Friday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

We did not get off to a good start this week. It was a long day on Thursday as I was knocked out of the early Pick 5 when Liam’s Fire won the opener and returned $60.00. The day did not improve much.

Friday’s card holds a bit more promise and after a tough Thursday at least we have a $260,473 two-day carryover in the Pick 6. I am more of a Pick 5 player but with the carryover today it is certainly worth a good look.

The Pick 6 starts with the fourth race, a $25,000 maiden claimer for state breds that drew a field of 11, a tough start to the sequence.

It does not get much easier as we have a field of nine going in the fifth race, a $35,000 claimer on turf at six furlongs followed by a state bred maiden special weight race on turf that drew a field of 10, with nine likely to go.

The second half of the Pick 6 looks a bit easier. Finding Fame looks solid in the seventh race, a second level optional claimer.

The eighth race is a first level allowance race on turf that drew a field of nine going 1 ¼ miles on the inner turf. Shamrocket is a solid favorite at 8-5. Other main threats are Compliant (3-1) and Box N Score (6-1).

If we get to the finale live, I hope we are deep. We have a field of 12 state bred $40,000 maiden claimers going one mile on turf. There are a couple of easy tosses and Masked Marauder (3-1) is a logical choice. Portfolio Hedge (8-5) is sitting on the AE list and need s a scratch to get in.

I would not mind having Noble Quest (5-1) and Majestic Sky (4-1) on my tickets as well.

It is a light weekend when it comes to graded stakes action. There are just three graded stakes in the U.S.—the $150,000 Mint Julep (G3) at Churchill Downs, the $150,000 Salvatore Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park and on Sunday at Santa Anita the $100,000 Affirmed (G3).

The feature at Belmont Park tomorrow is the $100,000 Dancin Renee which drew a field of six state breds. I will have my selections and analysis in this spot tomorrow.

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS2 today 12:30 to 5:30 ET with the action from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. TVG is offering new players up to a $300 Risk Free wager . 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.

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 Clm $32,000

• #5 Artemus Citylimits 5-2
• #2 Mystery Messenger 7-5
• #1 Duncastle 3-1
• #4 War Stroll 8-1

Analysis: Artemus Citylimits was claimed by the Trombetta barn two back for $40,000 where he ran second against restricted $40,000 foes in the slop at Keeneland. He returned to turf last out here against $50,000 non-winners of three where he tracked the early pace and finished gamely to prevail by a nose. He makes his third start of his current form cycle and should be forwardly placed here finding a good spot here in for a $32,000 tag.

Mystery Messenger returns off a four month break here invading from SoCal and west coast shippers have fared well at this meet. Last out against Alw-2 optional claimers at Santa Anita going 6 1/2 furlongs he tracked the early pace and finished evenly in a third-place finish. He beat $40,000 claimers two back, his third career win on turf. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and it will be interesting to see if Ortiz sends him as there is not a ton of early zip signed up to go here. Cerin spots this guy well here tagged for $32,000, the price the barn claimed him for last May.

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

Race 6 Md Sp Wt

• #6 Acushla 4-1
• #10 Kreesa La Wrote 3-1
• #2 Caumsett 9-2
• #9 Epona's Dream 6-1

Analysis: Acushla was off a beat slow last out in her second career start and first off a five-month layoff. She was near the back of the pack early and made a mild late run to finish fourth, beaten two lengths for the top spot as the beaten favorite. She made her debut last December over good ground at Aqueduct where she was outrun early and made up ground late to check in fourth at 4-1. She should move forward second off the bench for the Abreu barn. This gal is out of a Footprintsinthesand mare that has dropped two other runners, both winners on turf.

Kreesa La Wrote tracked the early pace and finished up well in a runner up finish last out at six furlongs. The winner Runaway Rumour came back to beat state bred Alw-1 foes in her next outing. She makes her third start off the bench and her first try going long. She has enough pedigree, by Wrote out of a turf stakes placed Stonesider mare, this her first foal to race. The Donk barn is on the light side moving runners from sprint to route, hitting at just a 5% clip.

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: #4 War Stroll 8-1
• R2: #2 take Charge Tina 10-1
• R8: #3 Somethingtotellyou 12-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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