At the Gate - Friday
I just finished handicapping the 13-race marathon card for Belmont Stakes Day. I am not sure what time I started, but the Nationals and Giants doubleheader was in a rain delay when I started and both games were over as was the Stanley Cup game between Detroit and Pittsburgh.
So it seemed like a couple of days. Let?s not forget I was watching the 14-37 Nationals. Just watching the parade of bums coming in from the bullpen can seem like it lasts longer than a mini-series on Lifetime.
Before we get to Saturday?s card, we have to maneuver through a ten race card on Friday, which features four stakes including the $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap, a 1 ? mile marathon.
The weather does not look promising on Friday, as there is a 90% chance of rain. It is likely we are going to see an off track and the races are likely to come off the turf.
The forecast for Saturday looks better. It will be mostly cloudy with just a 10% chance of rain.
The racing surface at Belmont Park has a lot of sand in it and dries out quickly. It looks like there is a good chance we will see a fast track by first post of 11:35am on Saturday.
I handicapped Friday?s card for an off track and off the turf, and there are several excellent betting opportunities.
Saturday?s card really looks promising. There are plenty of big fields and live longshots, and I don?t see the "Bird" winning the Belmont Stakes as the short priced favorite.
To purchase my full card report for Belmont Park for Friday and Saturday that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $25,000 (1:00 et)
#3 Catching 5/2
#5 Fort Carillon 12/1
#1 Tempest Storm / 1a Dressmaker / 1x Not Now 10/1
#2 Inter Galactic 2/1
Analysis: #3 Catching is coming off a third place finish on the turf at Gulfstream Park against $35K claimers, beaten two lengths for the top spot. She was caught down along the inside, angled to the outside and finished up well. With rain in the forecast, I am guessing we are going to be off the turf today to save the turf course for tomorrow. This mare is 1 for 3 on wet tracks and her last go on the main track was an off the turf win in the slop at Laurel Park last fall where she beat Alw-2 optional claimers by 22 1/2 lengths. However, don't get too excited about that win, it was a match race as she faced just one foe. She put in a quick drill over at Del Park and she looks primed for a good effort here for the Lake barn.
#5 Fort Carillon is in for a tag here after a wide trip in a fourth place finish versus $16K starter handicap company. Two back she made a good late rally to beat $16K starter handicap foes. She has run pretty well on wet tracks (8-1-3-0), and even with a few scratches figures to be a decent price in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 1,2,3,5
TRI: 3,5 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 10 Brooklyn Hcp G2 (5:35 et)
#1 Ea / #1a Barrier Reef
#7 Alcomo
#9 Rising Moon
#5 Delosvientos
Analysis: I loved #1 Ea last out in the G3 WD Schaeffer on Preakness Day but the gelding stumbled coming out of the gate and finished up well for second. Two back he earned a career top in a good second behind Researcher, a Chuck Town specialist who has won 10 of 17 career starts. Also in that race were Commentator and Dry Martini, a next out winner. The gelding looks capable pedigree wise to handle the extra ground here.
Entry mate #1a Barrier Reef also has Ramon listed to ride. The colt had a three-race win streak snapped last out when third in the G3 Excelsior at the Big A.
#7 Alcomo was beaten just a neck last out in the slop in the Nasty N Bold, which was at today's 1 1/2 mile distance. He makes his third start off a six-month layoff and has shown he loves a wet track, taking 7 of 13 on the off going in his career, much of that in Brazil.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,5,7,9
TRI: 1,7 / 1,5,7,9 / 1,2,5,7,9
Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #5 Fort Carillon 12/1
R1: #1 Entry 10/1
R5: #6 Retriever 15/1
R7: #6 Just Let Me Dream 10/1
R8: #10 Frolic?s Dream 8/1
R9: #2 Despite the Odds 12/1
Good luck today!
I just finished handicapping the 13-race marathon card for Belmont Stakes Day. I am not sure what time I started, but the Nationals and Giants doubleheader was in a rain delay when I started and both games were over as was the Stanley Cup game between Detroit and Pittsburgh.
So it seemed like a couple of days. Let?s not forget I was watching the 14-37 Nationals. Just watching the parade of bums coming in from the bullpen can seem like it lasts longer than a mini-series on Lifetime.
Before we get to Saturday?s card, we have to maneuver through a ten race card on Friday, which features four stakes including the $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap, a 1 ? mile marathon.
The weather does not look promising on Friday, as there is a 90% chance of rain. It is likely we are going to see an off track and the races are likely to come off the turf.
The forecast for Saturday looks better. It will be mostly cloudy with just a 10% chance of rain.
The racing surface at Belmont Park has a lot of sand in it and dries out quickly. It looks like there is a good chance we will see a fast track by first post of 11:35am on Saturday.
I handicapped Friday?s card for an off track and off the turf, and there are several excellent betting opportunities.
Saturday?s card really looks promising. There are plenty of big fields and live longshots, and I don?t see the "Bird" winning the Belmont Stakes as the short priced favorite.
To purchase my full card report for Belmont Park for Friday and Saturday that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $25,000 (1:00 et)
#3 Catching 5/2
#5 Fort Carillon 12/1
#1 Tempest Storm / 1a Dressmaker / 1x Not Now 10/1
#2 Inter Galactic 2/1
Analysis: #3 Catching is coming off a third place finish on the turf at Gulfstream Park against $35K claimers, beaten two lengths for the top spot. She was caught down along the inside, angled to the outside and finished up well. With rain in the forecast, I am guessing we are going to be off the turf today to save the turf course for tomorrow. This mare is 1 for 3 on wet tracks and her last go on the main track was an off the turf win in the slop at Laurel Park last fall where she beat Alw-2 optional claimers by 22 1/2 lengths. However, don't get too excited about that win, it was a match race as she faced just one foe. She put in a quick drill over at Del Park and she looks primed for a good effort here for the Lake barn.
#5 Fort Carillon is in for a tag here after a wide trip in a fourth place finish versus $16K starter handicap company. Two back she made a good late rally to beat $16K starter handicap foes. She has run pretty well on wet tracks (8-1-3-0), and even with a few scratches figures to be a decent price in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 1,2,3,5
TRI: 3,5 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 10 Brooklyn Hcp G2 (5:35 et)
#1 Ea / #1a Barrier Reef
#7 Alcomo
#9 Rising Moon
#5 Delosvientos
Analysis: I loved #1 Ea last out in the G3 WD Schaeffer on Preakness Day but the gelding stumbled coming out of the gate and finished up well for second. Two back he earned a career top in a good second behind Researcher, a Chuck Town specialist who has won 10 of 17 career starts. Also in that race were Commentator and Dry Martini, a next out winner. The gelding looks capable pedigree wise to handle the extra ground here.
Entry mate #1a Barrier Reef also has Ramon listed to ride. The colt had a three-race win streak snapped last out when third in the G3 Excelsior at the Big A.
#7 Alcomo was beaten just a neck last out in the slop in the Nasty N Bold, which was at today's 1 1/2 mile distance. He makes his third start off a six-month layoff and has shown he loves a wet track, taking 7 of 13 on the off going in his career, much of that in Brazil.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,5,7,9
TRI: 1,7 / 1,5,7,9 / 1,2,5,7,9
Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #5 Fort Carillon 12/1
R1: #1 Entry 10/1
R5: #6 Retriever 15/1
R7: #6 Just Let Me Dream 10/1
R8: #10 Frolic?s Dream 8/1
R9: #2 Despite the Odds 12/1
Good luck today!
