Rotten to the Core to Offer Cash Value – Horse Racing Free Picks

After a star studded weekend that saw Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Rail Trip, Blame, and Life At Ten all win graded stakes, wagering on horses on a Wednesday afternoon card at Belmont Park may not bring out the stars, but the money we can win spends just as well.

The play of the day is a $35,000 maiden claiming race, and our top pick Rotten to the Core looks as if he may offer some value if we catch most of his 4/1 morning line.

The colt has the best shot of beating the likely favorite, the Chad Brown trainee Splendid Behavior, who showed plenty of promise with a fast closing third in his debut.

The Late Pick 3 kicks off with the seventh race, and keep an eye on the forecast, as two of the three races in the sequence are scheduled for the turf, and there is about a 60% chance of thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 4 Md $35,000 (2:36 ET)
#7 Rotten to the Core 4/1
#3 Splendid Behavior 9/5
#6 Glory Chaser 6/1
#5 Trust of Honor 3/1

Analysis: #7 Rotten to the Core dropped in for a tag last out for his second career start and caught trouble. The gelding had to steady on the far turn and was blocked behind runners nearing the quarter pole. He still appears to have plenty of upside and the 4/1 ML looks fair enough. He has two sibs that are winners including stakes winner Careless Jewel ($1 million).

#3 Splendid Behavior made a good late rally to finish third in his debut, beaten a half length for the top spot at 7/2 in a field of seven. The colt drops a notch in class for the Brown barn that is 20% winners with second out maidens. The colt is by Wildcat Heir out of the stakes winner Choobloo, who has dropped four other foals to race, three winners, top earner Kimme a Star ($174K).

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7 / 3,4,5,6,7

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

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

BEL Race 7 Clm $25,000N2L (4:12 ET)
#2 Beautiful Pear, #7 No Rhyme Or Reason

#2 Beautiful Pear stalked the early pace, was bumped around in the stretch and tired to finish ninth and last for this tag. It was her first go off the claim by the underrated Kaz barn, who added lasix to the mix last out. Two back going a mile she set the early fractions and weakened to finish third in a decent effort in her first start against winners. With the stretch out to seven furlongs she should be a early pace factor in here and she is better than she showed last out. She may bounce back with a better effort at a decent price.

#7 No Rhyme Or Reason made a good late run to finish in the runner up spot last out at this level going six furlongs, winning a photo for the place spot. She is now winless in four trips on turf but is coming off a solid effort and gets the extra furlong to run them down here. She fits well but the price is going to be on the light side.

BEL Race 8 Alw $50,000s (4:45 ET)
#3 Magic Lion, #4 Harmonizer, #2 Framed

#3 Magic Lion took the field gate to wire last out to beat $25K non winners of two. The colt was claimed out of the race by the Brown barn that is 27% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. The colt catches a field here without much early zip and with the stretch out to a mile this colt figures to shake lose early and prove tough to catch.
#4 Harmonizer came with a wide run to rally for the runner up spot last out at this level, catching a surface that was playing to outside stalkers and closers that day. The gelding should be closer to the pace here, showing some tactical speed two back when beaten a neck against $10K starter allowance types at Churchill Downs. The Maker barn has been quiet recently in NY.

BEL Race 9 Md $16,000 (5:17 ET)
#9 Maggie’s Prince, #4 King Prada, #1 Peytons Heart, #7 Scorper

#9 Maggie’s Prince had to steady on the far turn and made up some ground late to finish third last out in his turf debut in a decent effort. That effort came against $25K maiden claimers and he drops into a weak spot here tagged for $16K. He is on the light side pedigree wise for the grass but looks capable of moving forward in his second start off a two month break.

#4 King Prada is coming off a third place finish for a $25K tag where the gelding was shuffled back in the early going and put in a decent rally, finishing four lengths behind the winner Targhee Pass, who came back to beat $35K non wines of three in his next outing on June 11 here. He did not show much in his previous starts on turf but the easier company seems to suit this guy and he looks like he will appreciate the extra furlong here.

Price Plays From Belmont Park Betting:
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: #2 Of All Times 10/1
R3: #3 Keechi Bullet 10/1
R5: #2 Untamed Glory / #2b Lost At Dawn 8/1
R7: #8 Straight A Student 8/1
R9: #9 Maggie’s Prince 10/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!