Daily Horse Matchup – Belmont Park Race 7

Race-day: 5/28/2009

Race-time: 4:12 pm est.

With Hollywood Park not running today, BetOnline online Racebook fans will have to look to Belmont Park for the best Horse Matchup of the day.

The odds makers are offering four horse matchups for Racebook fans to handicap and wager on. The best bet of those matchups is in Race 7.

Let’s take a look at the Daily Horse Matchup in Race 7 at Belmont Park today.

Daily Horse Matchup: Belmont Park – Race 7

Claiming $25,000 n2L

1 mile on turf

Chinese Whisper -135 vs. Mask and Wig +105

Analysis: Chinese Whisper takes another drop in class after finishing 2nd at the $35,000 claiming level going 7 furlongs in his last on the turf. He lost to a first time out maiden victor named Marl. In this matchup, Chinese Whisper faces another first time out maiden victor.

This will be Chinese Whisper’s third race off of a layoff, usually a horse’s best, and there’s no doubt that he’s got a shot to win this race straight up. The problem is that the 1.05 million dollar buy out of Montjeu, just hasn’t shown the willingness to run hard and more often than not will throw in the towel as evidenced by his terrible closing finishes in his last two races. He’s a classy horse, but even classy horses just don’t have it after a while.

By contrast, Mask and Wig broke through with a fine maiden win in his last race. The son of Distorted Humor is trained by Barclay Tagg and Tagg has placed him judiciously since that maiden score by putting him in this $25,000 claimer. Mask and Wig has run two very good races in a row and figures to lay off of the speed, or even take the lead in this should the pace come up soft, before kicking it into gear at the top of the stretch.

This race is going to come down to a couple of factors. First, can Chinese Whisper make a trip going one mile after breaking from the 10 hole? I’m not sure that he can. Second, will the expected pace be hot enough for Chinese Whisper to catch Mask and Wig? I’m not sure that it will.

When it comes to this matchup, the horse with the most up side, who is in really good form and who has the potential to improve, has to be considered a more logical bet than the classy dropper who will be breaking from a disadvantageous post.

I’m going with Mask and Wig

Pick: Mask and Wig at +105