Belmont Park

Friday and Saturday, June 9 & 10, 2023

Weather watch:   Iffy.  Could be a shower.  Not sure about the smokey haze.  

 

Short Note.

This is the only post for both days. 

Editorial Opinion. 

Race fans are increasingly aware that field size in stakes races continues to shrink in this “non-Lasix era”.   The simple fact is that horses treated with Lasix on race day can run more often each year.  Small field size in any race generally reduces bettor interest.  Continuance of this Lasix ban will seriously affect the industry.  

Friday’s Card

Race No. 1.  Post time 12:50 P.M.   A 6 furlong dirt race restricted to maiden NYS Breds.    Purse = $75K.

Only seven entrants.  Ugh!  

In the sales ring, #3 “Thank You Jon” (5-1) fetched $120K, probably based on his maternal grand-dam’s progeny.   His most recent a.m. timed workouts have been quick.  The wager:  $2 Win #3, then $2 Double #3 with #1.  Total = $4. 

  

Race No. 2.  Post time 1:22 P.M.   A 6 furlong turf race.    Purse = $95K.

From the rail, #1 “Bold Journey” (6-5) looks too tough for this bunch.  Take the short price.  The wager:  $1 Pick 3:  1 w 5 w 1, then $1 Pick 4:  1 w 5 w 1 w 8.  Total = $2.  

Race No. 3.  Post time 1:55 P.M.   An 8 furlong dirt race restricted to maiden NYS Breds.  Purse = $75K.

Again.  Only seven entrants.  Ugh!

Centennial Farms may have paid over $200K for #6 “Meteorite” (6-5) but he has yet to show anything.  His dam’s progeny have really tailed off in production recently.   No thank you.  Next, reinstated trainer Richard Dutrow’s #5 “Blue Plate Special” (3-1) has caught mud in his only two starts, and the last start was not shabby.  His dam-side is more promising.  The wager:  $2 Double #5 with #1.  Total = $2.   

Race No. 4.  Post time 2:28 P.M.  The Just A Game Stakes.  An 8 furlong, Grade I turf race restricted to fillies and mares.   Purse = $500K.

Last year’s winner:  “Regal Glory” at odds of 1:40 to 1.  She beat four other starters. 

Not a race to place a wager.  First, those 1-2 morning line odds on #1 “In Italian” are too low.  New York bettors will make her 1-1 or 4-5, but not 1-2 against this field.   She is the mare to beat and must be used in doubles, pick 3’s, etc. The wager = $0.       

Race No. 5.  Post time 3:02 P.M.  An 8 furlong dirt race for horses that have started for a claiming price of $50K or less.   Purse = $65K.

The entrants have all been disappointments in their respective careers, and none bigger than Robert Evans’ homebred #8 “Endowed” (3-1).  However, this just might be a field he can beat.  The wager:  $2 Double #8 with #8.  Total = $2.  

 

Race No. 6.  Post time 3:35 P.M.  A 6 furlong sprint with conditions. Purse = $100K.

Wide open here!   Trainer Linda Rice’s #8 “Dot’s Dollar” (6-1) was competitive on April 28th, which was just one week after winning.  He fits nicely in here.  The wager:  $3 Win and Place #8, then $2 Double #8 with #2.  Total = $8.   

Race No. 7.  Post time 4:08 P.M.   A 7 furlong turf sprint restricted to NYS Breds   Purse = $80K.

Trainer Mark Casse’s #2 “Conman” (3-1) did everything but win on May 19th.  Any race close to that one wins this heat.  The wager:  $3 Win #2, then $2 Double #2 with #8.  Total = $5.

  

Race No. 8.  Post time 4:41 P.M.  The New York.  A 10 furlong Grade I  turf stake restricted to fillies and mares.   Purse= $600K.

Last year’s winner:  “Bleecker Street” at nearly 3-1. 

Trainer Charles Appleby entered #8 “With the Moonlight” (9-2) at Newmarket for a public workout.  Today is ‘GO DAY’.  Look for her in the final furlong, if at all.  The wager:  $3 Win and Place #8, then $5 New York/Metropolitan Double: #8 “With the Moonlight” with #1 “Cody’s Wish”.  Total = $11.  

 

Race No. 9.  Post time 5:14 P.M     The Acorn.  A Grade I, 8 1/2  furlong dirt stakes race for 3 year-old fillies.  Purse = $500K.

Last year’s winner;  “Matareya” at odds of 0.30 to 1.  She won by six lengths.

