Home Forums Sports Picks Central Trackside Picks Belmont & Holly Closing Day

Courtesy of Mike Dempsey

Here is the opening race from Monmouth Park to get our day off to a good start:

MTH Race 1 Md $25,000 (12:50 ET)
#9 The Duke Rules 6/1
#6 Time to Be Royal 6/1
#8 Tamaqua 20/1
#5 Bavaria 9/2

Analysis: #9 The Duke Rules was sent off as the 5/2 favorite in his debut, but was bumped coming out of the gate, raced wide much of the trip, and never threatened in a well beaten ninth place finish. The son of Peace Rules drops a notch in class and I am going to give him another look here as the barn has been sending out live runners and breaking from the outside with a better break figures to be in the mix in this spot, and we might see a decent price.

#6 Time to Be Royal returns off a year layoff for the Perkins barn that is 11% winners with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. This guy showed some promise in his debut, dueling for the early lead and holding on well for the runner up spot. The works are nothing special, but this is not a real tough group, and t least we know this guy has shown some early speed.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 6,9 / 5,6,8,9
TRI: 6,9 / 5,6,8,9 / 2,5,6,8,9

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 9 Clm $25,000N2L (5:17 ET)
#7 Australis Princess 3/1
#6 Playa Bonita 7/2
#5 Lost At Dawn 8/1
#2 Cougar Cruise 10/1

Analysis: #7 Australis Princess stretches back out to a route here after racing wide in a fifth place finish going seven furlongs, beaten two lengths for the top spot. The filly can handle the extra ground and she appears headed in the right direction as she makes her third start off the claim by the underrated DiPrima barn. Her maiden score came over the turf here at today's distance.

#6 Playa Bonita was off a beat slow, had to steady briefly turning for home and then again nearing the eighth pole, came through some traffic and finished up well for the runner up spot. A clean trip makes her tough here as she makes her third start of her current form cycle for the Dutrow barn.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 6,7 / 2,5,6,7
TRI: 6,7 / 2,5,6,7 / 2,4,5,6,7,10

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Monmouth Park:

MTH Race 8 Clm $22,000 (4:21 ET)
#7 Storming Off 9/2
#1 Zappa 3/1
#11 Bon Marie 7/2
#8 Polished 20/1

Analysis: #7 Storming Off was bumped coming out of the gate, made a good middle move and took over the lead briefly, then ran out of steam, fading to finish fifth. It was a decent effort considering the 7 1/2 month layoff and he should be tighter for his second start off the bench. The gelding has a pair of wins over the grass here including a win against $25K foes last fall.

#1 Zappa came with a good late rally and came up just a head shy last out. He was claimed from the Miller barn and goes for the Rigatteri barn that is 21% winners first off the claim. He could regress off his last pair of hard fought efforts, but the barn does pretty good work with recent claims and is overdue for a few wins at the meet.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,7,8,11
TRI: 1,7 / 1,7,8,11 / 1,.2,3,7,8,11

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Belmont Park
R3: #1 Been a Pleasure 8/1
R5: #2 Of All Times 15/1
R6: #4 Call the General 12/1
R8: #8 Rosie’s Run 10/1
R8: #7 Holy Blitzer 8/1
R9: #5 Lost At Dawn 8/1
R9: #2 Cougar Cruise 10/1
R10: #1 Golda Karakorum / #1a Hookedon Karakorum 8/1

Good luck today!

HOLLYWOOD RACE 4 courtesy of HorsePlayerNow

#5 Jacob's Tiger (2-1) (turf only)

Our Eyes: Really perked up nicely on the grass last time out, but had to duel to a quick pace in that one. Should be better for the experience, and I think he'll prove the best of the speed today. Certainly bred for the sod, and I like that the aggressive bug boy stays on. - James Dickson

