Monday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

We have holiday racing on this Memorial Day with a 10-race card at Belmont Park which is New York Breeders' Showcase Day. There are six stakes for state breds offering up $900,000 in purses.

The $200,000 Commentator goes off as the fourth race with the 7-5 morning line favorite Mr. Buff trying this race for the fourth time in his career. The gelding was the runner up last year to Funny Guy.

Two of the stakes this afternoon are on the grass. We were off the turf on Saturday and Sunday, but the weather appears on the improve and there is a shot we may be back on turf for Monday although there still figures to be some give to the ground.

The $125,000 Mount Vernon will be contested at one mile on the turf and drew a field of 10. Myhartblongstodady is the 9-5 favorite and is returning to the state bred ranks after a third-place finish in the Plenty of Grace in her last outing.

The other turf stake is the $125,000 Kingston which drew a field of eight and two main track only entrants. Danger’s Hour runner up Rinaldi is the 3-1 morning line favorite. The Christophe Clement trained Therapist may end up offering better value as the gelding makes his second start off the bench.

The $200,000 Critical Eye Handicap drew nine of the better state bred fillies and mares on the circuit who will go one mile on the main track. Mrs. Orb is the 3-1 morning line favorite for the Michael Miceli barn. The mare is making her first start since winning the state bred La Verdad in January in the mud. She wintered in Florida after not getting sold after going through the Keeneland sales ring.

The post position draw for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) is coming up on Tuesday and the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival gets underway on Thursday. We have 17 stakes over the three days of betting action including eight Grade 1 races on Saturday.

‘America’s Day at the Races” on FS2 will cover the action on Monday from 12:30 to 8:30 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 for Monday 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 1 ANALYSIS (1:00 P.M. ET)

Race 1 Md Sp Wt

• #2 Mr. Buckley 8-1
• #6 Devil Boy 5-2
• #7 Orb in the Tower 8-1
• #8 Big Bobby 9-5

Analysis: Mr. Buckley dueled for the early lead and faded to finish a well beaten seventh on turf last out and returns to the main track. Two back the colt prompted the early pace and could not go with the top pair late in a third-place finish. last year he was beaten just a couple of noses when third in the mud here. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and figures to bounce back with a much better effort here on the surface switch.

Devil Boy was off last in his debut when sent off at 4-1 in a field of 12. He was reserved early and came the widest with a good late run while beating in slightly to finish third. He should move forward off that effort and gets an extra half furlong here. The Englehart barn is 24% winners (with a +ROI) with second out maidens. The colt is by Daredevil out of a Rio Verde mare that has dropped one winner.

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

Race 7 The Mike Lee

• #1 Dr. Blute 9-2
• #6 River Dog 7-5
• #3 Excellent Timing 5-2
• #5 Devious Mo 6-1

Analysis: Dr. Blute is back on the main track after a troubled second last out against state bred Alw-1 foes in his first start against winners. The gelding was under a snug hold and had to steady when blocked at the 3/16's and finished up strongly when clear to come up a half-length short. The third-place finisher Three Outlaws came back to beat state bred Alw-1 company in his next start on May 15. Our top pick broke his maiden in his debut in the slop drawing off to win by 5 3/4 lengths. This guy has shown some real ability and Johnny V. picks up the call for the Kimmel barn that is having a solid year although he has cooled off at this meet.

River Dog ran huge breaking his maiden in her debut, drawing off to win by seven lengths and earning a solid number. Four he beat have come back to run, with the best finishes a couple of thirds for a $40,000 tag. The colt has come back with a couple of quick works since his debut effort. If he runs back to his debut, he will be very tough to beat but faces a tougher group here and is going to be a short price.

LIVE LONGSHOTS

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

Belmont Park

• R1: #2 Mr. Buckley 8-1
• R1: #7 Orb in the Tower 8-1
• R4: #1 Captain Bombastic 10-1
• R6: #9 Pecatonica 12-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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