-time starter from the barn of Lynn Ashby, who has gone 6-for-24 (25%) debuting horses on dirt at Delaware Park since 2021. In addition, Ashby wins at a 21% rate with horses debuting in maiden claimers.

These are positives stats, and the fact Chillow is a daughter of Maclean’s Music (who sires 16% winners from first-time starters) cements the bay filly as a threat to win her first start. Let’s bet Chillow to win, then key her over #5 Vino From Ernies (9-5) and #4 Saint Devereaux (5-2) in the exacta.

Selections

• #3 Chillow (6-1)
• #5 Vino From Ernies (9-5)
• #4 Saint Devereaux (5-2)

Wagers

• $20 to win on #3 Chillow
• $5 Exacta: 3 with 4,5 ($10)
  Total: $30

Saratoga: Race 1: Maiden Special Weight (6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, 1:10 p.m. ET)

Unraced two-year-old #1 Blakely’s Wish (2-1) recently turned in a nice half-mile workout at Monmouth Park, getting the distance from the starting gate in :48 4/5. It won’t be surprising if she shows talent from an early age; her dam, My Every Wish, previously foaled Firenze Fire and Andiamo a Firenze, two debut winners who nabbed stakes wins at Saratoga during their juvenile campaigns.

Blakely’s Wish is trained by Carlos David, who has gone 2-for-4 (50%) debuting two-year-olds over the Saratoga dirt since 2023. There’s a lot to like about Blakely’s Wish, so a win bet is warranted.

Selections

• #1 Blakely’s Wish (2-1)
• #2 Route Sensation (5-2)
• #3 Lady Wisdom (12-1)

Wagers

• $30 to win on #1 Blakely’s Wish

Saratoga: Race 4: Maiden Special Weight (six furlongs on dirt, 2:52 p.m. ET)

#1 Eighty West (5-2) debuted in an unrestricted 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, where he tracked the early pace before fighting on to finish second with a respectable 72 Brisnet Speed rating.

Now Eighty West is tackling a six-furlong maiden special weight restricted to horses who brought a final bid of $50,000 or less at their most recent auction. The competition should be a bit easier, opening the door for Eighty West to spring a mild upset over #4 Friday Surprise (7-5), who is moving to a tougher circuit after finishing second in his debut at Parx Racing.

Selections

• #1 Eighty West (5-2)
• #4 Friday Surprise (7-5)
• #8 Strengthnguidance (9-2)

Wagers

• $25 to win on #1 Eighty West

Good luck!