SPOT PLAYS

For Sunday
TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE
Arlington Park (1st) Nolan's Territory, 9-2
(6th) Suspended Moon, 3-1
Belmont Park (5th) One Starry Nite, 6-1
(8th) High Cry, 4-1
Calder Race Course (7th) Keal, 4-1
(10th) Dazzling Hero, 4-1
Canterbury Park (1st) Mighty Tuk, 7-2
(2nd) Burst of Life, 10-1
Charles Town (4th) Gray Storm A'comin, 7-2
(6th) Silver Kisses, 6-1
Colonial Downs (6th) First Colony, 8-1
(8th) Magic Norman, 7-2
Ellis Park (3rd) Crepe, 7-2
(9th) Lyrique, 5-1
Emerald Downs (7th) Prairie Grove, 9-2
(9th) Jasmine's Melody, 7-2
Fort Erie (6th) Western Factor, 6-1
(7th) Chocolateforlunch, 3-1
Hastings Park (7th) Orchid's Silver, 5-1
(8th) La Noria, 7-2
Hollywood Park (4th) Rock Solid Charm (Ire), 7-2
(6th) Luv Dragon, 5-1
Lone Star Park (8th) Gold Wonder, 7-2
(10th) Miss Sweet Dreams, 5-1
Louisiana Downs (4th) O Night Divine, 3-1
(8th) Jade's Quest, 8-1
Monmouth Park (1st) Time to Be Royal, 6-1
(9th) Unicorn Girl, 7-2
Mountaineer (7th) Breezes Bay, 10-1
(10th) Lookofaneagle, 3-1
Northlands (5th) Kokopelli Wind, 10-1
(6th) Argentune, 3-1
Philadelphia Park (3rd) It'scryptonight, 8-1
(4th) No Blushing, 5-1
Pinnacle (4th) Gift for Geo, 10-1
(6th) Babe's Boy, 6-1
River Downs (2nd) Smokin' Sword, 10-1
(4th) Charming Deal, 5-1
Woodbine (5th) Winged Hermes, 10-1
(10th) Romantic Soul, 3-1

Value Plays courtesy of Rick Needham

CHARLES TOWN
RACE #1: The 10-1 BOMB, #4 DUE RECKONING, has what little speed that can be found in this maiden field today.

MONMOUTH PARK:
RACE #4: #8 MARQUIS JET, a 9-2 shot, takes a class drop (-6), and has decent overall speed for this 6.0 furlong sprint.


NOTE: The longshot entries listed below have been "found" utilizing TrackMaster's fantastic new product Ultra Angles ... I have utilized this product to scan EVERY TRACK in North America for entries today meeting the following 3 criteria:

a. Odds are GREATER THAN 4-1
b. The entry must be the TOP POWER RATED entry in the field
c. The entry must also have the BEST SPEED in this field for today's distance and surface!
NOTE: Listed Post Times are given in the local time zone of the track.

Colonial Downs - Race #9 - 4:39PM - #4 DAISYIFYOUDO 20/1
Calder Race Course - Race #2 - 1:34PM - #6 EASTERN SEABOARD 8/1

Hollywood Park Race 10 courtesy of Deuce Bruce

MISSTRAILCITYZONE has the right style and looks a possible exacta key
for 1st or 2nd at a price in here. MAKE IT MINE fits well with these and
Rosario can end the meet with a win. MEADOW LAKE QUEEN also looks to have
a big chance. Bet MISSTRAILCITYZONE (WP), Box the Exacta 9/8/13, Box the
Trifecta 9/8/13/14, Box the Superfecta 9/8/13/14 $24, and Play the Super
High 5 - 9,8 with 9,8,13,14,7 = $48. (*Note: Alternates to replace any
late scratches are #14, #7, #11, and #1). THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, SEE YOU
AT DEL MAR!!!

BEL 10th (5:49)

6 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Maiden Claiming ($16,000) | Purse: $18,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 4 Golda Karakorum Studart M Odintz Jeff 118 $16,000 L 8-1
1A 13 Hookedon Karakorum Studart M Odintz Jeff 118 $16,000 L 8-1
2 1 Mardi Belle Prado E S Schosberg Richard 118 $16,000 FTL 5-1
3 2 Cantstoplovingsue Velasquez C Rodriguez Rudy R 118 $16,000 L 4-1
4 3 Hit the Note Dominguez R A Rodriguez Rudy R 118 $16,000 FTL 4-1
5 5 Satin Jet Maragh R Schettino Dominick A 118 $16,000 L 5-2
6 6 Guilty Choice Lezcano A Ritvo Timothy 118 $16,000 L 20-1
7 7 Averil's Girl Espinoza J L Jerkens Steven T 118 $16,000 FTL 50-1
8 8 Ripleys Reality Corujo W Russo Joseph F 111 7 $16,000 L 50-1
9 9 I'm Authorized Bridgmohan J V Appel David W Jr 123 $16,000 20-1
10 10 Being Queen Rodriguez J Shevy Michael J 116 7 $16,000 L 50-1
11 11 Glance My Way Samyn J L Martin Frank 118 $16,000 L 12-1
12 12 Persky's Love Lopez A Ortiz Juan 116 7 $16,000 Blk-On L 20-1

A-Coupled: Golda Karakorum and Hookedon Karakorum

Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10) Wagers

Brian Blessing's Pick's 3-5-2

Cantstoplovingsue will employ the turf to dirt angle in her second career start and may improve in a very big way at a good price.

