Daily Belmont Park Horse Betting Picks

We will head off to Belmont Park for our Thursday afternoon horse racing wagering action, and while there are not many live longshots on the card, there are a couple of beatable favorites which will give us a few chances to pad our bankroll.

The play of the day comes early, a $25,000 maiden claiming race which goes off as the fourth race on the card, and it is the first race of the Pick 6.

I don’t normally like to back a maiden with a 0 for 12 record, but the Michael Matz trainee Black Orchid is dropping in for a maiden claiming price for the first time in her career.

The four year old filly and a couple of runner up finishes and six third place finishes in her 12 career starts.

She will appreciate the easier company and if she teams up with our second choice, the Maryland invader Kinda Katty, the exacta should come back generous.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 4 Md $25,000 (2:36 ET)

• #9 Black Orchid 7/2
• #6 Kinda Katty 12/1
• #4 Hear Her Roar 6/1
• #1 Splendrous 3/1

Analysis: #9 Black Orchid makes his 13th career start here, but it is her first go for a tag.

The filly was not a threat last out in a ninth place finish versus maiden special weight company at Gulfstream Park, a highly graded race that produced three next out winners. She has been in the mix in most of her starts, landing in the money in 8 of 12 starts and faces easier here. The Matz barn is 31% winners (with a +ROI) with horses going from maiden special to maiden claiming.

#6 Kinda Katty invades from Maryland for the Salzman barn that does not ship to NY often, just 1 for 7 over the past three years. The filly made a mild late run to finish third last out for a $25K tag. She exits a slow race, but she does pick up Ramon and the 12/.1 ML looks fair enough to toss her in the mix here.

Horse Wagering

WIN: #9 to win at 5/2 or better.

EX: 6,9 / 1,4,6,9

TRI: 6,9 / 1,4,6,9 / 1,3,4,6,9

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 2,5,6 / 1,3 / 1,4,10,11 = $24

BEL Race 7 OClm $50,000N2X (4:12 ET)

#2 Strong Impact, #5 Pennington, #6 Mr. Vegas

#2 Strong Impact stalked the early pace, took over the lead and lugged in and ended up getting DQ’d from second and placed fifth last out for a $35K tag. It was his first go off a six month layoff. He returns to the state bred ranks here for his second start off the bench and Edgar sticks. The colt broke his maiden over the surface here last year. She should be tighter for his second start off the bench.

#5 Pennington beat Alw-1 optional claimers last out at Gulfstream Park, his fourth career win on grass. The gelding was competitive in NY bred stakes last year including a head loss in the West Point at the Spa last summer. He is 3 for 9 over the weeds here and is a logical player here as the likely short priced favorite.

BEL Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (4:45 ET)

#3 Smart Engagement, #1 Ambidaxtrous / #1a Lemon Punch

#3 Smart Engagement made a good late run to finish in the runner up spot last out. She was making just her third career start and first go off a year layoff. She did not get much pace to run at and she should move forward off that effort and has more upside potential than most of these.

#1 Ambidaxtrous stalked the early pace, split rivals and finished up well for third last out in the same paceless race our top picks exits at this level in her first go off a 5 1/2 month layoff.

The mare is now 0 for 7 in this condition, but she should see a better pace to run at in this spot and should be tighter for her second go off the layoff. She has run fairly well over the turf here, landing in the money in 6 of 7 starts including a runner up finish in NY bred stakes company back in ’08.

BEL Race 9 Clm $16,000B (5:17 ET)

#10 Lemon Shore, #11 Adari, #4 Pavoratti’s Soul, #1 Old Man Buck

#10 Lemon Shore was outrun last out in the mud in a race taken off the turf and returns to the grass here. Three back this guy was a game second, beaten a neck against restricted $16K foes going a mile on the turf at the Big A. He has done his best running over the turf here (12-3-4-1).

#11 Adari will need a scratch to get in off the AE list. The gelding ships in from Del Park for his first go off a two month break. The gelding checked in fourth last out against open $32K foes at Gulfstream Park. The barn is strong with fresh runners and this gelding looks well spotted dropping in for a $16K tag and facing non winners of a race on the turf in ’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.

• R4: #6 Kinda Katty 12/1
• R5: #10 Can’t Refuse 15/1
• R7: #6 Mr. Vegas 10/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!