Belmont Park Picks: Big Apple Showcase on Memorial Day

It is one of 3 Big Apple Showcase days on the calendar, as we celebrate New York's breeding prospects ... Beautiful Belmont Park in Elmont, New York is the site to be on this Memorial Day! They are heading towards the end of the Triple Crown Trail in early June. Now that the Preakness Stakes is over, it is time to point in less than 3 weeks to the Belmont Stakes ... NYRA's big day! What a card that is going to be ...

From Opening Day through the Belmont Stakes Program, and into July, it is going to be another great set of races ... so, enjoy! Today, 10 handicapping contests on tap, with 4 "Non-G" stakes that will serve as the "feature." So be ready!

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Monday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 6: Maiden Beauty #2, 9/2):

There is no question that both Bank Sting #4 and Make Mischief #7 are going to be 1-2 on the tote come Monday, but I still like the Falcone Barn’s mare by Revolutionary. A 6-yr-old, she has 37 lifetime starts to her credit, and the number is still pointing upwards. She has not raced since the AQU Meet in April, but I think the rest will do her some good. Regular rider Kendrick Carmouche is in the irons once again. If she can break well from that inside post, then she might have a chance to control the fractions. There is definitely some speed drawn-in here … so we will see how it all shakes out.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #2

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 8: Hot Rod Rumble #8, 6/1):

The “stocked” Belmont card on Memorial Day has some superb betting options. None looks better than this Steve Asmussen-trained gelding by Midnight Storm. The HOF conditioner once again pairs with Joel Rosario, and I like their chances. Owned by Rockingham Ranch, the 3-yr-old has all the momentum going right now. He won against maiden company at Aqueduct, and then followed that up with a score against state bred ALLW-types. His best asset is clearly frontend ability, and if he can get to the lead, then that could prove an effective tactic. Rosario has a knack for situations like these, and I am hoping that his mount’s odds can hover somewhere around 6/1.  

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #8 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 9: Turf, 1 1/16th, Kingston S. $125k, 4+):

One of a quad of “Non-G” races on Memorial Day … I am keen to bet this one! We will head to the Inner Turf at Belmont Park, and it promises to be a good match. A pair of uncoupled Mike Maker runners will be headed to the post, and I am sure that Jose Ortiz’s mount will take money. Somelikeitbrown #7 has more than just a bit of form, especially since ’20, he has matched up against the likes of Raging Bull, Largent, In Love, and Pixelate. I am going to try and beat him, and in actuality, I like his stablemate, Cross Border #5, even more than him. CB is a classic Maker-type … super-talented, but not always that consistent. The ridgling by English Channel has his own back class. He just needs the right kind of trip during the latter 1/3 of any given race. If he gets shuffled too far back, then he has virtually no chance to make up that much ground. What is particularly interesting about his presence at Belmont is he normally takes on much deeper routes. It will be interesting to see how the aggressive riding of Luis Saez plays a factor. Using both of these runners seems like a plan, but I also want to include in some way the colt by War Dancer, trained by the venerable Barclay Tagg. Step Dancer #8 is another entry that is cutting back when it comes to distance. The last time we saw him was here at Belmont in the $1 million Jockey Club Invite S. last September. With Dylan Davis, plus a lengthy layoff, it will be intriguing to see what kind of price he will be before this one goes off. Davis continues to ride with a ton of confidence on either surface, so I would not count him out. Here is the wager that I particularly fancy … and yes, I am leaving out both of the Clement runners …

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Exacta Wheel, 5 w 7/8

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enjoy the day at beautiful Belmont! Best of luck on another run at their Spring/Summer Meet!