Trainer Todd Pletcher must have thought #5 “Munny’s Gold” (9-5) would have an easy win in the Churchill stake, so he opted for the one-turn race vs. the two-turn Kentucky Oaks.  Today’s Acorn is run at one turn, making “Munny’s Gold” a very formidable foe.   Next, Chad’s #8 “Accede” could easily run second here, but there will be no catching the winner.   The wager:  $2 Exacta #5 beating #8, then  $5 Double #5 “Munny’s Gold” with #4 “Secret Oath” in the Ogden Phipps.  Total = $7.   

Race No. 10.  Post time 5:47 P.M. The Belmont Gold Cup.  A 16 furlong Grade II turf stake.  Purse = $250K.

Last year’s winner: “Loft” at nearly 3-1.

Note:  The purse for this year’s race has been reduced from last year. 

Trainer Charles Appleby and jockey William Buick did not make the trip from Europe to just look at the tall buildings.  Their #2 “Siskany” (8-5) should save ground until the final turn, then kick free to the wire and win by two lengths.   The main challenge will be posed by #13 “The Grey Wizard” (10-1).  This gelding’s jockey, Hall of Fame Johnny V., will save ground until the final turn, then try to unleash a furious kick.   

The wager:  $3 Double #2 with #7, and $1 Double #13 with #7, then $5 Gold Cup/Belmont Double:  #2 “Siskany”  with #7 “Hit Show”.  Total = $9.  

Race No. 11.  Post time 6:19 P.M.  The Intercontinental.  A Grade III, 6 furlong turf sprint stake restricted to fillies and mares.   Purse = $200K.

Last year’s winner:  “Caravel” at nearly 3-1. 

Last year’s winner opted to face the boys tomorrow in the $400K Jaipur.  At least we will get to see her.    Today we should expect a 7 - 5 - pick ‘em finish.  So the pick is #7 “Bubble Rock” (5-2) to win, with #5 “Bay Storm” (3-1) finishing second.  As for #3 “Clitheroe” (15-1), while she did compete at Deauville, her races on the island of Great Britain were just plain lousy.   If she wins, I lose.  The wager:  $2 Win #7.  Total = $2.    

Total Wagers for Friday, June 9th = $52

 

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Belmont Park 

Saturday, June 10, 2022

Weather watch:  Showers - - maybe.  Not sure about the smokey haze yet.  

  

Race No. 1.  Post time 11:20 A.M.  A 6 furlong turf race restricted to maiden fillies and mares.    Purse = $90K.

Skip - - too early for me.  

Race No. 2.  Post time 11:54 A.M.   A 7 furlong turf race restricted to NYS bred fillies and mares.   Purse = $80K.

Skip - - too early for me.   

Race No. 3.  Post time 12:29 P.M.  The True North.  A 6 1/2 furlong Grade II dirt sprint stake.     Purse = $250K.

Last year’s winner:  “Jackie’s Warrior” by 5 lengths at 1-4 odds.  Last year’s pick:  “Jackie’s Warrior”. 

Trainer Bill Mott’s #4 “Elite Power” (4-5) is the pick, but there is no value in the race.  The wager:  $1 Pick 3:  4 w 1 w 1/6.   Total = $2.     

Race No. 4.  Post time 1:06 P.M.  A 7 furlong dirt race restricted to horses that have not won twice.  .    Purse = $95K.

When near the rail, #1 “American Law” (4-1) seems to run better.  Let’s play that angle in this wide-open race.  The wager:  $2 Win and Place #1, then $0.50 Pick 4:  1 w 1/6 w 5 w 4.  Total = $5.   

Race No. 5.  Post time 1:44 P.M.   The Poker.  An 8 furlong, Grade III turf race.  Purse = $200K.

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s #6 “Emmanuel” (9-2) has stayed competitive.  Yes, the French invader did impress, but that was two months ago.  The wager:  $2 Win #6, then $2 Double #6 with #5.  Total = $4.  

Race No. 6.  Post time 2:22 P.M.   The Brooklyn.  A 12 furlong, Grade II dirt race.  Purse = $250K.

Last year’s purse was $400K.   Last year’s winner:  “Fearless” at odds of 3 1/2 to 1.  Last year’s pick:  “Max Player” who finished 6th at 7-1 odds.

Midwest invader #5 “Next” (3-1) faltered as the favorite in his last start.  Maybe he will hold on today in this wide-open race.   The wager:  $2 Double 5 w 4, then $1 Pick 3:  5 w 4 w 2/8.   Total = $4.  

 

Race No. 7.  Post time 3:02 P.M.  The Ogden Phipps.  A Grade I, 8 1/2 furlong dirt race for fillies and mares.   Purse = $500K.

Last year’s winner:  “Clairiere” at almost 5-1.  Last year’s pick:  “Malathaat” who finished second by a head.

