Belmont Park Picks for June 18th

The rains are coming, but we won’t let Mother Nature dampen our attempt to pad our bankroll.

There are four races carded for the turf today, but I am guessing we are going to be off the turf and the main track likely is going to come up wet.

The turf course was listed as yielding on Wednesday, and there is plenty of rain in the forecast throughout Wednesday night right into Thursday afternoon.

All three legs of our late Pick 3 play are scheduled to be on the turf, but I am playing them as if they are going to be on the main track.

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,2,11 / 10,11 / 1,3,6,8 = $24

BEL Race 7 Clm $35,000N2L (4:12 et)

#2 Wantan, #11 Zooger, #1 Unaccountable / #1a Hancho

#2 Wantan gets the call and I am guessing we are off the turf. The colt was beaten double digit lengths in his last two starts, last out off a 6 1/2 month layoff. Two back he was making his U.S. debut and faded to finish sixth after tracking the early pace. This colt was third in a G3 in Argentina and now drops in for a tag for the first time in his career. The colt has an attractive off track pedigree and the McLaughlin barn is 25% winners with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff.

#11 Zooger dueled for the early lead and tired to finish seventh last out on the turf at Del Park versus Alw-1 company. He has done has best running on dirt and two back was a decent third going a mile on the main track at Del Park. This is his first go for a tag and if this indeed is off the turf it is hard to look past Tony D.’s 41% win clip (with a +ROI) moving runners from turf to dirt.

BEL Race 8 High Ice S. (4:45 et)

#10 Mor Chances, #11 Wolfson

The two MTO’s in this race look like standouts and I am assuming we are going to be off the turf today. #10 Mor Chances was third last out on the turf in a NY bred stake that five others in here also come out of. Two back he was third in the G3 Westchester going a mile in a race won by Bribon, who returned to win the G1 Met Mile in his next outing. That third place finish snapped a four race win streak, all on dirt. The five year old is 3 for 5 on wet tracks in his career.

#11 Wolfson comes in here off back to back win on the main track including a win two back in the mud against state bred Alw-2 optional claimers. The colt makes his second start off the claim by the DiPrima barn that is having a solid meeting, hitting at a 25% clip.

BEL Race 9 Md Sp Wt (5:17 et)

#1 Cough Drop, #3 Compliance Officer, #6 W.C. Jones, #8 Three Bridge Road

#1 Cough Drop had to check coming out of the gate and was not a threat while racing wide much of the trip in a eighth place finish going nine furlongs on turf off a 11 month layoff. The gelding took some play, sent off at 9/2 in the field if nine despite the long time on the bench. The gelding has come back with a bullet work out of the gate, which is good to see, and with the rail break, CVel is going to need to get him going quick today. The gelding has a strong off track pedigree, by Lemon Drop Kid out of a Deputy Minster mare that has dropped a pair of winners including stakes winner Time’s Mistress ($261K).

#3 Compliance Officer sprinted clear while along the inside and weakened in the stretch while lugging in late. Two back against open maidens the colt was a good second at Gulfstream Park behind Sleepless Knight, who returned to win the Lamplighter in his next outing at Monmouth Park on 5/25. He was outrun in his lone go on dirt but that came in his debut. He has a decent enough off track pedigree and looks like a good fit here if he stays in the race.

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 Royal Vessel 12/1

R2: #2 Awixa 8/1

R4: #7 Peacefields 8/1

R5: #1 Saratoga Cowboy 20/1

R6: #10 Franklin Delano 10/1

R6: #8 My Brother John 10/1

R7: #2 Wantan 8/1

R9: #1 Cough Drop 10/1

R9: #8 Three Bridge Road 8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!