At the Gate – Sunday

We have what appears to be a hittable Pick 6 this afternoon at Belmont Park with a $34,643 carryover and do not forget there is plenty of great racing on Monday, which is Memorial Day.
 
There are six stakes on Monday’s card at Belmont Park which is New York Showcase Day, featuring state bred races.
 
Among the stakes on the 11-race card is the $200,000 Commentator for three-year-olds and upward going one mile on the main track. Pat On the Back is the 5-2 morning line favorite and comes into the race off a win in the state bred Affirmed Success.
 
The $200,000 Critical Eye is for the ladies going the same distance and drew a field of seven led by Kathryn the Wise, who is looking to rebound off a subpar effort in the Distaff Handicap (G3) in her last outing.
 
We will also head off to Santa Anita and take a look at three Garde 1 races including the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Among the contenders are Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Gift Box, New Orleans Handicap (G2) winner Core Beliefs and Vino Rosso, who was fourth in the Carter Handicap (G1) in his last outing.
 
The other Grade 1 races on the Santa Anita card are the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile and the $500,000 Gamely.
 
My Best Plays for Sunday includes my eight strongest plays from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.
 
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Here is the opening race from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:
 
BEL Race 1 Clm $10,000 (1:30 ET)
#5 Sol the Freud   5-1
#3 Maimo   2-1
#2 Professor Nape   6-5
#1 Gypsum Johnny   4-1
 
Analysis: Sol the Freud drops in for $10,000 here after a sixth last out against state bred $20,000 foes. This guy beat restricted $12,500 foes last summer at Monmouth Park and in his eight starts since he ran into repeat winners in five of those starts. Two back he ran well in the Kelly Kip, a starter stake at the Big A, checking in third behind H Man, who came back to beat state bred Alw-2 optional claimers in his next start on May 9. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and owns back numbers good enough to win here at a decent price considering the short field.
 
Maimo dueled for the early lead and could not match strides late with the winner in a runner up finish for this tag. He was down in about the 2-3 paths most of the trip on a day the outer paths seemed to be the place to be. Gullo claimed this guy for $14,000 last December and is 0 for 4 for the barn. He sticks with the seven-pound bug and the cut back to 6 1/2 should suit him.
 
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 5 / 2,3
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
 
BEL Race 7 Alw $50,000s (4:45 ET)
#5 Peaceful Feeling   4-1
#3 Call Me Kayla   4-1
#8 Zandora   8-1
#4 Architect  6-1
 
Analysis: Peaceful Feeling takes the hood off after setting the early fractions and fading to finish ninth last out in the Honey Ryder over good ground at Gulfstream Park. The filly was claimed out of her maiden win for a $50,000 tag, going from Brown to Falcone. She ran a decent third two back against $50,000 starter optional claimers. She drops into a better spot here and appears to like firmer footing better. She fits well here for a sharp underrated barn.
 
Call Me Kayla prompted the early pace, took over the lead and weakened to finish fifth last out at this level here over good ground. She earned a career top fig two back on firm ground at the Big A where she was a game second, beaten a length against Alw-1 company. She gets a jock upgrade back to Carmouche. She will be forwardly placed in a race without much early speed signed up.
 
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 3,4,5,8
TRI: 3,5 / 3,4,5,8 / 3,4,5,7,8
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Churchill Downs:
 
CD Race 9 Md Sp Wt (4:55 ET)
#10 First Wave   4-1
#6 Vomba   2-1
#4 Chikara   3-1
#9 Becky's Bluegrass   10-1
 
Analysis: First Wave makes her debut here for the Arnold barn that is 7% winners with first time starters. The filly has a nice pedigree, by War Pass out of a stakes placed Tale of the Cat mare that has dropped one foal to race, a winner on turf. This gal has been working quickly in the morning sand appears to have some talent. The barn is on the light side with firsters but this is not a very tough looking group.
 
Vomba pressed the early pace and weakened to finish third last out on the main track here in her first start off a five-month layoff. She should be tighter second off the bench for the Stall barn that is 25% winners with runners making their second start off a 45-180-day layoff. A decent turf pedigree, by Candy Ride out of a Storm Cat mare that has dropped two other foals to race with one dirt winner.
 
Wagering
WIN: #10 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 6,10 / 4,6,9,10
TRI: 6,10 / 4,6,9,10 / 1,4,6,9,10
 
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
R3: #5 Peaches and Spice   15-1
R7: #8 Zandara   8-1
R9: #6 Six Percent   8-1
 
Good luck today!