It was larceny.
Jockey Richard Migliore was able to carve out soft early fractions of :24.05 and :49.03, and went on to score a gate to wire win in Saturday’s $750,000 Super Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs.
My top pick Blame was hurt by the dawdling early fractions, making a mild late rally to finish second.
It was a frustrating way to end the day after coming up with just three winners on top on the ten race card at Belmont Park.
We had a couple of top picks come up as bridesmaids at big prices. In the seventh race my top pick Victory March came up just ¾ of a length shy of D’Wildcard at 21/1, returning $14.80 to place.
We then got to watch Discreetly Mine get a terrible trip in the Futurity (G2), coming up 4 ¾ lengths behind the favorite D’Funnybone.
In the ninth race, the $250,000 Matron Stakes (G2) my top pick was Touching Beauty, who was sent off at 16/1.
She came up 2 3/4 lengths short, returning $14.60 to place. If you used her with my third choice Awesome Maria, you nailed a $133.00 exacta.
We did catch a $74.00 exacta in the finale, as my second choice Too Amenable ($16.40) got the job done over my third choice Double Domino.
Sunday’s card looks promising, with my top pick sitting at 6/1 or higher in six of the ten races on the card.
To purchase my full card report for Belmont Park that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's second race from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 2 Md Sp Wt (1:35 ET)
#2 Nonna Mia 6/1
#6 Souma 10/1
#7 Anne Margaret 9/2
#4 Remark 5/1
Analysis: #2 Nonna Mia showed some early interest in her debut, pressing the early pace, taking over the lead and weakening to finish fifth at the Spa over a wet track. The third place finisher in the race was Kitty in a Tizzy, who came back to graduate in her next outing on Sept. 16. Levine was ice cold at the Spa meeting (1 for 48) and this $200K filly returns with lasix added for her second start. She is by Empire Maker out of the stakes winner Holy Bullette ($240K). The barn is 26% winners (with a +ROI) with second timers and we should catch a fair price on this filly in this spot.
#6 Souma had to check coming out of the gate, was rushed up to press the early pace from the outside and weakened to finish seventh in her debut. The third place finisher Mambo Fever returned to graduate in her next start on Sept. 6. The filly came back with a bullet work since her debut and Zito goes to Ramon here. With a better start this gal figures to move forward off her debut and likely gets overlooked on the tote here.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,6 / 2,4,6,7
TRI: 2,6 / 2,4,6,7 / 2,4,5,6,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 9 John Hettinger S. (5:19 ET)
#8 Love Cove 10/1
#6 Chestoria 3/1
#7 Nehantic Kat 6/5
#3 Crazy Catlady 12/1
Analysis: #8 Love Cove is making her third start of her current form cycle and figures to be on the lead here in a race without a lot of early pace signed up to go here. Last out she caught soft turf at the Spa, setting the early fractions and tiring to finish sixth in the NY bred Yaddo. She finished behind a few of these in her last two starts at Saratoga but she has run well here, landing in the exacta in 6 of 8 trips and we should catch a decent price here.
#6 Chestoria also exits the Yaddo where she finished fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths for the top spot. She has done some of her best running over the turf here at Belmont Park, winning 4 of her 9 starts. She should bounce back here with a better effort with some firmer ground under her.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 5/1 or better.
EX: 6,8 / 3,6,7,8
TRI: 6,8 / 3,6,7,8 / 2,3,6,7,8
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
R2: #6 Souma 10/1
R3: #4 Putin 10/1
R4: #7 All Sew Smooth 12/1
R5: #3 Pure Cognac 12/1
R7: #7 Raynicks Fan 10/1
R8: #7 West Ocean 10/1
R9: #8 Love Cove 10/1
R9: #3 Crazy Catlady 12/1
R10: #9 Precipice Trail 12/1
Good luck today!
