Padding Your Bankroll – June 10th Pony Picks

The Triple Crown season is over, but that is no reason to slow down our attempts to pad our bankroll.

There is a solid nine race card on tap at Belmont Park today, and I am hoping the rain stops in time that we are on the turf.

More Than a Reason looks live in our play of the day as the likely third choice. The colt stretches back out to a mile while picking up hall of fame rider Edgar Prado.

Our Late Pick 3 play is a $32 investment, with the key being the last leg, which is a wide open race. We will go four deep in the final leg of the three-race sequence, and three of our four contenders figure to go off at a generous price. 

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 5 Hcp $16,000s (3:08 et)
#3 More Than a Reason   4/1
#2 Future Prospect   8/5
#1 Even Raise   9/5
#4 Sterling Heat   12/1

Analysis: #3 More Than a Reason exits a fourth place finish versus $25K starter handicap company going six furlongs. The colt flattened out late while down along the inside over a racing strip that was kinder to early speed types that day. The colt won at this level four back going six furlongs on the inner earning a career top. He has a win at a mile and Edgar takes over for the Persaud barn that has been quiet in recent months but still is hitting at a 17% clip moving runners from sprint to route.

#2 Future Prospect comes in here riding a three race win streak but all three of those wins came against state breds. Things may not be easy on the front in this spot against open company and the price is going to be on the light side for the top spot.

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

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $2: 6,8 / 2,4 / 2,4,8,11 = $32

BEL Race 7 Alw $53,000N1X (4:12 et)
#6 Hot Money, #8 Brecciate

#6 Hot Money was a good looking maiden winner last out in his second career start for the Clement barn. The gelding was coming back off a five month layoff and caught "good" ground, and is likely to catch similar footing today. The fourth and sixth place finishers in his maiden win came back to graduate in their next starts. He has a decent turf pedigree and still appears to have plenty of upside. The barn is 26% winners with horses making their second start off a 45-180 day layoff.

#8 Brecciate made a mild late run to finish fourth last out. Two back off the bench he had a tough trip, having to steady at the half mile pole and racing in traffic  on the turn. The gelding looks primed for a good effort here in his third start of his current form cycle and Ramon sticks with this guy.

BEL Race 8 OClm $75,000N3X (4:45 et)
#4 Torpedo Run, #2 Coal Play

#4 Torpedo Run ships in from Maryland for the Gary Capuano barn that does not make the trip north very often, 1 for 5 in NY going back five years, all of those starts with the NY bred Ocala Gator. This gelding was outrun last out in Grade 3 company on Preakness Day after stringing together three straight wins at Laurel Park going a mile. Two back that race was essentially a Alw-4 and three back he won at today’s condition. Looking for him to rebound here and despite the short field we might catch a fair enough price to prevent us from skipping here.

#2 Coal Play was beaten double digit lengths in each of his last two starts, last out dueling for the early lead and fading at Churchill Downs going seven furlongs. That was a pretty good field with several stakes caliber runners. Three quick works since arriving in New York and looking for this guy to bounce back with a better effort as well.

BEL Race 9 Md Sp Wt (5:17 et)
#11 Courageous Cat, #2 Boots Ahead / #2b Peace Wine, #8 Captiva Pass, #4 Tawaared

#11 Courageous Cat set the early fractions and was no match for the slop loving Precursor, who drew clear to win by nearly 13 lengths. Our top pick was 4 3/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field. He makes his third start off the bench and returns to the turf for the first time since checking in fourth in his debut last fall. This guy has quite the pedigree, by Storm Cat out of the turf stakes winner Tranquility Lake ($1.6 million) who has dropped two other foals to race, both stakes winners: After Market ($903K) and Jalil ($332K).

#2 Boots Ahead is coming off a good effort over yielding ground last out in his turf debut. The gelding set the early fractions and was unable to hold off the winner late. His entry mate also has Coa listed to ride so only one will go. #2b Peace Wine was a game second last out on the main track at Gulfstream Park. The third and fourth place finishers in that race returned to graduate in their next starts. The colt is by Cuvee out of a Tabasco Cat mare that has dropped one other foal to race, Backtracken, who is 1 for 8 with that win coming on turf.  

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: #8 Fourth Chapter   8/1
R1: #2 Delta Weekend   10/1
R3: #5 Saratoga Cowboy   12/1
R4: #3 Split Pot   15/1
R4 #8 Royal Valentine   8/1
R5: #4 Sterling Heat   12/1
R6: #7 Our Montana Dream   20/1
R9: #11 Courageous Cat   8/1
R9: #8 Captiva Pass   10/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!