D. Wayne’s #4 “Secret Oath” (2-1) is a competitive sort who missed by a neck in her last race.  She’s the pick.  The wager:   $1 Double #4 with 2/8.  Total = $2.      

Race No. 8.  Post time 3:42 P.M.  The Woody Stephens.  A 7 furlong, Grade 1 dirt stake for three year-olds.  Purse = $400K. 

Last year’s winner:  “Jack Christopher” who won by ten lengths at odds of 2-5. Last year’s pick:  “Jack Christopher”.  

Taking “a flyer” here with #2 “Gun Pilot” (20-1) who started from an outside post at Churchill Downs.  He got hung wide but still tried.  Next, trainer Bob Baffert’s #8 “Fort  Bragg” (5-1) deserves to be in the exotics.  The wager:  $2 Win and Place #2, then $1 Exacta Box 2/8, then $1 Pick 3:  2/8 w 10 w 1.  Total = $8.   

Race No. 9.  Post time 4:19 P.M.   The Jaipur.  A Grade I turf sprint.   Purse = $400K.

Last year’s winner:  “Casa Creed” at 4-1 odds.  Last year’s pick:  “Arrest Me Red” who finished 2nd by 1/2 length.

Christophe’s #10 “Big Invasion” (6-1) was a victim of a slow start plus traffic problems in his last race five weeks ago.  Next, while #12 “Caravel” (3-1) is a wonderful mare, the only six year-old mare that I ever bet was “Zenyata”.  Finally, Mark Casse’s #6 “Ice Chocolat” (30-1) will be rolling in the lane.  The wagers:  $0.50 Pick 4:  10 w 1 w 4/8 w 7, then $1 Pick 3:  6/10 w 1 w 4, and finally $2 Win and Place #10.  Total = $7.   

  

Race No. 10.  Post time 5:04 P.M.    The Metropolitan.  A Grade I, 8 furlong dirt stake.    Purse = $1 million.  

Last year’s winner:  “Flightline” at 1-2 odds.  Last year’s pick:  “Flightline”. 

With five wins in a row, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile, #1 “Cody’s Wish” (7-5) is the pick until he loses.  The wager:  $0.50 Pick 4:  1 w 4/8 w 7 w 3.  Total = $1.   

 

Race No. 11.  Post time 5:54 P.M.    The Manhattan.   A Grade I, 10 furlong turf stake.     Purse = $750K.

Last year’s winner:  “Tribhuvan” at 19-1 odds.  Last year’s pick:  “Santin” who finished 6th.  

Last year, this blogger said “Always look for “a kicker” in these longish turf stakes . . .”  And what happened?  “Tribhuvan” led gate to wire. 

Toss up between #4 “Ottoman Fleet” (5-2) and #8 “Up to the Mark” (8-5).  PIck ‘em?   No.  The pick is #4 “Ottoman Fleet” (5-2).  The wagers:  $2 Win #4, then $1 Pick 3:  4/8 w 7 w  3, and finally $2 Double #4 with #7.  Total = $6.  

   

Race No. 12.  Post time 7:02 P.M.    The Belmont Stakes.  A Grade I, 12 furlong dirt race restricted to three year-olds.   Purse = $1.5 M.

Last year’s winner:  “Mo Donegal” at odds of 2 1/2 to 1.  Last year’s pick:  “Rich Strike” who finished 6th. 

This is a very competitive group, with only one entrant that can be totally tossed out.  The other eight horses all have  shown something to be deserving of entering the starting gate.  Oh, you say - - #1 “Tapit Shoes” (20-1) does not deserve to be here?   Really?  His dam “Awesome Feather” is also the dam of “Cyberknife”, last year’s winner of The Haskell at Monmouth Park.  Next, the pundits will be zooming in on three entrants:  #6 “Forte”, #8 “Angel of Empire”, and #4 “National Treasure”.   Those same pundits will ignore this blogger’s pick, i.e. Gary and Mary West’s #7 “Hit Show” (10-1).  Those two a.m. timed workouts in May signal fitness.  His dam “Actress” banked $500K on the track.  What’s not to like? 

The wager:  $10 W/P/S #7, then $2 Double #7 with #3.  Total = $32.   

 

Race No. 13.  Post time 7:47 P.M.    An 8 1/2  furlong turf race restricted to NYS Breds.    Purse = $90K.

Christophe’s #3 “Clear Conscience” (5-1) is not a bad alternative in this spot.  His dam-side is decent enough and his trainer is good at placing them where they can win.  If he does win, I’m hoping this completes the Manuel Franco Double.  The wager:  $2 Win and Place #3.  Total = $4.  

Total Wagers for Saturday, June 10 = $75.

Total wagers for both Friday and Saturday = $127.

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