Friday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Late afternoon betting at Belmont Park on Thursday afternoon had me wanting to hit Happy Hour to drown my sorrows as it seemed as if every horse I liked all day got run down late or came out on the wrong end of a photo.

We are back at the usual 1:00 ET post for Friday’s nine race card and then we have a really good 11-race card on tap for Saturday that includes five graded stakes.

The $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) is a prep race for the Belmont Stakes (G1) which is now just four weeks away. Among the most recent Belmont Stakes winners to prep in the Peter Pan were 2019 winner Sir Winston and Tonalist in 2014.

This year’s race drew a field of six led by the Chad Brown trained Risk Taking, the 7-5 morning line favorite. Brown said he might scratch the colt in favor of running in the Preakness Stakes (G1) next week.

The $700,000 Man O’ War (G1) at 1 3/8 miles on turf drew a field of eight led by Belmont Derby (G1) winner Gufo (2-1) and the Chad Brown trained Sovereign (8-5) who is making his U.S. debut.

Other stakes on Saturday’s card are the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap (G3), the $150,000 Beaguay (G3) and the $150,000 Runhappy (G3).

‘America’s Day at the Races” will be broadcast this afternoon from 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m on FS2, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. on FS1, and then 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on FS2. You can also stream the action from Belmont Park today on YouTube or by using the TVG App. The horse betting company TVG is offering new players a 50% deposit match up to $250 . In addition, AmWager is offering up to a $500 bonus for new horseplayers.

To purchase my Belmont Park Report for Friday 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 Preakness Stakes Report.

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

BELMONT PARK RACE 1 ANALYSIS (1:00 P.M. ET)

Race 1 OClm $45,000N2X

• #6 Timeless Journey 7-2
• #7 Wasp 4-1
• #1 Giacosa 2-1
• #5 Kreesie 3-1

Analysis: Timeless Journey makes her first start since beating state bred Alw-1 foes in the slop last December for the Clement barn. She comes back here off a five-month break for a barn that is 17% winners with runners coming back off a 61–180-day layoff. The filly broke her maiden on turf at the Spa last summer in her third career start. She has decent looking works on the morning tab and looks ready to go off the bench.

Wasp was second to our top pick in the slop in that Dec. 5 race. She came back to beat Alw-1 foes in the slop in her next outing and then was fifth last out in the state bred Bioggio's Rose going a mile on the main track at Aqueduct. She makes her first start on turf here. She has a decent enough pedigree, by American Pharoah out of a Distorted Humor mare that has dropped two other runners including one turf winner. The Pletcher barn is 26% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from dirt to turf. She had a work over the grass here on May 2.

BELMONT PARK RACE 6 ANALYSIS (3:34 P.M. ET)

Race 6 Md $20,000

• #2 Sixteen Tons 3-1
• #1 Shadow Boat 2-1
• #7 Warfront Fighter 5-2
• #9 Mister J T 8-1

Analysis: Sixteen Tons came back off the bench on turf for a $40,000 tag where he was away last in a field of 12 and after being outrun early picked it up late to finish sixth, beaten two lengths for the top spot. He ran well on the main track here, a runner up finish in his debut back in September of '19 and also had a runner up finish on a wet track at the Big A. The Rice barn started off the meet chilly but did pick up another win on yesterday's card. The trainer is 32% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from turf to dirt. This gelding should show more second off the bench and catching an easier looking group.

Shadow Boat drops in for a tag for his first start since last September. He was fourth beaten 16 1/4 lengths last out and beaten 11 1/4 lengths two back in a sixth-place finish, both behind repeat winners. He has been working at Colt's Neck for the Duarte barn that is solid bringing them back off the farm, hitting at a 32% clip (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. He is out of a Smart Strike mare that has dropped four winners including a pair of stakes winners, top earner G1 winner Shared Account ($1.6 million), winner of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

LIVE LONGSHOTS

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their Pick 4 or Pick 5 wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win wager.

Belmont Park

• R5: #8 Marilun Merlot 8-1
• R5: #6 Orma 8-1
• R6: #9 Mister J T 8-1
• R7: #2 Better With Age 8-1
• R8: #4 Song of Innocence 10-1
• R9: #5 Mondeuse 8-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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