At the Gate – Sunday

The racing at Belmont Park this week has left a little to be desired, a few too many short and uncompetitive fields, and one look at today’s Live Longshots list might lead us to believe it could be more of the same on Sunday.

There is just one horse on today’s Live Longshot list, Pure Praise in the third race. I had to go back and look at the card and think to myself, is this card really that chalky?

Actually, there are plenty of short priced favorites, like Rapido Gatta in the opener and She’s Dreamin in the second race, both 6-5 on the morning line.

However, neither is my top pick and of the nine races on the card my top pick is the morning line favorite in just two of the races, so we should be able to find some value on the card.

Don’t forget Belmont Park is in action on Monday, which is Columbus Day. We have a nine-race card featuring the $200,000 Knickerbocker (G2) a nine-furlong turf test that drew a field of eight.

Catholic Boy, the 2018 Travers (G1) winner is the 7-5 morning line favorite. The four-year-old is a Grade 1 winner on dirt and turf and is coming off a runner up finish in the Suburban (G2) on the main track here on July 6.

He was 13th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last year and a strong performance in this race could lead him to try a Breeders’ Cup race this year coming back on short rest. It would not be a surprise to see him go in wither the Mile or the Dirt Mile.

My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my eight strongest plays from Belmont Park and Keeneland.

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Here is the opening race from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:

BEL Race 1 Md Sp Wt (1:15 ET)
#2 Bridlewood Cat 9-2
#5 Rapido Gatta 6-5
#3 Paynterbynumbers 2-1
#1 Talabaat 7-2

Analysis: Bridlewood Cat makes her first start since her debut at Tampa Bay Downs back in March. In that outing the filly was sent off at 2-1, set the early fractions and tired to finish fifth going two turns. She cuts back to a sprint here for the Thomas barn that is 25% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. The blinkers come off and she put in a good gate drill over the main track here on Oct. 7. She is out of a stakes placed Bluegrass Cat mare that has dropped two other foals to race, both winners, top earner stakes winner Sweet Loretta ($386,520).

Rapido Gatta tracked the early pace and was no match for an eight-length winner in her last outing at the Spa. She was a good second two back as well at the Spa and three back in her lone trip over the main track here she tracked the early pace and weakened late to finish third. He last pair of speed figs are tops in here for the Englehart barn. She is out of a Tactical Advantage mare that has dropped nine other foals to race, all winners. The obvious threat but a light price.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2 / 3,5
TRI: no play

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

BEL Race 7 The Point of Entry (4:40 ET)
#5 Pillar Mountain 3-1
#4 Noble Indy 2-1
#3 Red Knight 7-2
#1 Arrocha 6-1

Analysis: Pillar Mountain was not much of a threat in a seventh-place finish last out in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) which was against a tough field that this. The runner up Arklow came back to win the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) in his next outing here. His last win came three back at the Spa going 1 3/8 miles versus Alw-2 optional claimers. He passed his first allowance condition over the turf here also at 1 3/8 miles. He looks like a good fit in this spot with his best and the 5-1 morning line looks fair enough.

Noble Indy took the field gate to wire to beat $100,000 optional claimers. He is also entered in tomorrow Knickerbocker (G2) where he is 12-1 on the morning line and this certainly looks like the better spot. The switch to turf seems to have suited this guy after a failed attempt down the Triple Crown trail last year. The extra ground here is the main question mark.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 4,5 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,2,3,4,5

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:

KEE Race 7 Md Sp Wt (4:24 ET)
#9 Predator 3-1
#7 Silver Prospector 6-1
#1 Telephone Talker 3-1
#6 Shared Sense 5-1

Analysis: Predator is a $175,000 Keeneland purchase making his debut for the Cox barn that is 21% winners with first timers. The colt is by Into Mischief out of a Distorted Humor mare that has dropped three foals to race with a pair of winners. This guy has been working quickly in the mornings with the barn's go to jock Geroux up. He looks ready to fire at first asking.

Silver Prospector tries the main track for the first time after three trips on turf. Last out the colt checked in sixth in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint. He was fourth in his debut at Belmont Park going six furlongs on turf then was stretches out to a route at the Spa where he was forwardly placed and weakened late to finish third. He has worked well over dirt including a bullet at Churchill Down. The Asmussen barn is 21% winners moving runners from turf to dirt. He figures to take to the surface switch and worth tossing in the mix here if he goes off near his 6-1 morning line.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 1,6,7,9
TRI: 7,9 / 1,6,7,9 / 1,3,6,7,9

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: #7 Pure Praise 10-1

Good luck today!