Thursday’s Picks from Belmont

We are back in action at Belmont Park on Thursday afternoon, and we have a 3:05 ET post time for the opener today.

The nine-race card kicks off with a compact field of five juveniles going five furlongs led by the Wesley Ward duo of Miss Alacrity (1-1) and No Time Alone (4-1).

Ward is well known to have his two-year-olds ready to go in their debuts and he is off to a quick start this season. He has won with 13 of his 24 juvenile first timers this year.

Miss Alarity looks ready to go in the opener but is going to end up a light price., likely lower than her even money morning line.

I was hoping we were going to see the talented filly Malathaat take on the boys in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 5. However, her trainer Todd Pletcher said she would not be headed toward the third jewel of the Triple Crown. She won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on April 30.

It still looks as if we are going to see a big field for the Belmont. Among those being pointed toward the race are Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rombauer, Kentucky Derby (G1) beaten favorite Essential Quality, Derby third place finisher Hot Rod Charlie and Preakness runner up Midnight Bourbon.

From June 3-6 Belmont Park will offer up 18 stakes including eight Grade 1 races on Belmont Stakes Day.


‘America’s Day at the Races” on FS2 will cover the action on Thursday from Aqueduct from 3:00 to 8:30 ET. 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 Thursday 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 Belmont Stakes Report.

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

BELMONT PARK RACE 1 ANALYSIS (3:05 P.M. ET)

Race 1 Md Sp Wt

  • #3 Miss Alacrity   1-1
  • #1 She's a Fast One   3-1
  • #2 No Time Alone   4-1
  • #4 Draw Off   9-2               

Analysis: Miss Alacrity is one of two in here sent out by the Ward barn that has had 24 juvenile first timers this year and has won with 13 of them (with a +ROI). This gal is by Munnings out of the stakes winner Just Jenda ($750,80) who has dropped three foals to race, all winners, top earner stakes winner Jenda's Agenda ($173,475). a solid looking work tab and tough to go against this Ward trainee who only has to face four foes here including one stablemate.

She's a Fast One was sent off at 7-2 in a field of seven in her debut at Keeneland. She broke inward coming out of the gate and was not much of a threat in a fifth-place finish. The winner Averly Jane came back to win the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs on April 28. She picks up blinkers and Irad and should move forward with a race under her belt. She is out of a Forest Wildcat mare that has dropped two other foals to race, no winners to date. 

BELMONT PARK RACE 5 ANALYSIS (5:13 P.M. ET)

Race 5 Clm $50,000N3L

  • #6 Fast Break   7-2
  • #7 Democratic Values   3-1
  • #3 O'Trouble   2-1
  • #2 Shotski   7-2               

Analysis: Fast Break ships in from Maryland for the Russel barn. Last out the gelding was beaten a neck but was placed first thanks to a DQ as the winner bumped him and herded him out in deep stretch. This guy as previously with the indicted Servis barn, two back off the bench the gelding checking in a decent fourth off a year layoff. This looks like a good spot taking on $50,000 non-winners of three in his local debut. He can handle the added ground, missing by just a nose going two turns back in '19. The barn is 33% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route. I try to avoid former Servis trainees, but this guy seems to be capable of moving forward off his last effort.

Democratic Values dueled for the early lead and battled on gamely to beat $50,000 starter allowance foes last out by a nose going a mile at the Big A. He was making his first start off the claim by the RRod barn that claimed him out of his maiden win two back against $40,000 foes going seven furlongs. The runner up in his last outing was Dust Devil who came back to beat $50,000 starter allowance foes in his next outing on April 1. 

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

  • R6: #6 Dazzle Time   8-1
  • R7: #6 Stand by You   10-1
  • R9: #2 Harlem Heights   8-1 

Good luck today!