Sunday’s Picks from Belmont, Keeneland

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Sunday’s $100,000 Futurity (G3) at Belmont Park is the final Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race on the racing calendar.

A fees-expenses berth is up for grabs in the Futurity for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint (G2). The race drew a field of eight including three that will be saddled by trainer Wesley Ward.

Eleven were entered, but two are main-tack only entrants, and the Todd Pletcher trained Newbomb ran yesterday and will be a late scratch.

I landed on one of the Ward trio, Trade Deal looking as if he can get the job done and offers decent value if we catch most of his 4-1 morning line.

While the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races will be completely in the books after today, there are still a few races to look at next weekend that could produce a few Breeders’ Cup starters.

The QIPCO British Champions Series is next Saturday at Ascot. There are four Group 1 races along with a Group 2, and while it is a three week turn around, we likely will see a few runners ship to Keeneland after running overseas.

Next Sunday Woodbine hosts the $600,000 E.P. Taylor (G1), $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf (G1) and the $250,00 Nearctic (G2), and each of those races could produce a Breeders’ Cup starter or two.

Saturday’s $200,000 Raven Run (G2) could produce a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

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

You can catch the action from Belmont Park today from 12:30 to 1:00 ET and 3:00 to 4:00 on FS2 and 1:00 to 3:00 and 4:00 to 6:00 ET on FS1. In addition, you can stream the action on YouTube or by using the TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a risk-free bet up to $300 for new players.

To purchase my Belmont Park and Best Plays Reports for Sunday, 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 each Saturday and Sunday, and my two-day Breeders’ Cup Reports.

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

BELMONT PARK RACE 1 ANALYSIS (12:50 P.M. ET)

BEL Race 1 Clm $50,000N3L

• #2 Mission Wrapitup 3-1
• #5 Cobble Hill 7-5
• #1 Fortune's Fool 9-5
• #4 Titan's Will 8-1

Analysis: Mission Wrapitup tracked the early pace and made a mild late rally to finish third last out against $32,000 foes going six furlongs at the Spa. The gelding was claimed out of the race by the Kantarmaci barn that is 22% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. Tough to move them up off Brown but this barn is underrated and while he steps up to $50,000 this group did not come up that tough. There is not much early zip in here and this guy may be well served if Cancel sends him early.

Cobble Hill is back on dirt after a non-threatening fifth last out on turf against $50,000 starter allowance foes. The RRod barn claimed this guy for $16,000 back in July here, and he ran second against $35,000 non-winners of three and $50,000 starter allowance foes in his first two starts for the barn. He was not a threat in his three career starts on turf and would appreciate returning to the main track. Irad got the call and was aboard this guy when he ran a good second three back. He fits, although the 7-5 morning line seems light.

BELMONT PARK RACE 7 ANALYSIS (4:12 P.M. ET)

BEL Race 7 The Futurity G3

• #10 Trade Deal 4-1
• #9 Momos 7-2
• #2 After Five 3-1
• #11 Gypsy King 12-1

Analysis: Trade Deal is one of three in here sent out by the Ward barn. This colt prompted the early pace and finished gamely to break his maiden last out at Kentucky Downs going 6 1/2 furlongs, beating his stablemate After Five by a nose. Two back in his debut, our top pick ran second to repeat winner Bear Can Man, who beat Alw-2L foe sin his next outing at Indiana Grand on Sept. 30. A couple of good works at Keeneland since his last effort, and he looks ready for his stakes debut in this spot.

Momos makes his first start on turf here in his third career outing. He broke his maiden in his debut at the Spa in a gate to wire score. Last out in the Saratoga Special, he chased the early pace and weakened to finish third behind Jackie's Warrior, who came back to win the Hopeful (G1) in his next start and was 3-5 yesterday in the Champagne (G1). The $180,000 Ocala purchase has a decent enough turf pedigree, by Distorted Humor out of a Speightstown mare. The barn is 21% winners overall in turf sprints.

KEENELAND RACE 7 ANALYSIS (4:24 P.M. ET)

KEE Race 7 Md Sp Wt

• #5 Cousin Larry 4-1
• #4 High Press 8-1
• #8 Divinium 7-2
• #6 Mean Machine 8-1

Analysis: Cousin Larry stalked the early pace and was no match for a 7 3/4 length winner in his debut, sent off at just under 10-1 in a field of eight. This colt is by Cairo Prince out of a Langfuhr mare that has dropped five winners, including a pair of stakes winners, top earner Grade 1 winner Proud Spell ($2.1 million) who was also trained by Jones. This colt figures to show more here. The barn is 9% winners with second out maidens.

High Press debuts for the Casse barn that is 11% winners with first-timers. This colt has been prepping at Ellis Park and sports a few quick works, including a bullet drill out of the gate on Sept. 12. He is by Hard Spun out of a Curlin mare, her first foal to race. With a few higher-profile barns having runners in her, this guy may end up getting overlooked on the tote. This guy has a solid off-track pedigree if we get some rain.

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

• R1: #4 Titan’s Will 8-1
• R6: #3 Glad Rock 8-1
• R7: #11 Gypsy King 12-1
• R8: #4 Chasing Fame 10-1
• R8: #3 Bourbonic 8-1
• R9: #3 Union Gables 8-1
• R10: #2 Mr. Vincent 15-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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