Friday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

13 minute read

We are back in action at Belmont Park on Friday after a four-day break and we have a holiday weekend on tap with racing on Monday, which is Memorial Day.

Monday kicks off Belmont Stakes week and New York breds will take center stage with five stakes restricted to state breds led by the $200,000 Commentator Handicap for the boys and the $200,000 Critical Eye Handicap for the ladies.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off next Thursday and we have 17 stakes over the three days including eight Grade 1 races next Saturday highlighted by the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. Three of the stakes next Saturday are Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races including the $1 million Met Mile.

We have rain in the forecast in the Big Apple the next few days. It looks as if we might miss it on Friday, as the rain in scheduled to come in around 4:00.

The feature on Saturday is the $200,000 Pennine Ridge (G2) which is scheduled for the turf. Nine were entered led by Hard Love (9-5), winner of the Woodhaven at Aqueduct in his last outing.

Tomorrow we will also head out to Churchill Downs where the weather looks good and there are seven stakes on the card including the $150,000 Matt Winn (G3) and the $150,000 Regret (G3). I will include some of the stakes action in Saturday’s Best Plays Report.

‘America’s Day at the Races” on FS2 will cover the action on Friday from Belmont Park from 12:30 to 5:30 ET. You can also stream the action 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, 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 (1:00 P.M. ET)

Race 1 Md Sp Wt

• #1 Anna and Mia   3-1
• #4 Painters N Poets   6-5
• #5 Kodama   2-1
• #2 Determined Dream   6-1               

Analysis: Anna and Mia along with our second choice are both firsters sent out by the Ward barn. The trainer has hit with 13 of his last 30 (43%) two-year-old debut runners dating back five months. Our top pick is by Cupid out of a Valid Expectations mare that has dropped to winners including one turf winner. The $160,000 Ocala purchase has decent works including a bullet drill at Keeneland out of the gate on April 24. Looks as if she is going to be the higher price of the duo.

Painters N Poets was a $450,000 Ocala purchase. She is by Munnings out of a Henny Hughes mare that won twice on turf and has dropped two winners, neither having tries turf to date. Johnny V. takes the call and is 35% winners when riding for the barn. Solid works on the morning tab although the price is going to be on the light side. 

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

Race 6 OClm $80,000N2X

• #4 Faccio Io   4-1
• #3 Querelle   2-1
• #2 Cost Benefit   5-2
• #6 Jeanie B   4-1

Analysis: Faccio Io makes her first start since her U.S. debut last November in the Winter Memories going long where she tracked the early pace and weakened to finish seventh. The winner of that race was Duopoly, who came back to win the American Oaks (G1) in her next outing while the third-place finisher vigilantes Way came back to win the Tropical Park Oaks in her next start. Our top pick won three races overseas in Italy, all in turf sprints, then she ran well in a runner up finish in a 19-horse field in a Group 2 going a mile. The Clement barn is 22% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. Among the top trio here this gal figures to end up offering the best value for the top spot.

Querelle is making her first start since last August for the Miller barn that is 13% winners with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. SoCal shippers have fared well at the meeting although Miller is 0 for 5. This gal won at this level in her last outing at Del Mar going five furlongs. She looks as if six furlongs should suit her.  

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

• R2: #4 K. K. Ichilawa   10-1
• R3: #4 Alkhaatam   8-1
• R5: #3 Rift Valley   8-1
• R7: #7 Yankee Empire   12-1
• R8: #6 Island Treasure   12-1
• R9: #8 Run Smitty Run   12-1
• R9: #2 Hasty Tourist   8-1 

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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