Thursday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

This weekend features the last major chance for horses to make their way to the Breeders’ Cup with 11 Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races on tap.

Keeneland opens on Friday and they will host nine of the races, starting with two on opening day—the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) offers up a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) winner earns a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

The 17-day meet at Keeneland will offer up 22 stakes with purses in excess of $6 million.

I will include all of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races in my Best Plays Report including a special edition on Friday. On Saturday we have four at Keeneland and one at Belmont Park and Sunday there will be four more, three of those at Keeneland.

At Belmont Park on Saturday the $250,000 Vosburgh (G2) is a prep for the Sprint and Sunday’s $150,000 Futurity (G3) is a key prep for the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2).

This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6.

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS2 from 12:30 to 5:30 ET this afternoon 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 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, my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday and my Breeders’ Cup Reports.

Here is the opener from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:

BELMONT PARK 1 ANALYSIS (12:35 P.M. ET)

 Race 1 Md Sp Wt

• #2 Emboite 9-5
• #1 Snow Candy 3-1
• #4 Gianni Lambo 6-5
• #7 Empire Ridge 6-1

Analysis: Emboite is one of two first-timers in here sent out by the Pletcher barn that is 18% winners with first timers. This year the trainer has hit at a 24% clip with juvie debut runners. This colt was a $200,000 Keeneland purchase, by No Nay Never out of a Danehill mare that has dropped even winners including three turf winners with a pair of overseas stakes winners. Solid works on the morning tab and I'd rather have Rosario on a firster than Irad, who is on the other Pletcher debut runner.

Snow Candy has two starts under his belt here he was seventh in his debut and improved last out with a fourth-place finish in a race taken off the turf. He ran into repeat winners in both outings. It is back on turf here for the Morley barn that has been on fire at the meet, hitting at a 44% clip with 7 winners from 16 starters with three runner up finishes. Another move forward should put him in the mix here. He is out of a Sky Mesa mare, this her first foal to race.

BELMONT PARK 6 ANALYSIS (3:15 P.M. ET)

Race 6 Clm $40,000

• #8 Tizzarunner 5-2
• #10 Castagno 6-1
• #3 Forever Mo 9-2
• #7 Hieroglyphics 4-1

Analysis: Tizzarunner is one of two in here sent out by the Kantarmaci barn still seeking his first win at the meet. Last out this guy was bumped coming out of the gate chased the early pace and could not get to the gate to wire winner in a runner up finish for a $50,000 tag in his first start off the claim. The winner Soulmate came back to run fourth at Delaware Park against Alw-2 optional claimers on Sept. 30. He was claimed two back for $25,000 where the gelding came with a mild late rally to finish third. He looks like a good fit here dropping in for $40,000 here. He has not won since beating Alw-2 foes at Gulfstream Park last summer but his last three efforts look good enough to beat this group.

Castagno is also sent out by Kantarmaci. Last out the gelding tracked the early pace and did not have enough punch left late in a third-place finish against $25,000 foes. He ran well over the grass here two back where he headed for home with the lead but could not hold off the top pair inside the final furlong and had to settle for third. Saez picks up the call as Lezcano sticks with our top pick.

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

• R5: #1 Uni Loves a Fight 15-1
• R8: #10 Irish Constitution 8-1
• R9: #3 Frosted Bourbon 10-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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