Readers of Bettors Insider are getting a one-race preview of my day’s selections. To sign up for daily emails with the day’s FULL selections and weekly Saturday videos, click here
Saturday’s Race Recap from Belmont:
(All odds US)
Replays for yesterday’s races from Belmont can be found here:
Belmont Park:
Race 3: 2nd@ 6.90/1
Race 6: 6th@ 35.25/1
Race 8: 9th@ 8.50/1
Race 10: 2nd@ 2.30/1
Race 11: 3rd@ 8.10/1
In Race 3, Risk Free was given the perfect trip just off the speed, he let favored Doral make his move then surged past that one only to be passed by Empathy. We outran our odds but once again had to settle for second. In Race 6, Robyn and Eli was well back early and rallied mildly late without being asked much for sixth. In Race 8, Be Your Best stalked the pace early like I had hoped but today’s distance proved to be too much for her as she faded in the drive. In Race 10, The Foxes was far back early after breaking a few lengths last and was still far back at the top of the stretch but came with a tremendous late run up the inside to get up for second in a race where he was probably best. In Race 11, Vahva stalked the early pace and took her shot at the front runners turning for home. She had every chance to run down Maple Leaf Mel but that one just kept going.
Two seconds and a third from five selections on the day left us salivating for a winner.
Let’s close out the week as well as the Belmont meet with a balmy Sunday card. I’m handicapping for fast and firm conditions although there’s always a chance of thunderstorms when the weather is this warm. Let’s get to work!
Belmont Park:
Race 9: Equalizer - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 20/1)
Bottom of the barrel maiden claimers will close out our Belmont Park spring meet and all eyes will be on 6/5 morning line favorite Happy Bob who runs for a 26% winning Linda Rice barn and 24% winning rider Jose Ortiz. On paper he makes the most sense, but these connections just claimed him for $40k and immediately drop him in for $20k so they stand to take a $20k loss here. Maybe Happy Bob’s not so happy. I’m taking a chance to close out the meet with Equalizer at HUGE odds. First time out he finished up the track at Monmouth last August. He was given time off and ran a career best race off that layoff at today’s $20k maiden claiming level on the main track at Aqueduct. He was claimed from that start by his current connections who optimistically jumped him into Maiden Special Weight company where he got his doors blown off by much better. He was given two tries on turf racing longer. Today not only does he get back to the class level of his best effort but hit best surface and distance. His speed figure at 7 furlongs was just 3 points off 6/5 morning line favorite Happy Bob’s last start. Let’s make some SARATOGA spending money before we put the locks on Belmont.
Best of luck to all our members playing Sunday’s races from Belmont!