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We finished the Saratoga meeting in good form, showing a profit with my top picks in six of the final eight days of the meeting.

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The weather cooperated, we won a couple of unlikely photo finishes like Colonel John in the Travers, and we added to the bankroll nicely.

Now it is on to Belmont Park for the fall meeting. I would say the weather has to be better than we saw during the first weeks of the Spa meeting, but there are a couple of storms out in the Atlantic that could actually reach New York.

Tropical Storm Hanna could hit the New York area sometime Saturday night.

Hurricane Ike could actually make its way up the east coast next week.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed we get through the first few weeks of the meet with fast and firm conditions.

It does seem strange sitting down here on the Gulf Coast of Florida that I might be worrying about a tropical storm in New York in a few days.

The opening day card for Friday is good, but not great. I had a hard time coming up with longshots, but I only have a couple of morning line favorites as my top pick, so there is plenty of hope we can have a solid day to start off the meeting.

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

Here is the opening from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:

BEL Race 1 Clm $10,000 (1:00 et)
#3 Rumspringa 3/1
#11 Hedge Fund 8/1
#6 Lost Going Home 7/2
#7 Zip to the City 5/2

Analysis: #3 Rumspringa was off in a tangle, was bumped and had to steady after stumbling and was not a threat. The gelding caught a sloppy surface and he has not handled a wet track in three tries. Two back the gelding beat $22K claimers at Monmouth in a sharp effort. He has landed in the exacta in 5 of 9 trips over the main track here. He looks well spotted here jammed in for a $10K tag by a high % outfit.

#11 Hedge Fund drops out of a $35K claimer here on the turf, a fourth place finish behind repeat winner Caesar Beware, who beat $35K foes again in his next outing on 8/28 at the Spa. Two back on the main track here he went gate to wire to beat $25K non-winners of three in his first go for Persaud. Three exited that race to win next out. I like the switch back to the main track and the barn had a good meeting here in the spring, going 9 for 50.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 3,11 / 3,6,7,11
TRI: 3,6 / 1,3,6,7 / 1,2,3,6,7,11

Today’s Featured Race From Belmont Park:

BEL Race 8 Positive Gal S. (4:45 et)
#8 Stormy West 2/1
#3 Anofficerandalady 8/1
#1 Diamondrella 5/2
#4 Talebetold 4/1

Analysis: #8 Stormy West made a mild rally while wide to finish a close up sixth last out trying to get a mile in the restricted De La Rose. She was beaten 1 1/4 lengths for the top spot. The winner was Carriage Hill, who returned to run second in the G2 Ballston Spa in her next outing. She won the Caress here two back over the turf going seven furlongs. The cut back in distance should suit and perhaps Mott getting out of Saratoga will wake up the cold barn.

#3 Anofficerandalady was a sharp winner last out at Suffolk in a $50K stake on the turf going five furlongs. The filly has now landed in the exacta in 4 of her 5 trips on turf. he is in a bit tougher here but looks sharp enough to handle the tougher company.

Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 3,8 / 1,3,4,8
TRI: 3,8 / 1,3,4,8 / 1,3,4,6,8

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: #11 Hedge Fund 8/1
R2: #3 Speight of Hand 8/1
R5 #10 Endless Circle 8/1
R7: #3 Turnupthevolume 12/1
R8: #3 Anofficerandalady 8/1

Good luck today!