Belmont Horse Racing Picks for July 1st

With the calendar switching over from June to July, the dog days of summer are officially here.

However, for horseplayers, the summertime seems more like a winter wonderland, with two of the best race meets just a couple of weeks away.

Saratoga opens its summer meeting on July 25 and runs until Sept. 6. We will see many of horse racing’s biggest stars over that time, including the major players in the Triple Crown races, as well as 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

Rachel Alexandra landed at Saratoga on Wednesday, and settled into her stall at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn.

The connections of the filly have not announced when and where she will race next, but is a good bet we will see her at Saratoga in the Ruffian Handicap (G1) on Aug. 1 or the Personal Ensign on Aug. 29.

It is just three weeks until Del Mar opens for its summer meeting where the turf meets the surf. The meeting runs until Sept. 8.

The undefeated Zenyatta will likely make her next start at Del Mar in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) on  Aug. 7, a race she won in 2008 and 2009.

While the temperatures are sure to rise, the racing is sure to get hotter as the month progresses. Over the next few weeks we will attempt to pad our bankroll with racing action from Belmont Park and Monmouth Park.

Monmouth Park is back in action on Friday for a four-day holiday racing weekend, and today we will head out to Belmont Park for our betting action.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 4 Clm $16,000N2L (2:36 ET)
#4 Beautiful Pear   10/1
#1 Morningsideheights   2/1
#3 Cougar Cruise   7/2
#6 Refinery Fire   3/1

Analysis: #4 Beautiful Pear tracked the early pacesetter while under a snug hold down along the inside and had no response in the stretch, weakening to finish sixth. Perhaps this gal want to go long? She did graduate over the grass at the Big A going a mile in gate to wire fashion. She drops from $25K to $16K for her third start for the Kaz barn that is 19% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route. Worth a shot if we catch most of the 10/1 ML.

#1 Morningsideheights faces winners for the first time here after graduating last out for a $25K tag and earning the top last out speed fig. She catches a pretty weak spot and looks well spotted dropping in price to a $16K tag and facing non-winners of two. The 2/1 ML sure seems light.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 6/1 or better.
EX: 1,4 / 1,3,4,6
TRI: 1,4 / 1,3,4,6 / 1,3,4,6,7

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 3,6 / 1,3,5 / 1,5,6,7 = $24

BEL Race 7 OClm $50,000N2X (4:12 ET)
#3 Absolute Heaven, #6 House of Grace

#3 Absolute Heaven set the early fractions and could not hold off the winner late in a game runner up finish, beaten just a neck for the top spot. That outing came at Philly versus Alw-4 optional claimers and note the mare drops two levels here to the Alw-2 level for the sharp Walder barn. The mare makes her third start of her current form cycle and has landed in the exacta in 4 of 7 trips over the grass here. In this short field the 5/1 ML looks more than fair.

#6 House of Grace is making her first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last fall at Santa Anita. She won the Jessmine two back in her first start against winners. The works are not jumping off the page, but there is no doubt she has the talent and class to win here off the bench. The barn is 3 for 7 (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff.

BEL Race 8 Alw $39,000N1X (4:45 ET)
#5 Fortunate Run, #3 Fight for V L T’s, #1 Hittin the Note / #1a Steal the Shot

#5 Fortunate Run stalked the early pace from the inside, had to wait for some running room on the far turn, and finished well for the runner up spot last out. He was unable to get to the winner, who went gate to wire over a speed favoring racing strip. It looks as if this guy is heading in the right direction form wise and he may never catch an easier spot to pass his first state bred condition than this.

#3 Fight for V L T’s went gate to wire to break his maiden last out by 11 1/2 lengths. The gelding did not beat much, but he has more upside potential than this ragged looking group that includes a couple of runners that are 2 for 41 and 44. The one turn mile should be well within his scope.

BEL Race 9 Md $35,000 (5:17 ET)
#7 Count Her In, #1 Tropical Jet / #1a J J Coolay, #6 Delightful Vicky, #5 Quixsand

#7 Count Her In makes her first start since checking in fifth back in January against maiden special weight company, a highly graded race that produced three next out winners. The filly get a good jock switch from "No Go" to JJ and the barn is a solid 19% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. She drops into a softer spot here tagged for the first time.

#1 Tropical Jetset made a good late rally to finish second last out, beaten just a head for the top spot for this tag. The third place finisher in the race was Miss Tequila, who returned to graduate in her next outing against $35K state breds on June 10.

Price Plays From Belmont Park:
These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

R1: #4 It’s Never Too Late   10/1
R4: #4 Beautiful Pear   10/1
R5: #2 Beneath the Crown   10/1
R6: #7 Chantilly G.   8/1
R8: #4 Good Karma   8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!