Saturday Belmont Park Pick 4 Worth Chasing

Saturday’s Belmont Park card features a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” for owners, and for horseplayers, the New York track offers a $300,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4.

Since I currently don’t own any horses, I’ll focus on the Pick 4.

The feature on today’s card is the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at 6 ½ furlongs, which drew a field of nine fillies and mares.

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The winner of the race earns an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.

The race is the third leg of the Late Pick 4, and is the only race in the four-race sequence that will be run over the main track.

The opening leg is the seventh race, a $25,000 claiming race for non-winners of two races. The race drew a full field of ten along with five on the also eligible list and is probably the trickiest race among the four.

Shimmering Forest is likely to go off as the favorite off a game runner up finish in his last outing, but I think comebacker Thoth may be worth a look at a decent price.

The second leg is a first level allowance race on the turf that drew a competitive field of ten. The likely favorite is Devon Rock, who exits the Saranac (G3) and drops into a softer spot.

Sara Louise is the morning line favorite in the Gallant Bloom, and came up just a head short in the race last year, but she is making her first start since last November.

This race may be a good spot to look for an upset, and First Passage gets included on the ticket at a generous 15/1 on the morning line.

The final leg of the sequence does not get any easier, with a full field of ten on the turf going for a $25,000 claiming tag.

The George Weaver trainee Peace Wine looks solid off a good runner up finish at Monmouth Park, and Onzain ran a good second behind repeat winner Writingonthewall in his last effort.

Here is a breakdown of the Late Pick 4:

Race 7: #9 Thoth is making his first start since March where the colt came up short versus Alw-1 foes at Gulfstream Park. The colt exits a race in which two foe came back to win their next starts including the winner Forgotten Dynasty, who beat Alw-2 optional claimers on April 16, then was fourth and fifth in a couple of stakes tries. The colt has been working quickly in the mornings at Monmouth Park for former Romans assistant Liz Gray, and Leparoux takes the call. The colt showed some promise breaking his maiden in his first go on turf and may be overlooked on the tote here.

Selections: #9 Thoth – #6 Screenplay – #3 Shimmering Forest

Race 8: #3 Devon Rock is back in the allowance ranks after setting a sharp early pace and fading to finish sixth in the Saranac (G3) last out. This guy landed in the money in each of his first four starts including a third place finish in the Choice Stakes at Monmouth Park back in July in his first start against winners. There are a couple of others in here that can be forwardly placed and I am hoping Maragh sits just off the pace here, and he should get the jump on the late runners. The colt makes just his sixth career start and second attempt at this condition, and looks well spotted to get the job done here.

Selections: #3 Devon Rock – #6 Hammock – #7 Good Prospect

Race 9: #3 First Passage gets the call here and we should catch a generous price on this filly. Her New York debut did not go well, as she raced near the back of the pack early, came with a  five wide run and flattened out late to finish fifth in the Ballerina (G1). The filly caught a main track at the Spa that was favoring inside speed. Maybe she is just a Calder wonder, as she has won four stakes there including the Azalea (G3), but I am willing to give her another look here as if there is a pace meltdown, she could come flying late at a nice price.

Selections: #3 First Passage – #4 Qualia – #2 Sara Louise

Race 10: #2 Peace Wine was bumped coming out of the gate, stalked the early pace from the inside, came up the rail in the stretch and finished up well for the runner up spot, five lengths clear of the rest of the field. The winner of the race was Rock in Bage, who came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers in his next start on Sept. 19 at Monmouth Park. The colt did not care for the yielding turf two back but his last three figs on firm ground fit well here as he drops in for a $25K tag for the Weaver barn.

Selections: #2 Peace Wine – #3 Onzain – #1 Empty Handed

Good luck padding your bankroll today!