It looks likely we will be off the turf on Friday at Belmont Park as the rains are forecast to continue right through the weekend.
The NYRA has already postponed Saturday’s $100,000-added Athenia for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf course, and moved it to Wednesday, Oct. 21.
I am assuming we are going to be off the turf today in New York, and there are four scheduled to go on the turf course today.
We might see rain at Keeneland today, and there are two races carded for the turf including the Franklin County Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs.
Yesterday’s Jessamine was moved to the main track and it lost its Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” status in the process.
It was a soggy Thursday, but we turned a profit with my top picks at both tracks. There were three winners on top at Keeneland, producing a +33% +ROI.
At Belmont Park we had three winners on top including Hangingonaprayer ($17.20) in the opener, producing a +85% +ROI with my top picks.
To purchase my full card report for Keeneland and Belmont Park that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opening race from Keeneland to get our day off to a good start:
KEE Race 1 Clm $10,000 (1:05 ET)
#5 It's a Miracle 3/1
#4 Magical Prize 20/1
#12 South Beach Luv 4/1
#2 Thecleverest 15/1
Analysis: #5 It's a Miracle chased a loose on the lead gate to wire winner last out over the poly at Arlington, settling for second for a $10K tag. The filly was 3 1/2 lengths clear of the rest of the field in the effort. The filly makes her third start of her current form cycle for the Catalano barn and she has landed in the exacta in all four of her trips over the fake stuff. AP shippers have fared very well here early in the meet, 11 winners over the past three days of the meeting made their last starts in Chi-Town.
#4 Magical Prize ships in from Turfway where she was beaten just a nose for a $5K tag facing non winners of two races in six months. She is stepping into open company here but looks headed in the right direction and will be a big price in here. She beat open $10K foes here last fall at 21/1.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 2,4,5,12
TRI: 4,5 / 2,4,5,12 / 1,2,4,5,10,12
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 9 Clm $12,500B (5:17 ET)
#8 Moose Man 6/1
#9 Persian 5/2
#3 May Day Now 9/2
#10 Pacific Star 3/1
Analysis: #8 Moose Man is coming off a third place finish at Del Park against $10K foes that are non winners of three. Two runners have come out of the race to run back and they both won. The winner Lite Up the Nite came back to beat restricted $5K foes at Laurel Park. The gelding owns a win over the main track here and has a good edge in early and mid pace numbers.
#9 Persian beat $25K non winners of two last out in his first start for the Dutrow barn off the claim. The gelding earned a career top in his first go for the new barn. The gelding has run okay over a wet track and this looks like a good spot here jammed in for a $12.5K tag.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 8,9 / 3,8,9,10
TRI: 8,9 / 3,8,9,10 / 3,6,7,8,9,10
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:
KEE Race 9 Franklin County S. (5:05 ET)
#2 Libor Lady 9/2
#1 Nadeshiko 20/1
#6 Canadian Ballet 3/1
#4 Dubai Majesty 7/2
Analysis: #2 Libor Lady returns off a two month freshening, shipping in for the very sharp Pino barn. Last out over the Tapeta the filly set the early fractions and weakened to finish fourth. The winner of the race was Sweet Lorena, who came back to finish second in the PI Masters (G3) in her next outing. The filly has done her best work on grass, winning 6 of 10 in her career. She won the Klassy Briefcase two back in NJ, her third win in a row. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and looks tough if she shakes loose early.
#1 Nadeshiko won the Remington F&M Sprint last out on dirt, with the runner up Classify coming back to win a $50K stake in her next outing at Remington on Oct. 10. The Foley runner comes into this race in razor sharp form but is 0 for 2 on turf in her career. One as a fifth and the other was going a route of ground. Her form is so good right now I'm tossing her in the mix here for a sharp barn.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,6
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,6,7,10
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.
Keeneland
R1: #4 Magical Prize 20/1
R1: #2 Thecleverest 15/1
R2: #12 Greenhouse Banker 12/1
R2: #9 Run With Eagles 10/1
R4: #4 Bootprints 8/1
R5: #4 Cherokee Spirit 10/1
R6: #4 Swashbuckler 8/1
R6: #2 Celeritas Plus 8/1
R7: #5 Duveen 20/1
R8: #5 Keefer 8/1
R9: #1 Nadeshiko 20/1
R10: #10 Look Out Man 10/1
Belmont Park
R1: #9 Speed Dating 8/1
R1: #6 Corey’s Coming 10/1
R3: #3 Khancord Kid 8/1
R5: #6 Those Wer the Days 8/1
R6: #5 Blazing Moon 10/1
R7: #6 Dreamnote 10/1
Good luck today!
