Sunday Stakes, Part 1: RT picks races at Belterra, Monmouth, Gulfstream and Woodbine

Chapter 1
Chapter 2 updated at 1:00est

May 26th
Today is stakes across North America Day

Musings :
My part-time employment at Canterbury Park came to an end yesterday after two experiences with their Gotcha Police cum Walmart cum Reinhard Heydrich mentality. Based on my truncated odyssey with CPHC, it is understandable why the analysts are telling you to run.

Congratulations Jose Delgado on becoming a US citizen. As someone who petitioned their wife to come here and her eventuality of getting through the process, I know how important this is to you. Remember to vote. Too many paid too much for that right…or rite.

Yes, I sucked yesterday. Must’ve been an omen, a sign from the universe, Ms. Cleo or one of the four Archangels telling me that it’s time to resign Canterbury in all capacities. Probably Gabriel. He is the messenger. Then again, Ms. Cleo may be speaking from beyond? Thank you all. It’s done.

While at a traffic light yesterday, the guy next to me started honking his horn like a madman. I looked over and rolled the window down to a loud “I LOVE YOUR BUMPER STICKER.” I replied with, “you’re not a Minnesotan are you?” He answered, laughingly, “no way.” I laughed and went on. My bumper sticker reads “Left Laners Are Shit.”

Happy Spring Robin Saratoga and The Kolonel. I’ll be in The Berkshires soon.

Time to proceed. We’ll cover:
The $75K Green Carpet Stakes, Belterra 5
The $75K Miss Liberty Stakes, Monmouth 9
The $75K Opening Lead Stakes, Gulfstream 8
The $175K G2 Nassau Stakes, Woodbine 8

In Part 2
The $200K G2 Summertime Oaks, Santa Anita 6
The $60K Dine Stakes, Sunray Park 10
The $200K G2 Monrovia Stakes, Santa Anita 7
The $50K George Boyd Stakes, Hastings 6 from beautiful Vancouver, BC.

Belterra 5
3yo Buckeye State breds going 8.5 panels on the turf
Of the nine entries, only two have experience running on turf and those were both sub-marginal outcomes.
7 – Manga Man (10/1) with the fast early pace, this late runner poses a stretch threat. Rounding into shape, this 3yo gelding put up his best Equibase score two back and second best last out. Sobol/Gonzalez hitting 25% winners.
4 – Jack Be Fast (20/1) Team Luis Rivera (27% L/10) and Jeff Radosevich (30% L/10), gets another crack today at 3 – Diamond Dust (4/5), so I’ll take a stab at a price. JBF’s sire is graded stakes winner Cowtown Cat, who was 16:4-1-2 for $562K on the turf and this gelding is batting 1.000 in routes.
3 – Diamond Dust (4/5) it’s tough to go against this guy. 3-3 this year. 8:6-2-0 lifetime and is 3-3 in the mud – a good indicator of their turf ability.
Belterra 5 Bets:
3 - $20/w $40/p
4 - $20/p $40/s
$5 Exacta Box 4-3-7
$1 Trifecta 4-7/4-7-1/3, 4-7/3/4-7-1, 3/4-7/4-7-1

Monmouth 9
3yo+ F&M going 9 Panels on the turf
4 – Fools Gold (4/1) if you get 4-1 on this guy, grab it. Of course, every time you have a Chad Brown entry on the turf, you know it’ll take money and justifiably. Brown’s an ace. Last out, Fools was gaining ground like a freight train versus the favorite today, 8 – Quebec (7/2), so the added furlong will be an advantage.
Monmouth 9 Bets:
4 - $50/w $100/p

Gulfstream 8
3yo+ going 6 Furlongs
3 – Shoshone Brave (15/1) catch me if you can? Maybe not. This guy is going to get in front and perhaps hold on. Given his back class and fractions, he has the talent to wire the field. There will be quite a bit of early speed and I believe when they close in the eighth pole, he’ll pull away.
2 – Fast Pass (8/1), 4 – Colormepompom (20/1), 5 - Star Juancho (12/1) are all very late closers and can factor into exotics nicely.
Yes, I excluded the favorite, 7 – Cautious Giant (9/5) for the simple reason that I see this pace developing differently and he’s going to have many early pressers.
Gulfstream 8 Bets:
I am an unapologetic fan of Samy Camacho and I like the way this race sets up for him.
5 - $25/w $50/p
$1 Exacta Box 2-4-5
Having never bet one before, I’ll try my hand at a $.10 Superfecta Box 2-4-5-7-3 which is $12. Watch it hit and pay $5.60…lol.

Woodbine 8
3yo+ F&M on the turf at 1 Mile
3 – Starship Jubilee (1/1) the paragon of horse for the course….9 starts, 4 wins, an Equibase speed rating of 119 last fall (I’ve never spotted one that high), and has banked $321K here. Based on her workouts, she is happy to be home after making some good coin in F-L-A this winter,