Sunday's Picks from Belmont and Gulfstream Park

There were fireworks in Saturday’s $400,000 Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park as longshot Max Player outgamed the favorite Mystic Guide in the stretch to prevail by a neck and return $25.60 for the win.

I thought Happy Saver would beat Mystic Guide and I had Max Player third, and I am not sure which was more surprising, how well Max ran or how bad Happy Saver ran, who suffered his first career defeat, checking in third beaten nearly three lengths.

Max Player is owned by George Hall and Sports BLX Thoroughbreds who offered shares last year. In the boredom of the pandemic I bought some shares in the partnership which include several other horses.

Max Player made it to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes where he was fifth and then 11th in the Dubai World Cup. He returned from Dubai to run a disappointing sixth in the Pimlico Special (G3) and really did not give much indication he could handle Mystic Guide, who had wo the Dubai World Cup.

He turned the tables giving the BLX partners some life and cash, his first place earnings were $220,000. More importantly, he earned a free ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic this fall at Del Mar.

The only thing that could have made it better is if I had a win wager on the colt. It seems doubtful he will be 12-1 the next time he runs.

My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my nine strongest plays from Belmont Park and Lone Star Park.

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS1 today from 1:00 to 6:00 ET with the action from Belmont Park. 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 Clm $50,000

• #5 She's a Black Belt 5-1
• #2 Gone Glimmering 2-1
• #3 Anna's Fast 7-5
• #4 True Castle 2-1

Analysis: She's a Black Belt caught a sloppy track last out that was kind to speed and could not catch a gate to wire winner, finishing gamely in a fourth-place finish while beaten just 3/4 of a length against Alw-1 company. Three back in the mud this mare earned a solid number in a neck loss against Alw-1 foes. The Kantarmaci barn has really had a tough meet going 1 for 42 but this gal looks capable of better than her last and she likely gets overlooked in the betting here.

Gone Glimmering was the runner up to Anna's Fast last out at the $40,000 level. She tracked the early pace and could not get to the winner who was taking advantage of a racing strip that was splaying to inside speed that day. The filly was claimed out of the race by the Handal barn that is 18% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. After getting beaten double digit lengths in her two previous starts she looks headed in the right direction form wise and can turn the tables here.

BELMONT PARK 9 ANALYSIS (5:12 P.M. ET)

Race 9 The Manila

• #2 Public Sector 5-2
• #8 It's a Gamble 6-1
• #1 Straw Into Gold 4-1
• #4 Annex 3-1

Analysis: Public Sector makes his third start off the bench and is coming off a sharp win last out against Alw-1 optional claimers. This guy showed some promise as a juvenile, breaking his maiden in his debut going long on turf at the Spa and then running second in the Pilgrim (G2). He hit the bench after a 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). He has shown he can handle ground with some give to it and looks really tough in this spot for the Brown barn.

It's a Gamble tracked the early pace and came up the indie with a good run to win the off the turf Jersey Derby last out at Monmouth Park. Two back in the Woodhaven on turf at the Big A he tracked the early pace and finished up well in a runner up finish. The winner of that race was Hard Love who came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers in his next outing on June 5 here. Both of his turf wins have come sprinting, but he has shown in his last two starts that a mile here should not pose a problem.

GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 5 ANALYSIS (5:02 P.M. ET)

Race 9 The Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint

• #2 Harry's Ontheloose 8-1
• #4 Caribou Club 5-2
• #6 Ete Indien 9-2
• #8 Tiger Blood 4-1

Analysis: Harry's Ontheloose tracked the early pace and battled on gamely in a runner up finish last out in a handicap, beaten by the likely favorite in here. The five-year-old was making his first start off the claim by the Dobles barn that took this guy for $35,000 two back out of a win. He is a four-time winner at the distance and was a solid third in the GP Turf Sprint (G3) four back. He should get a good tracking trip behind a sharp early pace and has a shot of turning the tables here at a decent price.

Caribou Club beat our top pick last out and it was his 10th career win on turf in 26 outings. He has now landed in the exacta in 4 of 5 trips at today's distance. His last outing was his first start off a year layoff, only making three starts last year with no wins. He has some black class, a multiple graded stakes winner who has had success sprinting and routing. He did have about as perfect a trip as possible last out and is going to be a short price here. He is in good hands with Proctor and has worked sharply at Palm Meadows since his return effort.

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

• R3: #1 Khali Magic 8-1
• R3: #6 Little Red Button 8-1
• R4: #3 Here Comes Doc 8-1
• R6: #8 Uncle Mo’s Cat 8-1
• R6: #5 Point of Humor 10-1
• R7: #6 Classy Sadie 8-1
• R10: #4 Top Seed 12-1
• R10: #5 Wicked Trick 8-1

Good luck today!