Padding Your Bank Roll – Wednesday’s Stakes Action

We have three days to get our bankroll up before Saturday’s Belmont Stakes Day action. If today is any indication, it should be a fun week wagering on Belmont Park.

There is an excellent nine race card on tap today including five turf races. There are plenty of live longshots, and that should bode well for our Late Pick 3 play, which includes four runners that are 8/1 or higher on the morning line.

The play of the day comes early in the card. The fourth race is a $25,000 claiming race on the turf at 1 1/16 miles.

I am looking for Wilsboro Point to jump out to the lead and if he gets loose early, he may prove tough to catch.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 4 Clm $25,000 (2:36 et)
#9 Willsboro Point 7/2
#3 Fairway Drive 4/1
#5 Raynicks Fan 6/1
#8 Fuhrever Dancing 3/1

Analysis: #9 Willsboro Point was a good second last out going a mile at the Big A in a race taken off the turf. The gelding makes his third start off an eight-month break and this guy has won 4 of 8 on the turf in his career including 3 of 4 over the turf course here. The gelding won a stake over the turf here last July, which was his third start after getting claimed for $35K. He has no takers in his last two starts for this tag which is interesting, so a good look in the paddock and post parade is in order here.

#3 Fairway Drive beat $20K claimers for non-winners of a race in six months last out in his first start off a six-month break. He steps into open company here but figures to be fitter second off the bench and Ramon sticks. The gelding is a full brother to multiple turf stakes winner I Lost My Choo ($402K).

Horse Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 3,9 / 3,5,8,9
TRI: 3,9 / 3,5,8,9 / 2,3,5,8,9

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 2,3,5,9 / 2,6,8 / 3,6 = $24

BEL Race 7 Clm $16,000 (4:12 et)
#9 In for a Dime, #3 Fivehailmarys, #5 Toga Tiger, #2 Decorated Court / #2b Shannon H

#9 In for a Dime was off poorly and never a factor last out against $16K starter handicap company. Two back she was fourth versus $25K claimers on the turf. Three back in the mid she finished a decent second versus restricted $16K claimers earning a figure good enough to put in her in the hunt here. She gets an upgrade in jocks to Maragh, has a victory over the main track here, beating $16K claimers last April. She catches easier than she faced in her last couple of starts and should be a generous price here.

#3 Fivehailmarys goes turf to dirt here for the Brown barn. Two back she was a good second against $20K non-winners of three at Gulfstream, beaten 2 1/2 lengths for the top spot while 11 lengths clear of the rest of the field. The winner of that race was Miss Fleetfoot, who came back to beat $25K claimers by 5 3/4 lengths on 5/8 at Churchill Downs.

BEL Race 8 Alw $46,000N1X (4:45 et)
#8 McVictory, #2 Forest Trail, #6 Blitzen Too

#8 McVictory was a good second last out at this condition. The filly had to steady when caught in tight soon after the break, was blocked behind a wall of horses at the quarter pole and finished with some interest when clear. The winner of the race was Kristi With a K, who came back to miss winning a $69K stake in her next start on 5/30. A clean trip here and she will be in the mix here at a decent price.

#2 Forest Trail made a good late run to finish in the runner up spot at this level at the Big A in her first start off a six-month layoff. She has won just 1 of 14 starts but has landed in the money in three stakes. The Shug barn is 4 for his last 11 (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff.

BEL Race 9 Clm $7,500 (5:17 et)
#3 Merlin Circle, #6 Api Mohkat

#3 Merlin Circle will need to make up four lengths on the ML fav in here to turn the tables, but if we see close to the 12/1 ML, I’ll give him a good look to do just that. Last out the colt came with a five wide run to make a mild late run over a main track that was playing to inside speed. The low profile barn and jock assure we should catch a decent price and we just need to see some pace in front of him here.

#6 Api Mohkat raced evenly in a fourth place finish versus $12.5K claimers last out and drops into an easier spot here tagged for $7.5K. Only our third choice, who was aided by the speed bias earned a higher last out fig. The downside is the barn has been frigid at the meeting, winning at just a 5% clip and is just 1 for 22 using Chavez at the meeting.

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 I Promise 8/1
R1: #6 Doree Daze 8/1
R2: #4 Token Special 8/1
R2: #9 Queen of the Scene 15/1
R3: #1 To the Point / #1a Black Orchid 10/1
R6: #4 Sergeant Katakorum 12/1
R7: #9 In for a Dime 12/1
R7: #2 Decorated Court / #2b Shannon H 15/1
R8: #8 McVictory 8/1
R8: #1 Sonic Sound 8/1
R9: #3 Merlin Circle 12/1
R9: #4 Sonny’s the One 15/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!