MTH 12th (6:17)

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Maiden Claiming ($10,000) | Purse: $20,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Shahadaroba Cartwright A Mongeon Kathy P 112 7 $10,000 L 6-1
2 2 Little Miss Six Maysonett F Nunn David 119 $10,000 L 30-1
3 3 Cathedral Flyer Uske S Tammaro, IV John 124 $10,000 L 12-1
4 4 Cambria Queen Gracia J A Tarrant Amy 109 10 $10,000 L 7-2
5 5 Comfy Cozie Marquez C H Jr Sacco Gregory D 124 $10,000 Blk-On L 2-1
6 6 Ivars Ms President Yodice A Hartmann Mary 112 7 $10,000 L 30-1
7 7 Quantitativeeasing Trujillo E Violette, Jr. R A 119 $10,000 L 3-1
8 8 Vanaema Moya R F Breen Kelly J 117 7 $10,000 L 9-2
9 9 Maud G Serpa A Thompson Glenn R 114 5 $10,000 L 12-1

Win, Place and Show Exacta, Trifecta and 10-Cent Superfecta

Battagliaspicks 4-5-1

#4 Cambria Queen- is a stick out to take this one. She came off a 9 month layoff and ran well against much tougher last out. She drops in class and will prove too tough for these.

Arlington 1st

6 Furlongs (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Claiming ($17,500) | Purse: $18,360

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Grey Knight Graham J Dini Mike 121 $17,500 L 6-1
2 2 Hammer Jammer Sanchez D Pierce Clayton 121 $17,500 L 10-1
3 3 Nolan's Territory Baze M C Catalano Wayne M 121 $17,500 L 9-2
4 4 Double Jump Diego I Mason Ingrid 121 $17,500 L 7-2
5 5 Gut King Santana J Z Gulyas Peter 118 $17,500 L 6-1
6 6 Furious Run Sellers S J Domenosky Tammy 118 $17,500 L 4-1
7 7 Better Make Money Castanon J L Dorris Chris 121 $17,500 L 3-1

$2 Win / Place / Show / $2 Daily Double (Races 1-2) / $2 Exacta $0.50 Trifecta / $0.10 Superfecta / $1 Pick 3 (Races 1-2-3) $1 Place Pick 9 (1-9)

Battagliaspicks 4-6-3

#4 Double Jump- Changed hands from a weak low percentage trainer to 40% trainer Mason. He won the first race by 13 , finished 3rd when he doubled up in class then won last out. He looks like a stick out winner again today.

BELMONT PARK courtesy of Steve Byk


CLOSING DAY -- $53k C/O MANDATORY PAY


PRE-SCRATCHES


5th: CLM, 3+, 7f-T (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #8 Regal Prince 2-1
Best Value: #3 Straight Romance 5-1
Next Best: #4 Prince Woodman 4-1
Super Add: #5 Berning Blaze 8-1


6th: NY-CLM/N2L, 3+, 6f (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Smokin Conrad 6-5
Next Best: #9 Fairway Tom 2-1
Best Value: #4 Call the General 12-1
Super Add: #1 Mind Boggling 6-1


7th: MDN CLM, 3+, 7f-T (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Beijing Blues 3-1
Best Value: #6 Military Star 6-1
Next Best: #1 Supreme Serene 5-2
Super Add: #9 Adirondack Dew 5-1


8th: NY-ALW/N1x, F&M-3+, 6f-IT (DD, Super)

Very competitive feature with all but impossible Wine Bar and Sky Fever within a length or so of each other, (including the ML favorite who would be more appropriately 5-2 instead of 8-5). Playing against Violette favorite and suggest spreading as wide as you can..

Best Value: #8 Rosie's Run 10-1
Most Likely: #2 Pretty Cozzy 3-1
Exotics Use: #4 High Cry 4-1
Super Add: #7 Holy Blitzer 8-1


9th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (DD, Super)

Turner favorite Chick in Slacks has disappointed me twice in a row in starter company, but returns to level she technically cleared when gaining diploma..

