Horse Racing – Play of the Day

Racing on Memorial Day brought the return of Quality Road for his first start since winning the Donn Handicap (G1) in breathtaking fashion, and the colt did not disappoint with a game victory in the Met Mile (G1) at Belmont Park.

The colt is now the undisputed top runner in the handicap division, which has some depth this year for the first time in a couple of years.

Among the other top older horses in the division are Rail Trip, Battle Plan, Summer Bird, Gio Ponti, and Blame.

In addition, do not forget we may see Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra face the boys later this year, along with three year olds Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky taking on older this fall.

It was a good start to Belmont Stakes Week, with Belmont Park back in action on Wednesday with a good nine race card.

While there is no Triple Crown at stake on Saturday, horseplayers looking for some wagering action will not be disappointed, as it appears a field of eleven will line up for the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

Among the runners going to the post is Kentucky Derby runner up Ice Box and Preakness Stakes runner up First Dude.

In addition to the $1 million Belmont Stakes (G1), the Saturday card features the $400,000 Woodward Reserve Manhattan Handicap (G1), $250,000 True North Handicap (G2), $250,000 Woody Stephens (G2), $400,000 Just a Game (G1), and the $300,000 Acorn (G1),

We have three days of wagering on Belmont Park this week to warm up for the big day, with our play of the day for Wednesday a cheap maiden claimer, followed by a good three race sequence in the Late Pick 3.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 6 Md $16,000 (3:40 ET)

• #7 Saga City 3/1
• #6 Studley 6/1
• #4 Unique Ally 5/2
• #8 Scorper 4/1

Analysis: #7 Saga City showed some promise last fall with a runner up finish going long on the turf in NJ. In his last start, he showed some early zip and faded badly.

He returns here for the Goldberg barn that is 29% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. Recently the barn has been live with horses coming back off the bench and running on turf. This gelding looks well spotted here dropping in for a $16K tag.

#6 Studley makes his first start since January where the ridgling dueled for the early lead and tired to finish sixth over the poly at Turfway Park. He makes his turf debut here and has a decent pedigree, out of the stakes winner Green Light, who has dropped a couple of stakes winners including six time turf winner Run the Light ($222K).

Horse Wagering

WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.

EX: 6,7 / 4,6,7,8

TRI: 6,7 / 4,6,7,8 / 4,6,7,8,10

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 2,7 / 1,3,9 / 1,2,4,10 = $24

BEL Race 7 Alw $50,000s (4:12 ET)

#7 Sonic Sound, #2 Gold Record

#7 Sonic Sound had to check at the start and was outrun in the early going, came with a six wide run around the far turn and finished up well for fourth last out in her first go off a eight month layoff. The mare has run well over the turf here, landing in the exacta in 4 of 8 outings. The Baker barn is 19% winners with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff.

#2 Gold Record had a tough trip last out, having to steady at the break, steadying in traffic heading down the backstretch and coming up empty in the stretch. The runner up and fifth place finisher both came out of the race to win next out.

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

#3 Armstrong Mill, #9 Cozy Lion, #1 Uncle Indy

#3 Armstrong Mill ships in from Keeneland where last out the gelding made a good strong finish to get up late and defeat Alw-1 foes going 1 3/16 miles. The gelding is Grade 3 placed and has plenty of pedigree to handle 1 1/4 miles. The gelding is by Dynaformer out of a Storm Cat mare that has dropped a couple of stakes winners, top earner dirt stakes winner Cause to Believe ($427K).

#9 Cozy Lion battled for the early lead and weakened in the stretch to finish sixth last out trying to get 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland versus Alw-2 company. That was a tough field, the race won by Winchester, who is a Grade 1 winner. The gelding beat Alw-1 foes two back going 1 3/8 miles, so we know he can go long. This looks like an easier spot here.

BEL Race 9 Clm $20,000N1Y (5:17 ET)

#2 Sly, #4 Avanti Avanti, #1 Port Royal / #1a Fujita, #10 Five Towns

#2 Sly was beaten just a neck last out in a game effort. The gelding raced in traffic in the early going, split rivals on the turn, and then finished gamely. The gelding has landed in the exacta in 6 of 7 starts over the turf here and a clean trip will make him tough to beat here for the Tony D. barn.

#4 Avanti Avanti makes his first start since March of ’09 where the runner weakened to finish seventh in the Appleton (G3). Servis claimed this guy for $30K and did win a couple of races with him before he was forced to the sidelines. The barn is solid off the bench and finds a good spot here tagged for $20K and facing non winners of a race in six months.

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: #3 Jazzy Johann 12/1
• R3: #3 Missile Motor 10/1
• R4: #2 Catchapenny K. 8/1
• R4: #5 Right Reward 20/1
• R5: #1 Wadi Suki / #1a Commissioner Chris 8/1
• R7: #2 Gold Record 10/1
• R8: #3 Armstrong Mill 8/1
• R9: #1 Port Royal / #1a Fujita 8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!