Friday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

14 minute read

We had a pretty good day on Thursday at Belmont Park as my top pick won four and my second choice three races from the first eight races on the card. My top pick won the first three legs of the late Pick 5 followed by my second choice.

That set me up for a few pats on the back and setting things up for a nice payoff in the Pick 5 as the finale was a race I spread on most of my tickets, and I was alive to five of the runners for various amounts.

One runner I did not use was Hilliard who was bet down from a 10-1 morning line to 5-1 and came calling late to run by two horses I did use, leaving my late Pick4 and Pick 5 tickets worthless.

Yeah, it is a humbling cruel game sometimes, but we are back at it this afternoon.

Coming up on Saturday we have a pair of Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races.

The $400,000 Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The race drew a small field of six, but we have several of the top runners in the older division lining up.

Mystic Guide is the even money favorite on the morning line. The colt makes his first start since winning the Dubai World Cup (G1) back in March. Among his foes is Happy Saver (6-5), the undefeated Todd Pletcher trainee.

Happy Saver is perfect in five starts including last fall’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) over the Belmont Park main track.

We will head down to Gulfstream Park where the winner of the $350,000 Princes Rooney Invitational (G2) stamps a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). A field of eight were entered led by Bed of Roses (G3) winner Estilo Talentoso (5-2) and Ce Ce (3-1), who won two Grade 1 races last year, the Beholder Mile and the Apple Blossom Handicap.

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS2 today 1:00 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 Md $30,000

• #1 Shining Colors 2-1
• #5 Thisladyis the Law 2-1
• #4 Miss Alex 8-5
• #6 Lass 10-1

Analysis: Shining Colors came off a long layoff with a good effort at Monmouth Park last out against $30,000 foes. The Falcone trainee tracked the early pace and could not get to the winner in the stretch in a runner up finish as the beaten favorite. She ran third in three of her first four starts and was making her first start for the Falcone barn last out. She ran well over a wet track in her second career start and may catch a wet track again today with rain in the forecast.

Thisladyis the Law drops in for a tag and adds lasix here for her third career start. The filly was seventh on the main track at the Spa last September and off the bench last out going a mile on turf she was not a factor in an eighth-place finish. She drops into an easier spot here while cutting back to seven furlongs. The Weaver barn is 22% winners dropping runners from maiden special to maiden claiming. She is bred to like a wet track, by Constitution out of a Unbridled's Song mare that has dropped one winner.

BELMONT PARK 7 ANALYSIS (4:08 P.M. ET)

Race 7 Alw $50,000s

• #3 Uncle Moonlight 3-1
• #2 Kid Bourbon 5-2
• #4 Liam's Fire 8-1
• #1 F F Rocket / 1a Brilliant Brooks 3-1

Analysis: Uncle Moonlight stretches out to a mile here after a game third at this level going seven furlongs in his first start against winners, beaten 3/4 of a length. The winner was Mr Phil who came back to beat Alw-1 company here in his next outing on June 27. This colt has the pedigree to handle more ground, by Uncle Mo out of a Malibu Moon mare. He is bred to like a wet track if the rains come and he broke his maiden two back for a $40,000 tag in the slop. He fits well here and the one turn mile over a wet track should be right up his alley.

Kid Bourbon was off a beat slow last out, stalked the early pace and did not have enough punch left late in a fourth-place finish at this level on turf. Two back in the slop in a race taken off the turf he was a game second, beaten 3/4 of a length. He switches back to the main track, picks up Irad and blinkers. is maiden breaker came over a wet track and he is a logical threat here as he makes his third start off the claim by the Arriaga barn.

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: #6 Lass 10-1
• R3: #2 Blugrascat’s Smile 20-1
• R3: #4 Hooray for Harvey 10-1
• R5: #1 Schilles Heel 8-1
• R6: #7 Call Fitz 8-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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