After a sub par day on Thursday, we came back with a vengeance on Friday, which will set things up nicely for Super Saturday at Belmont Park.

There are five Grade 1 races on the eleven race card, although two of the races came up with short fields.

Friday started great as we nailed the exacta in the opener, returning $132.00. We had the recommended exacta in the second race, which paid $82.50, along with the trifecta, which paid $257.50.

We had the exacta in the fifth ($45.60), sixth ($13.60), and seventh ($48.40).

The ninth race was washed off the turf.

There is an 80% chance of rain at Belmont Park on Saturday, which should leave the track wet and the turf course soft or yielding.

The turf course was labeled as “good” on Friday, so there already is some cut in the ground.

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I am hoping that helps my top pick Moneycantbuymelove in the Flower Bowl Invitational, which is the eighth race on the card.

The filly invades from the other side of the pond for the Michael Bell barn and he brings with him Jamie Spencer to ride. I'm still not over Spencer's ride aboard Powerscourt in the Arlington Million in 2004, so I have to really like a runner to back a runner with Spencer aboard.

The filly was a good third last out in the Nassau Stakes (G1), which was over soft ground at Goodwood. The runner up in the race was Rainbow View, who came back to win the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown Sept. 5 in her next outing.

It could turn out to be a chalky day, as Music Note, Fabulous Strike, and Gio Ponti all figure to be less than even money.

I am pretty sure at least one of them will get upset today.

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 $10,000 (12:30 ET)
#9 Independence War 5/2
#2 Debating / #2b Tiger D.R. 5/1
#1 Nkosi Reigns / #1a Goldispretty 3/1
#3 Ferocious Won 4/1

Analysis: #9 Independence War is making his first start since running fourth in the Claiming Crown Express, beaten three lengths for the top spot. The winner of that race was Gold Coyote, who came back to win the $50K Temperence Hill in his next outing at Lou Downs on Sept. 19. The gelding won sprinting two and three back at Oaklawn Park versus tougher than these. He is proven he can handle today's distance and his running style suggests the one turn should suit him fine. The Ice barn is 29% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

#2 Debating raced evenly last out over a wet track that was playing to speed in a fourth place finish versus $7.5K claimers. He makes his third start of his current form cycle and has done some of his best work over a wet track, half of his 10 career wins have come on off tracks and he might see some moisture in the surface here. Entrymate #2b Tiger D.R. is also entered at Monmouth Park today and seems the more likely to get scratched of the two.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 2,9 / 1,2,3,9
TRI: 2,9 / 1,2,3,9 / 1,2,3,7,9

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 10 Jockey Club Gold Cup G1 (5:43 ET)
#7 Quality Road 5/2
#2 Macho Again 7/2
#3 Summer Bird 2/1
#6 Dry Martini 8/1

Analysis: #7 Quality Road came off a four month layoff with a sharp win in the six furlong Amsterdam (G2) going 6 ½ furlongs and then came up short stretching out to 1 ¼ miles just 3 ½ weeks later. The colt tracked the early pace along the inside and did not have enough punch in the stretch, checking in third and beaten five lengths for the top spot by #3 Summer Bird. The colt should be primed and ready for a top effort here in his third start off the bench.

#2 Macho Again let a girl beat him last out in the Woodward (G1), but that girl of course was named Rachel. The colt was about 15 lengths back and made a good late rally, coming up just a head short of pulling off the upset at 8/1. This colt looks like he should relish the 1 ¼ miles and he has run well on wet tracks, including winning the New Orleans ‘Cap (G2) back in March over a sloppy surface at Fair Grounds. The colt will be rolling late but the question mark is where or not he sees enough pace in front of him here to set things up.

#3 Summer Bird was also beaten by Rachel, checking in six lengths behind the super filly in the Haskell (G1) two back. He bounced back by winning the Travers (G1) in a sharp effort in the slop, earning a career top in the effort. It is hard to find a knock on this guy except perhaps for a short price. He has shown he is tactical enough to be in good position, sitting off an honest pace in his last two starts. He looks like the deserving favorite but I am hoping our top pick is ready for a career top effort and is a bit more value on the tote.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 2,7 / 2,3,6,7
TRI: 2,7 / 2,3,6,7 / 2,3,4,6,7

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 #4 Letsgotwosteppin 15/1
R5: #4 Well Excuuuze Me 10/1
R6: #3 Copper State 8/1
R8: #5 Criticism 8/1
R9: #5 Musketier 12/1
R9: #3 Al Khali 12/1
R10: #6 Dry Martini 8/1
R11: #10 Up for Love 10/1