Thursday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

We are now just over a month away from the Breeders’ Cup and things really get rolling this weekend as between Friday and Sunday we have 14 “Win and You’re In” races.

Santa Anita opens on Friday and there are three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races on tap. The $300,000 American Pharaoh (G1) winner earns a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

In addition, the $200,000 Chandelier (G1) offers a free pass to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and the $100,00 Speakeasy winner earns a spot in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2).

On Saturday there are three more “Win and You’re In” races at Santa Anita—the $300,000 Awesome Again (G1) (for the Classic), $300,000 Rodeo Drive (G1) (for the Filly & Mare Turf), and the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) (for the Sprint).

At Belmont Park on Saturday we have the $500,000 Champagne (G1), a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

On Sunday at Belmont Park the winner of the $400,000 Frizette (G1) earns a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. At Santa Anita the $200,000 Zenyatta offers up a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).

On Sunday morning there are five Breeders;’ Cup Challenge races at Longchamp in France including the Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe (G1) which offers a starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS2 from 2:00 to 8:00 ET this afternoon 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 Thursday 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 (2:05 P.M. ET)

 Race 1 Clm $14,000

• #2 Danny Deep Cuts 4-1
• #9 Bastet 3-1
• #1 Time to Two Step / 1a Heart of God 2-1
• #3 Mebs Web 20-1

Analysis: Danny Deep Cuts pressed the early pace, took over the lead and drew clear to beat $16,000 non-winners of tow last out in her first start against winners. She broke her maiden two back against state bred $25,000 foes in her second career start and first after landing with the RRod barn. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and looks capable of stepping up a notch here and winning right back.

Bastet made her last two starts at Finger Lakes. Last out she tracked the early pace and weakened to finish fourth against Alw-3L foes. She graduated at the Big A for a $40,000 tag back in April and then trounced Alw-2L company at Finger Lakes by seven lengths in her first start against winners. She looks well spotted here dropping in for a $14,000 tag and facing non-winners of three of straight three-year-olds.

BELMONT PARK 8 ANALYSIS (5:47 P.M. ET)

Race 8 Alw $92,000N1X

• #4 Colton's Command 5-1
• #1 Perfect Munnings 7-2
• #10 Digital Future 5-1
• #8 Montauk Daddy 10-1

Analysis: Colton's Command was off a beat slow last out and after sitting last came with a good late run to finish third last out going 5 b1/2 furlongs at the Spa at this level. The colt graduated in his debut going a mile on turf at Gulfstream Park for Mott who does not win first out all that often. He then was fourth and seventh in a couple of route tries and sixth two back when cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs. The six furlongs looks as if it should suit her.

Perfect Munnings makes her second start off a 5 1/2 month break here for the Pletcher barn. Last out off the bench she was a smart looking winner versus state bred Alw-2 optional claimers going seven furlongs on the main track. She won the state bred Rego Park on dirt in her first start against winners after breaking her maiden on turf in her debut going six furlongs. Pletcher is 24% winners with runners making their second start off a 45–180-day layoff. She showed she can handle grass and should move forward second off the bench here as she steps outside of the state bred ranks for the first time in her career.

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: #3 Mebs Web 20-1
• R2: #6 New York Dancer 10-1
• R3: #3 Immortalization 12-1
• R4: #9 Blue Atlas 8-1
• R5: #2 Ruse 8-1
• R6: #5 Printack 10-1
• R7: #8 Spa Ready 10-1
• R8: #8 Montauk Daddy 10-1
• R9: #10 Amortization 8-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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