It was a slow day on Thursday, with just a couple of winners on top, returning $14.40 for each $18 wagered to win.
We will need to do better than that today.
I would give you a full recap on yesterday, but by the seventh race I had ripped the Belmont Park past performances into pieces and dropped them into the trash can.
My first thought was to throw them out the window in frustration, but I figured my wife would send me out to the side of the house to pick them up.
However, what happened yesterday is old news, and today offers another opportunity to make money.
There is a good card on tap at Belmont Park including a couple of stakes.
The third race on the card is the $65,000 Sir Keys Stakes, featuring the return of Haynesfield, who is making his first start since March.
It looked like the colt might have been heading to the Kentucky Derby after wins in the Count Fleet and Whirlaway, but he was beaten by 26 lengths in the Gotham Stakes (G3) and put on the shelf.
The seventh race is the $65,000 Shopping for Love Stakes, a New York bred stake for fillies and mares.
The race drew a competitive field of ten, and I am going to take a long look at Elegant Bess, who is 20/1 on the morning line.
The full look of the race is below.
Super Saturday is just about here. There are five Grade 1 races on the Saturday card at Belmont Park, with many of the stars of the sport making their final preps for the Breeders’ Cup.
I will have my full card report for the big day available tomorrow.
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 opening race from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $25,000B (1:00 ET)
#8 Bambolina 3/1
#7 Darjeeling 6/1
#1 Sweet Madness 7/2
#5 Token Special 5/1
Analysis: #8 Bambolina drops from $35K to $25K here for her third start of her current form cycle. Last out she came up the inside to get into the mix and weakened in the stretch to finish fourth against non winners of three. She does look like she may be back on track after sub par efforts two and three back. She was good enough to beat Alw-1 company at Churchill Downs back in May. Ramon picks up the call for a sharp barn that has picked up a couple of wins from his first five starters at the current meet.
#7 Darjeeling is returning off a 3 1/2 month break for the Asmussen barn that is 20% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. The mare checked in sixth last out against Alw-2 optional claimers, which was her first start off a 13 month layoff. The race has produced three next out winners and two others came back to finish second in their next starts. She is a bit light in the pedigree department for her first go on turf, but she is dropping into a softer spot here.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 7,8 / 1,5,7,8
TRI: 7,8 / 1,5,7,8 / 1,5,7,8,10
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 7 Shopping for Love S. (4:12 ET)
#7 Elegant Bess 20/1
#9 Akilina 6/1
#1 Our Golden Dream 7/2
#5 Exclusive Scheme 6/1
Analysis: #7 Elegant Bess is coming off a sharp win versus state bred Alw-1 foes going 5 1/2 furlongs over a soft turf course at the Spa. She has only been long once, a fourth place finish last summer in her second career start. This filly sure looks like she still has plenty of upside potential and she has a ton of pedigree to handle the stretch out, by Victory Gallop out of a Touch Gold mare. Worth a stab here at what should be a good price.
#9 Akilina exits the Peerless Spring along with four others in here. The filly was a good second, unable to get to the gate to wire winner #6 Mother Russia. The filly earned a career top last out and looks headed in the right direction for the Clement barn. She looks ready for a good effort here in her third start of her current form cycle and just her second go at a mile.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 8/1 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 1,5,7,9
TRI: 7,9 / 1,5,7,9 / 1,5,6,7,9,10
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
R4: #3 Rousing Kitty 12/1
R5: #11 Baystreet Bully 10/1
R5: #3 Champagne Brunch 10/1
R6: #9 Miss Nick 8/1
R7: #7 Elegant Bess 20/1
R9: #12 Great Gracie Dane 8/1
R9: #7 Farawaycat 12/1
Good luck today!
