Handicapping

Play of the Day Race Date June 17, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 2 Overview A good 32k claimer for older, with several winning possibilities. Pace It doesn’t look overly fast, which means tactical speed is at a premium. Trends The turf has been relatively formful throughout the meet, though with hot, dry weather over the past few weeks, closers figure to be at a disadvantage. Best Bet Bee Bit Number 4 Morning Line (9-2) Best Bet Overview #4 Bee Bit (9-2) (turf only): Capable miss has been doing the dirt thing of late but goes back to turf off the Atras claim (32%), which is noteworthy, and…

Play of the Day Race Date June 13, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 3 Overview A solid N1X on the turf with several lightly raced runners who can improve. Pace It appears sharp, which should really set it up for #1 LONESOME FUGITIVE (5-2). Trends The turf has been relatively formful throughout the meet, though with hot, dry weather this week, it could be on the fast side. Best Bet LONESOME FUGITIVE Number 1 Morning Line (5-2) Best Bet Overview #1LONESOME FUGITIVE (5-2): Stalker goes second-off the long layoff, drew perfectly, and should get plenty of pace to rally into. Picks & Plays Aggressive WP bet and single…

Play of the Day Race Date June 12, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 4 Overview A potentially strong MSW that could easily be a key race in the making come Saratoga. Pace It appears honest, though not overly fast, so tactical speed figures to be key. Trends The turf has been relatively formful throughout the meet, though with hot, dry weather this week, it could be on the fast side. Best Bet BIG EVEREST Number 5 Morning Line (4-1) Best Bet Overview #5 BIG EVEREST (GB) 4-1) (turf only): Loved that debut 2nd in October, and while he hasn’t been seen since, Clement is hot and always gears…

Play of the Day Race Date June 11, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 7 Overview An evenly matched AOC that appears to have several viable win candidates on paper, though more than a few that might be eliminated by what could be a hot pace. Pace As mentioned, there’s seems to be plenty, as several want to be on or just off the early lead, which could set it up for #7 FINDING FAME (5-2), who has the right style and post to take advantage. Trends Speed (predictably) played well last weekend, and though, the big stakes weekend in the rearview mirror, things could be a little more…

Play of the Day Race Date June 10, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 8 Overview A solid AOC for older horses, though one with two inside favorites that could potentially be at a pace disadvantage. Pace There’s not much here, which could flatter #5 JALEN JOURNEY (3-1), who should be the controlling speed, and conversely hurt #1 Mihos (5-2) and #2 Town Classic (2-1), who don’t have much of it. Trends Speed (predictably) played well last weekend, and while this is the start of a new racing week, being in front or up close is never a bad thing, regardless. Best Bet JALEN JOURNEY Number 5 Morning Line…

Play of the Day Race Date June 06, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 7 Overview A very good renewal of the Jersey Girl, with several lightly races fillies that could develop into graded stakes types. Pace It looks supersonic, as several want to motor early, including ML favorite #5 Miss Brazil (8-5) and second-choice #3 Bella Sofia (5-2), and that could set it up for someone late. Trends Speed/press played well Thursday, though it was also a formful day filled with logical winners, and with an off-track Friday the slate gets wiped clean and TBD for Saturday. But, regardless, there still looks to be enough heat here to…

Play of the Day Race Date June 05, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 5 Overview A compact renewal of the G1 Acorn with a heavy favorite in #6 Search Results (1-1), though a potentially vulnerable one too on the cutback to one-turn off a gut-wrenching 2nd in the Kentucky Oaks. Pace It looks average to slow, which means #4 DAYOUTOFTHEOFFICE (4-1) can either clear early if they want to be aggressive, or stalk the potential cheap speed of #3 Miss Brazil (5-1) to her inside. Trends Speed/press played well Thursday, though it was also a formful day filled with logical winners, and with an off-track Friday the slate…

Play of the Day Race Date June 04, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 6 Overview A very deep and competitive NYB N1X that appears wide open and with a potentially vulnerable favorite (#3) who has very little margin for error. Pace It looks there for the taking and #6 COLORMEPAZZI (8-1) is the lone confirmed front-runner in the field, which says he can control things from the outset. Trends Both surfaces continue to play fair, with the winners coming from everyone and with all running styles, though it’s also worth nothing that last week was a wash—literally—as the last three days were OFF the turf and run over…

Play of the Day Race Date June 03, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 8 Overview A very deep and competitive renewal of the Wonder Again, though most of these gals have already tipped their hand and don’t offer the upside of #9 TECHNICAL ANALYSIS (9-2). Pace It looks honest enough, as there are a few confirmed front runners, though there are several closers too, which should put stalker #9 TECHNICAL ANALYSIS (9-2) in a good spot. Trends Both surfaces continue to play fair, with the winners coming from everyone and with all running styles, though it’s also worth nothing that last week was a wash—literally—as the last three…

Play of the Day Race Date May 31, 2021 Track Belmont Park Race 6 Overview A strong renewal of the Mount Vernon, but one that also looks poised to be dominated on the front end. Pace There’s little doubt that unless someone shows a lot more speed than they’ve been accustomed to in the past, #3 ROBIN SPARKLES (4-1) is loose as can be on the stretchout. Trends Both surfaces continue to play fair, with the winners coming from everyone and with all running styles, which is all a handicapper can ask for, though with a sloppy track Saturday it’s worth checking out how the track played. Best…