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Horse Racing

Horse Races Today: Saturday’s Belmont Park and Santa Anita Park Analysis & Odds

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
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This afternoon was supposed to be Belmont Stakes Day, and who knows, we might have been looking at a possible Triple Crown bid again.

But thanks to the pandemic, the Triple Crown has been turned on its head, the Belmont Stakes pushed back to June 20, will be the first jewel, and the distance has been cut back from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/8 miles.

The good news is while most sports are halted, horse racing is really getting back into full swing. There are 10 thoroughbred racetracks in action today including Belmont Park with an outstanding 11-race card that features four stakes.

The marquee event on the card is the $250,000 Carter Handicap (G1) at seven furlongs that drew a field of 11. The winner stamps a free ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in November at Keeneland.

In addition, we also have a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race at Santa Anita today. A field of seven go in the $400,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

It looks like a good matchup between the undefeated Authentic from the Bob Baffert barn and Honor A.P. who will be saddled by John Shirreffs of Zenyatta and Giacomo fame.

I don’t like the price of either and I am going to take a stab with longshot Anneau d’Oro, who was a top juvenile last year but has not run back to those efforts in his two starts this year.

I was looking forward to handicapping and betting the Santa Anita card, but to be honest I had a tough time coming up with much to get excited about.

Three of the first four races drew fields of just six. Then the Santa Anita Oaks drew just five. The sixth race, a maiden race drew seven with the $3.6 million Baffert trainee Cezanne the 4-5 morning line favorite. Good luck beating that one.

The later races off a little value, but most of my wagering bankroll will be devoted to Belmont Park.

You can catch the action from Belmont Park today from 3:00 to 8:00 on FS1. Horseplayers can also stream all the horse racing action including Santa Anita using the Watch TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a risk free bet up to $300 for new players.

My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my nine strongest plays from Santa Anita and Belmont Park.

To purchase my Belmont Park and Best Plays Reports for Saturday click here .

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Belmont Park Reports daily and my Best Plays Report which will include all the major Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races.

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

Belmont Park Race 1 Analysis - 6/6 (1:15 ET)

#3 Fox Red 4-1
#2 Getoffmyback 2-1
#7 No Distortion 7-2
#6 O Shea Can U See 9-2

Analysis: Fox Red pressed the early pace and got clear heading for home but weakened to finish third against $25,000 starter allowance foes at Philly. The winner Zoomer came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers in his next outing on Feb. 24. He returns here off the break for the Englehart barn that is 16% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff. He looks well spotted here dropping in for a $16,000 tag.

Getoffmyback took the field gate to wire to win for this tag last out while in the care of the Atras barn. He was claimed out of the race by Nevin, the fifth time he has been claimed in his last eight starts. The gelding owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and will be tough if ready to go off the sidelines. The barn is 13% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff.

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

Belmont Park Race 9 Analysis - 6/6 (5:36 ET)

#4 Nitrous 15-1
#2 Performer 3-1
#5 Network Effect 8-1
#10 Mind Control 4-1

Analysis: Nitrous was outrun early while toward the inside, shifted out and made up some ground late to finish fourth in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park last out, beaten 2 ½ lengths. Four runners have come out of that race to run back and two won optional claimers in their next outings. This guy was pretty tough racing in New York last year, rallying to miss in the Woody Stephens (G1) here by just a just a neck last June and then was second in the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga. He makes his second start off the bench here for a trainer that is 22% winners with runners making the second start off a +180-day layoff. The colt is going to get some pace to run at and if Ortiz can work out a trip this guy should be coming late at a generous price.

Performer makes his first start since winning the Discovery (G3) last November at Aqueduct at nine furlongs. The victory was his fourth in a row. He broke his maiden and passed his first allowance condition in sprints. The colt has been working sharply in the mornings for his return for the Shug barn that is 10% winners with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. This is a tough spot for his return off the bench, but his maiden win came off the layoff and he looks as if he still has some upside. Seven furlongs should suit him.

Network Effect has landed in the exacta in six of his seven starts. He is coming off a sharp win in the Florida bred Big Drama last out at Gulfstream Park at seven furlongs. He broke outward bumping a foe at the break, tracked the early pace, lost his position nearing the quarterpole, angled down toward the inside and finished up well for the win. He makes his third start of his current form cycle and should be able to get a good trip sitting mid pack. The 8-1 morning line looks fair enough to put him in the mix in this spot.

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Santa Anita:

Santa Anita Race 8 Analysis - 6/6 (4:09 PT)

#4 Anneau d'Or 15-1
#7 Authentic 4-5
#6 Honor A.P. 9-5
#5 Azul Coast 15-1

Analysis: Anneau d'Or gets the call here as our second and third choices are just going to get overbet. This colt showed some ability as a juvenile missing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) by a head and then missing by a head in the Los Al Futurity (G2). He was bumped and caught in tight quarters early and never a real threat in a ninth-place finish at even money in the Risen Star (G2). He then broke a beat slow, tracked the early pace and weakened to finish fifth in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He has a recency edge and I still do not think we have seen the best out of this guy and he is going to be a generous price in this spot.

Authentic took the field gate to wire to dominate the San Felipe (G2) last out. Four he beat have come back to run with a couple of thirds, both in the allowance ranks the best efforts. He is going to get some pace pressure from Shooters Shoot so things may not be as easy as they were in his last outing.

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: #7 Cause of Action 20-1
R3: #2 Life Changer 10-1
R6: #1 Temple 10-1
R7: #3 Mihos 10-1
R8: #9 Rose Flower 8-1
R9: #4 Nitrous 15-1
R9: #5 Network Effect 8-1
R10: #1 Morgantown 15-1
R10: #3 More Graytful 10-1
R11: #9 Red Flag Alert 8-1
R11: #10 Red Storm Risen 15-1

Good luck today!

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