Horse Picks for Belmont Park

While we will head out to Belmont Park for a Friday afternoon of wagering action, there is plenty of anticipation for the opening of the Monmouth Park meeting on Saturday.

Monmouth Park has dubbed their summer meet the “Elite Summer Meet”, with an average purse structure of $1 million a day.

That will bring many of the top horses, trainers, and jockeys to the Jersey Shore this summer.

Racing will be conducted Friday through Sunday, with racing on holiday Mondays as well.

The $1 million in purses per day is a staggering increase from $331,000 a day last year, and track management is hoping less turns out to be more.

With less racing days, the track expects to see bigger fields, and if opening day on Saturday is any indication, it is working.

There were 148 horses entered on Saturday’s 13 race card, with six of the races oversubscribed and several dozen other horses were turned away to wait for another day.

There will be an influx of new jockeys including Garrett Gomez and John Velasquez, and trainers from California including Robert Hess Jr., Michael Machowsky, and Mike Mitchell are sending horses.

We will break down the stakes action tomorrow, and in the meantime attempt to pad our bankroll by heading out to Belmont Park today:

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 6 Md Sp Wt (3:40 ET)
#2 Hunter’s Bay 5/1
#1 Al Muhtasib / #1a Jadal 2/1
#4 Loquacious 5/2
#8 High Stakes Player 8/1

Analysis: #2 Hunter’s Bay broke poorly in his debut after drawing the rail, making up some ground late to finish a non threatening fifth. The colt figures to move forward with a race under his belt and with the stretch out for the Pletcher barn that is 26% winners (with a +ROI) with second out maidens. This guy is bred to be a nice one, by Ghostzapper out of the multiple stakes winner Smok’n Frolic ($1.5 million).

#1 Al Muhtasib dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish third last out. This guy has plenty of pedigree to handle the stretch out. He is by Distorted Humor out of an A.P. Indy mare that has dropped one other foal to race, stakes winner Golden Spikes ($384K). His entrymate #1a Jadal was beaten just a head last out and ahead of next out winner El Fuego. The colt completes a strong entry for the McLaughlin barn.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,8
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,8 / 1,2,4,7,8

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

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

BEL Race 7 Md Sp Wt (4:12 ET)
#3 March Mischief, #2 Sterling Silver, #7 Bible Belt, #5 Wicked Ravnina

#3 March Mischief makes her first start since last October for the Violette barn that is 15% winners with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The filly showed some promise with a game second in her debut behind a repeat winner, then failed to fire over ground labeled as good in her second start, again running into a repeat winner. She has a nice pedigree, by Smart Strike out of the dirt stakes winning mare March Magic ($638K).

#2 Sterling Silver came with a sharp middle move from the outside to take command heading for home, but could not hold off the winner late, coming up 3/4 of a length shy of the top spot. She does not need to move forward much off that outing to get the job done in this spot. The Clement barn is 26% winners (with a +ROI) with second out maidens.

BEL Race 8 Clm $20,000C (4:45 ET)
#4 Avanti Avanti, #2 American Cruiser / #2b O’Kid, #7 J J’s Prophet

#4 Avanti Avanti returns off a 14 month layoff for the Servis barn that is 27% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The eight year old is a six time winner on the turf, mostly against tougher than he faces here in this race which is for non winners of a race on turf since Jan. 1.

#2 American Cruiser was beaten a nose last out against open $25K foes at Gulfstream Park. The gelding makes his third start of his current form cycle for the Tony D. barn and has landed in the exacta in 9 of 17 starts on turf in his career, three of those wins coming over the turf here. He gets a jock upgrade to Ramon, who hits at a 38% clip when riding for the barn.

BEL Race 9 Md Sp Wt (5:17 ET)
#10 Lucida, #1 Hill

#10 Lucida was a decent third last out in her turf debut, beaten 1 1/4 lengths for the top spot. The $310K Keeneland purchase appears to have like the surface switch and she has a nice pedigree, by A.P. Indy out of a Mr. Prospector mare that has dropped three winners including turf stakes winner Love n’ Kiss ($383K).

#1 Hill debuts for the Clement barn that is 20% winners (with a +ROI) with first time starters. The filly is by El Prado out of a mare that has dropped eight turf winners including stakes winner Lady in Waiting ($248K).

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.

R3: #6 Lion’s Lair 15/1
R4: #3 Estero Bay 8/1v R5: #1 The Plot Thickens 8/1
R6: #8 High Stakes Player 8/1
R7: #7 Bible Belt 12/1
R7: #5 Wicked Ravnina 12/1
R8: #6 Of All Times 12/1
R9: #9 Culloden Road 15/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!