Belmont Park Picks & Betting Analysis for September 16

Situated within the bounds of Elmont, New York, NYRA's "Big Beast" is once again open for business, as they host their September-October Meet. Beautiful Belmont Park is set to go beginning this Thursday.

We are Horseracing.net/us have you covered every step of the way. With Breeders' Cup implications on the table, plus a bevy of other stakes action, it is sure to be a rousing good time for North American racing. Stay tuned! 

If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Thursday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below.

Most Likely Winner: (Race 3: Orb in the Tower #4, 9/5):

Trainer Todd Pletcher has this gelding headed back to Belmont. Back in early July, the last time the son of Orb was seen competing on a racetrack, he was a game winner in an MC40k. Now, the HOF conditioner has him ratcheting upwards into this spot. It is expected that he should rise to the occasion. Nothing like a homebred, and having a leading rider like Irad Ortiz get aboard, is not a poor play either. This Eclipse Award-winning jock is looking to get back on track after losing the riding title back at Saratoga to Luis Saez. His march starts today …

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #4

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 7: Free Enterprise #4, 10/1):

Up against a “coupled” entry, it is always a tough betting proposition since you know the “2 for 1” runners are going to get bet down even further. Still, if you like an entry at a price, then never shy away. I think Jeff Englehart’s new charge is going to be one to watch. He grabbed this one from Chad Brown’s midst, and the former Klaravich charge was excellent with 2 wins in-a-row at Saratoga. Having the ability to handle a wet track is a plus, and the unheralded Hector Diaz gets the call. He always is overlooked by bettors because the more famous jockeys get most of the press. Do not count this gelding out, who is a son of Curlin, because he could keep this streak alive at Belmont.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #4 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 8: Turf, 1¼, AOC80k, 3+):

If the rain can somehow stay away, then we might end up seeing this race stay on the turf. Based on the forecast, it is going to be somewhere around good to yielding, but you never know this time of year. Speaking of “coupled” entries, trainer Chad Brown has a formidable duo entered. Talk about dynamic … Value Engineering #1 and Perjury Trap #1A are stayers, and they can roll late in the game. They get Javier Castellano, and Irad Ortiz, respectively, so you can bet that the red-lettered “KS” will be near the wire towards the end of this one. The one issue I have with Castellano’s mount is that this 5-yr-old missed last time out in an OC80k at Saratoga. He probably should have won, so I am not that confident in this son of Lemon Drop Kid, truth be told.

Let’s use these 2 in some horizontal wagers, but I actually prefer Brad Cox’s Kinenos #6 with Jose Lezcano in the saddle. This runner is a Belmont specialist, and tried to go up the latter in the last form cycle starting back in April. Out of Empire Maker, he won nicely off a break, but then had difficulty in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2), and a “Non-G” 150k try. That last race was against Clement’s Gufo, and I do not think anyone was really going to best him that day. One other I am interested in … is Todd Pletcher’s Farmington Road #5. Remember this colt from the “shortened” Belmont Stakes (G1) in 2020? The son of Quality Road was overmatched in that contest, but ably switched to the grass in the subsequent race at Colonial Downs … finishing with a neck win. Pletcher has this one ready from the long layoff, and Luis Saez does an excellent job in spots like these. I like him “for the win!”

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Trifecta Cold, 5/6/1-1A

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Enjoy the day at beautiful Belmont! Best of Luck on another run at their Fall Meet!