© Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com
Belmont Park’s final week gets off to a rousing start on Thursday with a $251,315 Pick 6 carryover, a pool that figures to exceed $1 million before they load the field into the gate for the first race of the sequence, which is the fourth race with a post time of 2:26 ET.
There are just four days left of the Belmont Park meeting and then Saratoga opens on Friday, July 20 after a four day break.
It’s a tricky sequence with four maiden races, but certainly looks hittable.
Here is a quick look at the six races:
Race 4: A $35,000 claimer on turf for non-winners of three or a race on turf since Jan. 1, the race drew a field of eleven with a couple of MTO’s. The Chad Brown trainee Silver Timber looks like the one to beat as the 2-1 morning line favorite, but this does not exactly look like the best spot to toss in a single.
Race 5: The first of four maiden races in the six race sequence, the race drew a field of eight going six furlongs on the turf. Only Priscilla Marie has a start, a fifth place finish in her debut with the other seven runners making their debuts. I wish they had carded this race as the fourth so we could get a glimpse of these in the paddock. There is not a ton of turf pedigree except for Priscilla Marie, a half to turf stakes winners Little Mike and Little Nick.
Race 6: A $65,000 maiden claimer at one mile on the turf, this race drew a wide open field of ten fillies and mares. The Bill Mott trained Comment is the 7-2 morning line favorite as she drops in for a tag for her third career start. Christophe Clement has a pair of interesting runners that may end up offering a bit more value. One of the tougher races in the sequence.
Race 7: Another maiden race, a $35,000 maiden claimer on the main track going a mile. The Mike Trombetta trainee Upside Down is the 9-5 morning line favorite, but there are a couple of others in here that will offer some value including Br. Alexander, who is 12-1 on the morning line.
Race 8: See below.
Race 9: If we get to the final leg with a live ticket, we still will have a mountain to climb. The finale is a full field of twelve $25,000 maiden claimers that will go seven furlongs on the turf course. Rock On Home is the 3-1 morning line favorite and makes her second start off the bench foe the David Donk barn. She checked in third going six furlongs on the turf off the bench on June 20. My Sparky is coming back off a long layoff, and Discreet Lady exits a key race in the slop and should be tossed in the mix.
Michael Dempsey provides his selections for Belmont Park each racing day. Mike’s Best Plays Report is available each weekend, with his strongest plays and selections including the top stakes races.
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Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Thursday’s featured race of the day:
Belmont Park Race 8 OClm $50,000SAL (4:34 ET)
1 Christopher’s Joy 3-1
5 Sage Valley 8-1
2 War Colony 4-1
6 Washington’s Rule 6-1
Analysis: Christopher’s Joy was a good looking winner last out against $30K non-winners of two last out. The colt only had to beat three foes in the effort but the fourth place finisher Political Justice did come back to beat restricted $15K claimers in his next start on June 24. The colt came back with a bullet drill for the Tony D. barn and he owns solid early and mid pace numbers. He looks capable of winning right back.
Sage Valley makes his first start since February where the colt was third at this level in his first go against winners. He broke his maiden in his debut at Chuck Town two back. He makes his first start here for the RRod barn that is 22% winners first off the claim. The colt has decent looking works on the morning tab for a barn that is 12% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,2,5,6
TRI: 1,5 / 1,2,5,6 / 1,2,4,5,6
