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The race is on.
Tropical Storm Hanna is battering the northeast and the rain has already started early Saturday morning near Belmont Park.
By post time today, the rains will be coming down and we could see winds of 15-25 miles per hour.
There is a good chance we could see accelerated post time today as the NYRA tries to get the ten race card in.
The racing office moved up the Garden City Stakes (G1) to the third race, in hopes the turf event could get in before too much rain fell on the turf course.
With Hurricane Ike heading toward Florida, it seems I have been watching The Weather Channel more than TVG.
The Belmont Park meet kicked off on Friday, and we turned a small profit with my top picks, three on top on the ten race card. My top picks produced a +38% +ROI for the day.
I have produced a +ROI with my top picks in seven of the last nine days.
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 $35,000 (1:00 et)
#6 Sonny's the One 5/1
#5 Pocatello 3/1
#7 Five Card Poker 7/2
#1 Handsome Reward 5/1
Analysis: #6 Sonny's the One stalked the early pace and did not have enough punch in the stretch in a fourth place finish versus $25K foes last out at the Spa. The gelding was claimed out of the race by DiPrima barn that is 26% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. The gelding has a win over the main track here, taking a $15K non-winners of two in June. The gelding put in a near bullet work on 8/31 and expecting to see this guy move forward for sharp barn.
#5 Pocatello set the early fractions and weakened to finish third last out against $50K foes. The gelding has won 4 of 9 in his career including a win versus state bred Alw-2 optional claimers over the main track here. Owns a solid pace profile throughout with the edge in early and mid pace numbers. Bred to like a wet track and may prove tough to catch in this spot. The 3/1 ML looks more than fair but this guy likely is going to take more action at the windows.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 1,5,6,7
TRI: 5,6 / 1,5,6,7 / 1,2,5,6,7
Today’s Featured Race From Belmont Park:
BEL Race 9 Ruffian Hcp G1 (5:15 et)
#4 Indian Blessing 7/5
#1 Little Belle 8/1
#3 Copper State 12/1
#6 Tough Tiz's Sis 6/1
Analysis: #4 Indian Blessing is coming off back-to-back G1 wins and earned matching career tops with a 110 Beyer in each win, the margins a combined 12 1/4 lengths. She drops six pounds while taking on older for the first time in her career and stretching back out to a mile. She has won going two turns and won the one turn mile G1 Frizette over the main track here last October, so getting the one turn mile here off the seven furlong Test certainly seems within her reach. She is 2 for 2 on wet tracks and she will be tough to handle here although the price is going to be on the light side.
#1 Little Belle set the early fractions awhile down along the inside and weakened to finish third in the G1 Alabama going 1 1/4 miles. She caught a dull rail and a racing strip that was more favorable to outside stalkers and closers that day. The cut back in distance should suit this gal, but she needs to avoid getting hooked up in an early pace duel with the favorite for her to have a chance of being in the mix late.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 8/5 or better.
EX: 1,4 / 1,3,4,6
TRI: 1,4 / 1,3,4,6 / 1,3,4,5,6
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
R6: #9 Desert Quest 12/1
R7: #4 Felinefelon 8/1
R8: #4 Ferocious Won 8/1
R9: #1 Little Belle 8/1
R9: #3 Copper State 12/1
R10: #5 Gold Prospect 12/1
Good luck today!