Most Likely: #4 Chick in Slacks 5-2
Next Best: #7 Australis Princess 3-1
Exotics Use: #6 Playa Bonita 7-2
Super Add: #9 My Sweet Emily 12-1


10th: NY-MDN CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (Super)

Most Likely: #5 Satin Jet 5-2
Best Value: #2 Mardi Belle 5-1
Next Best: #4 Hit the Note 4-1
Super Add: #3 Cantstoplovingsue 4-1


<$200 P6 Play:

5: 3-8
6: 7-9
7: 4-6
8: 2-6-7-8-9
9: 4
10: 2-5

2x2x2x5x1x2 = 80 x $2 = $160


<$50 P4 Play:

7: 4-6
8: 2-6-7-8-9
9: 4
10: 2-3-4-5

2x5x1x4 = $40

Good luck!
Steve

California Racing courtesy of Price Horse Central

Hollywood Park

Race 1: Pass race in which favorites Irish Torrent (4) and Fashion Trend (7) look tough but no price on either. JT combos 1, 4, 5, 7

Race 2: I have chased Princess SUsan M (6) a couple of times but look for her to wake up today on the drop at a big price. Just something I sense and cannot make some compelling and logical argument about it so please take that into consideration before making a legal wager and if she runs poorly, it will be a case of my radar being way off. JT combos 4, 7, 9

Race 3: Just because Dean Greenman (son of the late, great Walter) is getting back into training, means I have to look hard at Yasuda and the 5/1 ML means there might be a price. I’ve seen Greenman as an owner but this is the first time I’ve seen him as a trainer in many moons. JT combos 2, 6.

Race 4: Pass. Diplo (4) is CF and legit favorite. Saw Mel pull one off yestrday and he might just pull it off again today with Sky’squickscore (1) at 8/1 on the ML. JT combos 2. 4.

Race 5: Pass. ML faves look primed. JT combos 1, 7, 8, 10

Race 6: IF price on Atticus Pomponius (9) drifted up, then will get involved as I like horses that show some speed off a layoff – especially when it’s a different kind of move for them. Want at least 4/1 to play. JT combos 5, 7

Race 7: Pass guessing game baby race. Baffert’s entry will take money. If you must play, then include Code Buster (1) for Koriner and Espinoza who scored yesterday. JT combos 1, 6, 9.

Race 8: Pass race in which O’Neill will be looking for travelling money with CF Scofield Barracks (6). If he gets beat, any of the others can do it. JT combos 1, 2, 6

Race 9: In races like these, I look for a horse that can get an easy lead which is why Marlang (7) has a big shot to do the Presious Passion bit. Want the ML of 4/1 to play Marlang to win. Unusual Suspect (6) is the second Abrams/Nakatani pairing of the weekend and this one will be around at the finish. JT combos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Race 10: Not going to play, but I can’t wait for The Shriek to be whooping it up as former client Rosario storms down the lane in front on Make It Mine to snag the riding title. JT combo 8

Sacramento

Race 3: Pass. Looks like a speed duel set up with Emeralds Boy (5) the only one who has shown an ability to close but price won’t be right off ML of 3/1. JT combos 1, 5

Race 4: Pass. Tough, tough race. No price on Dream Spotter (4) first off the claim for Mathis which is a great move for him and why I picked up on this guy in the first place. Others in here capable so best to sterr clear. JT combos 2,4, 5, 6, 7

Race 5: Pass race in which it is hard to look past Ippon (3) for Sherman and Baze. Might give a second look to Zandeca (6) for James and Martinez who is riding very well at this point. Would need at least ML of 9/2 to get involved on that one. JT combos 2, 3,

Race 6: I’ve got a lot of interest in Check Out the Ct (4) for Thomas and Hernandez off the ML of 8/1. Horse had nice comeback race and can close. Want most of ML to play. Looking for Cedilo to send Retros Last FLight (5) for Mathis but this looks like a workout and the price may not be right as this one is better going long so I won’t get involved with that one at all today. JT combos 7, 8

Race 7: Pass race in which CF horse Putmeinyourwill should be tough but no price off ML of 3/1. Starcast (4) can close for Mathis who uses Wooten here and if price drifted up then might get involved as Wooten has a win for Mathis this summer. JT combos 7

Race 8: Looking for a theft attempt her with Tizzy BEt (2) and Rainbow’s Way (6) gunning up front. Believe Rainbow’s Way will win that battle and the war but off 3/1 ML would need more to play to win. JT combos 2, 6

Race 9: Taking a shot with Shark City (7) for Moger and Hernandez for good longshot team but want 6/1 to play. OF the rest, Nautical Rule (1) might be the one to close but price will be skimpy. JT combos 1, 2, 7