Two Stakes Highlight Friday Action at Belmont Park

Friday’s card at Belmont Park gets underway with a stake to start the action, the $60,000 Fifth Marine a one-mile turf even that drew a field of eight runners.

The field includes Radiohead, who came to the U.S. last fall and was the “wise guy” pick in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

The colt was not a threat in a seventh place finish, and has not been seen since a ninth place finish in the Florida Derby (G1) earlier this spring that put an end to his bid to head down the Triple Crown Trail.

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Aikenite made it to the Preakness Stakes (G1), but a tenth place finish sent trainer Todd Pletcher looking for easier spots for the colt.

The colt to beat appears to be Nordic Truce, who is coming off a fourth place finish in the Hall of Fame (G2).

The third race on the card is the $60,000 Salute Me Sir, a New York bred stake on the main track

The race drew a compact field of five including Naughty New Yorker, who has earned over $1 million in his career, but is winless the past two years, losing his last 19 starts over that time.

He looks as if he is in tough again, as Manteca and Giant Moon appear to have the edge in the race.

Here is a breakdown of the two stakes, along with today’s play of the day, a maiden race that completes today’s nine race card:

BEL Race 1 The Fifth Marine (1:00 ET)

• #3 Nordic Truce 5/2
• #7 Asphalt 6/1
• #6 Radiohead 3/1
• #4 Raging Wit 8/1

Analysis: #3 Nordic Truce came off a 2 1/2 month break with a fourth place finish in the Hall of Fame (G2). The colt was a bit rank early, was under a good hold under a patient ride by Leparoux and did not have enough punch late, coming up 1 3/4 lengths shy of the top spot.

The guy won a stake in his first trip against winners, taking the Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park back in January, the followed that win up with a win in the Transylvania (G3) and a tough neck loss in the Hill Prince (G3). Clement finds a good spot here, although the price is going to be on the light side.

#7 Asphalt has a couple of in the money finishes in graded company and now comes back off a two month freshening after failing to fire his best last out in the American Derby (G2) at Arlington Park in his most recent start. The cut back in distance here should suit, and if our top pick takes too much attention on the tote, this guy near his 6/1 ML is a good option.

Horse Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,4,6,7
TRI: 3,7 / 3,4,6,7 / 3,4,6,7,8

BEL Race 3 The Salute Me Sir (2:03 ET)

• #5 Giant Moon 7/5
• #1 Manteca 6/5
• #3 Mine Over Matter 10/1
• #4 Naughty New Yorker 6/1

Analysis: #5 Giant Moon makes his first start since a game win in the Evan Shipman at the Spa. This guy has a couple of stakes wins against open company including a win in a Grade 3 in April of ’09. The five year old has won 3 of 5 over the Belmont Park main track and this looks like a good spot.

#1 Manteca was third last out in the Majestic Light at Monmouth Park and returns to the state bred ranks here. The Pletcher gelding seems to fire every time out, landing in the money in 13 of his 14 career starts and is 2 for 2 over the surface here. His last three figs fit here and he figures to complete a puny exacta.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 7/5 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,3,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 9 Md Sp Wt (5:15 ET)

• #6 Heck 9/2
• #4 Nice and Naughty 8/1
• #5 Mississippi Too 3/1
• #3 Strategic Sue 10/1

Analysis: #6 Heck is one of two in here sent out by the Weaver barn and hopefully is the higher price of the duo. The filly is coming off a fourth place finish where she was beaten 1 1/4 lengths for the top spot. She broke awkwardly, had to steady a couple of times in traffic, was caught in behind a wall of runners and made up some ground late when finally clear.

She has one sib to race, Tailebytherail ($109K), a three-time winner on turf.

#4 Nice and Naughty caught some traffic in the stretch in a sixth place finish, exiting the same race as our top pick. She was making her first start off a 11-month layoff. She is a half to a pair of stakes winners, top earner the NY bred Naughty New Yorker ($1.08 million), who was 0 for 2 on turf.

Wagering

WIN: #6 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 3,4,5,6
TRI: 4,6 / 3,4,5,6 / 3,4,5,6,7

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 Raging Wit 8/1
• R3: #3 Mine Over Matter 10/1
• R4: #7 No Questions 10/1
• R5: #9 Goodgollymissdolly 12/1
• R5: #12 Long Gone 10/1
• R7: #6 Mad for Smarty 12/1
• R9: #4 Nice and Naughty 8/1
• R9: #3 Strategic Sue 10/1

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