Sunday’s Picks from Belmont Park and Santa Anita Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

15 minute read

In the feature on Saturday, the New York Stallion Series Cupecoy’s Joy at Belmont Park our top pick Funwhileitlasted went off at a generous 11-1.

Next to last in the early going he looked hopelessly beaten but came flying down the outside of the turf course but came up a half length short of getting to the winner Sport Model. She paid $12.80 to place and completed a $2 exacta that paid $128.00. The winner was my fifth choice in the race.

It turned out the fun did not last long enough.

Let’s hope we have more fun this afternoon. The feature is the $250,000 Poker (G3) which drew a field of nine led by the even money favorite Raging Bull, a multiple Grade 1 winner.

I am going to attempt to beat him for the top spot with Front Run the Fed (6-1), who exits a key race where he was beaten a head in the Elusive Quality.

I don’t have a ton of confidence he can get the job done, so the feature in today’s column is the eighth race, a maiden special weight affair with the Todd Pletcher trained Americanrevolution looking pretty tough.

I enjoyed my trip out to Santa Anita yesterday so we will stick to Southern California for our second track. My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my nine strongest plays from Belmont Park and Santa Anita.

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS2 today from 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 Stakes Day and Best Plays Reports for Sunday 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 Md $25,000

• #2 Malibu Anthem 6-1
• #4 Anamuya 3-5
• #1 Tesorina 4-1
• #5 Air Cavalry 8-1

Analysis: Malibu Anthem returns off a three-month break and drops a notch in class in for $25,000. Last out this gal tracked the early pace and weakened to finish fourth against $40,000 foes going a mile over a wet track. The third-place finisher was a next out grad. Three back this filly was a decent second going a mile. She has three seconds in her six starts on the main track. The barn is on the light side with layoff types but she faces a soft spot here and Saez takes the call. This filly should end up a decent price in this spot.

Anamuya set the early fractions and weakened to finish sixth last out going a mile on the main track against maiden special weight company off a 6 1/2-month layoff. She was making her first start on dirt after three tries as a juvenile last year on turf including a decent third at Kentucky Downs in her second career start. The Ward barn is 28% winners dropping runners from maiden special to maiden claiming. She fits here but is going to be a light price to start off the day.

BELMONT PARK 8 ANALYSIS (4:40 P.M. ET)

Race 8 Md Sp Wt

• #2 Americanrevolution 3-1
• #9 Sinful Dancer 5-2
• #6 Mr. Buckley 8-1
• #10 Nemo's Fortune 6-1

Analysis: Americanrevolution makes his first start since his debut in a highly graded race at Keeneland last October over a wet track. The colt was sent off at 9-1 and after breaking last made a mild late run to finish fourth. The winner was Mandaloun, who went on to Risen Star (G3) and cross the wire second in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The runner up Bob's Edge is now stakes placed wile seventh place finisher Kentucky Pharoah won the Dania Beach in January. Pletcher takes over from Brisset and is 29% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. This is a promising group but does not look as good as what this guy faced in his debut. He was s $275,000 Spa purchase, out of a Super Saver mare that has dropped one winner.

Sinful Dancer was off poorly last out when hitting the side of the gate and bobbling, leaving him last early. He came with a good move to get into the mix and then weakened to finish fifth going six furlongs over good turf. The Weaver trainee was a game second in each of his first two starts and will appreciate the surface switch.

SANTA ANITA RACE 5 ANALYSIS (6:13 P.M. ET)

Race 5 Md $50,000

• #2 Titrate 7-2
• #6 Aurelian Man 10-1
• #12 My Indy 6-1
• #3 Commanding Chief 4-1

Analysis: Titrate faced winners last out and was a decent fourth versus $50,000 starter optional claimers going six furlongs, beaten two lengths. The winner Mucho Del Oro came back to beat $50,000 starter allowance foes in his next start on June 12. Two back at a mile against $75,000 maidens he set the early fractions and could not hold off the winner late in a runner up finish. Three back he ran second behind repeat winner McWerter. He is out of a stakes placed Mingun mare that has dropped two other foals to race both winners including one turf winner. Prat picks up the call and this guy fits well here in for a $50,000 tag.

Aurelian Man drops in for a tag for the first time here for the O'Neill barn that is 26% winners dropping runners from maiden special to maiden claiming. This will be his first trip at a mile. He has a couple of thirds at six furlongs and now returns gelded. His pedigree leans more toward a sprinter, but he does catch a group he should be able to be competitive with. He has a pair of sibs that are turf winners including stakes winner Wildman Jack ($634,5050 who was best springing on turf.

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: #5 Air Cavalry 8-1
• R2: #1 Montatham 8-1
• R5: #9 Infringement 15-1
• R5: #5 Herald Angel 8-1
• R6: #10 Playwright 8-1
• R6: #3 Here Comes Doc 10-1
• R7: #5 Lady Petrol 12-1
• R8: #6 Mr. Buckley 8-1
• R10: #10 Khali Magic 8-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff