Thursday’s Picks from Belmont Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

We are now just three weeks away from the Breeders’ Cup and pretty much all of the participants have put in their final preps with the exception of a few that might be in action on Saturday.

At Keeneland the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Up (G1) could produce a starter or two for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The QE II is restricted to three-year-old fillies and drew a field of 10.

There were two last minute additions to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series. Saturday is British Champions Day with five Group 1 races on tap at Ascot. The QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) winner will earn a start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) winner gets a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

After Saturday the fields for the 14 Breeders’ Cup races will start to take shape. It may still be a week or two before we can lock in which of the European contingent will make the trip over.

It certainly looks as if the Euro invaders could be dominant in the turf races this year. We will start breaking down the races next week.

“America’s Day at the Races” on FS2 from 12:30 to 5:00 ET with the action from Belmont Park. The NBC Sports Network picks up the Keeneland action from 5:00 to 6:00 ET. 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 and Best Plays Reports for Thursday click here .

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Belmont Park Reports daily, 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)

BEL Race 1 Clm $35,000B

• #8 So Suave 9-5
• #4 Qian B C 5-1
• #9 Zanno 2-1
• #1 Coragecontender 8-1

Analysis: So Suave came off an 11-month break and made his U.S. debut last at the Spa where he was away last in the field of nine and finished evenly in a fifth-place finish, beaten 2 1/4 lengths. He won twice in Ireland breaking is maiden at Dundalk in a 14-horse field and then winning a handicap race at Gowran Park. He lost his next four before shipping state side. Now he returns off a three month break here for the Clement barn. This looks like a good spot dropping in for a tag here. This guy has been working sharply since his last start.

Qian B C was a well beaten fifth at this level last out off a three-month break in a race taken off the turf. He was making his first start off the claim by the Rice barn that has heated up recently, hitting at a 31% clip at the meet. Both of his wins have come on turf and he was a decent fifth two on turf going six furlongs here, beaten a length. The winner was Much Better who beat Alw-2 optional claimers at Monmouth Park in his next outing. He will appreciate the return to turf.

BELMONT PARK 7 ANALYSIS (3:49 P.M. ET)

BEL Race 7 Clm $20,000B

• #5 Therisastormbrewin 5-1
• #6 Bingo John 5-2
• #7 Fast Break 7-2
• #2 Lokoya Road 9-2

Analysis: Therisastormbrewin dueled for the early lead and weakened late to finish third last out at Laurel Park going a mile against $32,000 starter optional claimers. Nevin claimed this guy three back for $35,000 out o a runner up finish and then he tired to finish seventh in his first go for the barn. He looks back on track and owns solid early and mid pace numbers and picks up Carmouche. He is 0 for 4 over the main track here but has run pretty well with a couple of seconds and a third. He fits well here dropping in for a $20,000 tag.

Bingo John faded to finish a well beaten eight last out in the state bred Albany. Two back this guy pressed the early pace and finished gamely to beat state bred Alw-1 company by a neck going nine furlongs. His maiden breaker came at a one turn mile and he now drops in for a tag for the first time of his career for the Cox barn. He figures to bounce back with a better effort here.

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: #1 Coragecontender 8-1
• R6: #1 Reeley Psyched 15-1
• R6: #11 Ob La Di 20-1
• R9Z: #12 Gotanda 8-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

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