Thursday’s Picks from Belmont Park

Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup are out, with 198 individual horses entered in the 14 championship races which will be contested at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6.

Order of Australia, who was the upset winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last year to the tune of $148.40 to win was pre-entered but his trainer Aiden O’Brien announced shortly after that he would not be making the trip.


That still leaves seven Breeders’ Cup winners back for more this year including Knicks Go, the likely favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The Brad Cox trainee won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last year but is looking for a bigger payday this year.

Among his foes will be his stablemate Essential Quality, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

Defending champs Audarya in the Filly and Mare Turf, Gamine in the Filly and Mare Sprint, Glass Slippers in the Turf Sprint, and Tarnawa in the Turf are back. Golden Pal, who won the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year will go in the Turf Sprint.

There are 56 international horses making the trip to Del Mar, a record number of international pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup and span seven countries: Great Britain (26), Ireland (17), Japan (8), France (2), Argentina (1), Peru (1) and South Africa (1).

The 38th Breeders’ Cup World Championships consists of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million. On “Future Stars Friday,” there will be five championship races exclusively for two-year-olds.

There will be nine Breeders’ Cup races on the Saturday program. The Breeders’ Cup will be televised live on NBC, NBCSN and TVG. Coverage begins on Nov. 5 on NBCSN and TVG from 5-9 p.m. ET and continues on Nov. 6 on NBCSN and TVG from 2:30- 8 p.m. The Breeders’ Cup concludes live and in prime time on NBC from 8-9 p.m.

I will have my full card reports for both days at Del Mar available next week.

“America’s Day at the Races” is on FS2 from 12:30 to 5:00 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.

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

Race 1 Clm $10,000

  • #6 Extra Effort 8-5
  • #2 Quality Stones 2-1
  • #3 Lovely Lady Lexi 9-2
  • #1 No Deal 8-1

Analysis: Extra Heat dueled for the early lead over a muddy surface that was playing to outside stalkers and closers and she weakened to finish third for this tag as the beaten chalk. The filly was claimed out of the race by the GRod barn that is 2 for 4 (with a +ROI) first off the claim and has picked up a couple of wins at the meet. She was claimed off Rice who has been hot but this gal looks capable of better than her last. She catches a soft spot.

Quality Stones dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish third last out against $12,500 foes at the Spa. The runner up was Frills who came back to beat $20,000 claimers in her next outing on Sept. 6. She won her two previous outings, both coming at Finger Lakes. She has one trip over the main track here, a win versus state bred Alw-1 foes last June in her first start against winners. Looks like a chalky start to the day.

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

Race 7 Alw $80,000N1X

  • #10 Uno 4-1
  • #1 Big Bobby 8-5
  • #2 Seven Lillies 6-1
  • #6 Fenway 9-2

Analysis: Uno is making his first start since February for the Pletcher barn that is 25% winners with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. This guy showed some talent breaking his maiden in his debut in the mud and then was fourth in the state bred Rego Park in his first start against winners. He then stretched out to a mile in the state bred gander where she faded to finish a well beaten sixth after stalking the early pace. He returns a gelding and with lasix added to the mix. Johnny V. takes the call and decent works on the morning tab as he drops in with state bred Alw-1 foes for the first time. It is not a very tough looking spot for his return off the bench.

Big Bobby stalked the early pace and came with a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out. The third-place finisher was Prince of Pharoahs who came back to win at this level in his next outing on Sept. 24. The Mott trainee broke his maiden in his second career start over the main track here in the mud, then was the beaten chalk at the Spa two back in his first start against winners in a runner up finish. The winner of that race as Judge N Jury who was sixth in the HA Jerkens (G1) then bounced back to beat state bred Alw-2 optional claimers in his last start on Oct. 3. His numbers over his last three races are tops in here ad is the obvious one to beat.

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 No Deal 8-1
  • R2: #3 Exfiltration 8-1
  • R4: #11 Empire Lily 8-1
  • R4: #5 Taki 8-1
  • R8: #6 Ranger Fox 12-1
  • R8: #4 Never Explain 8-1
  • R9: #2 Got the Gold 12-1

Good luck today!