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Horseplayers will have an extra challenge on the Fourth of July this year.

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Belmont Park has a 3:00 ET post time today, and the final race on the nine race card does not go off until 7:08 ET.

To get all of our action in today we might have to delay the start of the cookouts until late in the day. I’m one of the lucky few who has a wife that is going to work on the Fourth, leaving me to find my fireworks in the Pick 4 and Pick 6.

She is expecting me to find my way to the beach to meet her later to watch the real fireworks.

If I am alive in the Pick 6 at Belmont Park and decide to stand her up, the real fireworks will start.

Here’s hoping you have a very enjoyable Fourth of July and the weather is grand in your part of the world.

Churchill Downs closes on Sunday, so we have three days left to continue to pad our bankroll. The past month has been very kind to us, although I won’t be sad to see Churchill Downs close.

It means Saratoga is that much closer to opening.

To purchase my full card reports for Churchill Downs and Belmont Park that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, recommendations for today click here.

Here is today's opener from Churchill Downs to get our day off to a good start:

CD Race 1 Clm $15,000 (1:15 et)
#1 Hot Gold 5/1
#5 Laverham 3/1
#4 Bubble Berry 5/2
#2 Geeska 7/2

Analysis: #1 Hot Gold had a two race win streak snapped last out in her local debut, checking in fourth against $7.5K claimers. She faced older in her last and is back in with straight three year olds here in this spot. Two back she beat $7.5K non winners of three at Finger Lakes. The runner up in the race was Heart of Irton, who beat $10K non winners of three and then was second against NY bred allowance foes in her next two starts. Barn has been on fire all meeting, hitting at a 40% clip.

#5 Laverham returns off nearly a three month break here. Her last start was a fourth at Mountaineer versus Alw-2L foes, a race that produced a pair of next out winners. She broke her maiden over the main track here in her debut last fall against $30K maiden claimers. Has a win and a second in two trips on wet tracks and we might see some rain today.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,4,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race From Belmont Park:

BEL Race 8 Tom Fool Hcp G2 (6:36 et)
#2 Lucky Island
#5 Tasteyville
#1 Not for Money
#6 Premium Wine

Analysis: #2 Lucky Island was a sharp winner last out in the G2 Bold Ruler here on 5/10 despite getting checked while down along the inside and having to wait for some running room. The third place finisher Forefathers popped a 107 Beyer in his next start beating Alw-2 optional claimers. The colt has won 4 of 5 career starts and we may not have seen the best out of this guy yet.

#5 Tasteyville went gate to wire to beat a good group of optional claimers last out in his first go off a seven month layoff. The gelding won the G3 Sports Page 'Cap two back at today's seven furlong distance.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 1,2,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race From Churchill Downs:

CD Race 7 OClm $100,000C (4:20 et)
#4 M B Sea
#2 High Blues
#3 Dubious Miss
#7 Itsallaboutthechase

Analysis: #4 M B Sea checked in third in a four horse field last out in a $75K stake at Mountaineer in his first start off a seven month layoff. The five year old finished up last year earning a couple of numbers that would fit here. Figures to be fitter second off the bench and he has won five times over the main track here although the last win here came in '05.

#2 High Blues was not a factor last out in the G1 Foster but certainly fits better here in optional claiming company. Five year old owns back speed figs that are a good fit and won a $50K stake on poly three back at Turfway. The five year old has never gone over a wet track in his career although he has a decent off track pedigree.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 2,3,4,7
TRI: 2,4 / 2,3,4,7 / 1,2,3,4,7

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
R2: #2 Miracle Causeway 15/1
R3: #1 Mister Alimony 15/1
R5: #3 Solid Strike 12/1
R5: #10 Continental Reins 10/1
R6: #5 Straight Romance 8/1
R6: #7 Hedge Fund 12/1

Churchill Downs
R4: #3 Delightful Demi 12/1
R6: #6 Overdrive 15/1
R7: #4 M B Sea 8/1
R10: #6 Steve’s Double 15/1

Good luck today!