Monmouth Park Picks & Analysis for June 26
Saturday's card at Monmouth Park includes a robust slate of 12 races that offer some excellent betting opportunities. As usual, our turf-man has you covered, including a "spotlight" of the "feature" of the day. Check it out!
If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country on Saturday, be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below.
Most Likely Winner: (Race 10: Antigravity #7, 3/1):
The training career of Jerry Hollendorfer continues to be quite the saga. His stable is not quite the size that it once was, but he has found ways to economize and make due. I suppose that classifies him as a survivor, and that is what it takes in this business, especially when your whole livelihood is compromised. He brings a stout runner into this OC16k event at Monmouth. A colt out of First Samurai, he should have little trouble raising his game on the class rise from the MSW range. I like the Paco Lopez symmetry, as this accomplished rider hops aboard again. Hollendorfer deserves a fresh start, and I would like to see him return to the glory of days past. Who doesn’t like a comeback story?
Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #7
Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 2: Noon Time Gem #4, 10/1):
If you want a play with a top jock at Monmouth who will be riding a long shot, then look no further than this potentially giant-priced double-digit boxcar. A New Jersey bred, Rory Hutson’s runner may not look like much, but the gelding of 5-yrs-old is a Monmouth warrior … through and through. Even with only 3 lifetime wins, his earnings are not terrible, with a tab exceeding $144k. He could use a win, and maybe this sprint is the place to do it, as I see this race full of tepid favorites. Nik Juarez is riding well, and he has the ability to take over a race with his aggressive style. Don’t sleep on this one … a creative wager could bring some cash to your pocket. Think bigger … here it is …
Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #4 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)
Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 5: Turf, 1 1/16th, Boiling Springs S. $75k, 3F):
Here is a “Non-G” event on this Monmouth card that will have to serve as the Saturday “Feature.” In the recent past, trainer Chad Brown has used these types of events to trot out new runners that are untested on American soil. It is a good plan. He ships them in, his entries get a race under their saddles against some paltry competition, and he uses the experience as a springboard for bigger and better possibilities.
In this spot, Brown has Shantisara #3 headed to the post after she ran on the AW in France at a track most bettors probably have never heard of called Cagnes-Sur-Mer (FR). Those efforts were “ok,” but clearly Madaket thinks otherwise, seeing potential. They do not invest willy-nilly, so this could be a “ringer” … we shall see as Nik Juarez rides. His Meet is going well, despite the lack of a riding crop, and all the jockey insurance mumbo-jumbo going on.
Other players who could test this potential favorite, include Christophe Clement’s Ravir #4 who is owned by Green Lantern Stables, and Jimmy Toner’s Seasons #5 who is out of LNJ Foxwoods and Phillips Racing. The former is a class climber who was at Tampa shining up his shoes in MSW Co., while the latter is dropping down from a 2nd place finish in the Hilltop100k @PIM. Interesting … one is going one way, and the other, is going the other way, when it comes to class …
Clearly, Toner’s runner, who gets Paco Lopez, has the inside track based on her limited resume dating back to last year, but still … this is going to be a dogfight. Who wins? Check my pick list above to find out …
Wagering Recommendation: $2 Trifecta Box, 3/4/5
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Enjoy a Saturday by the Shore! Best of Luck on another run at Monmouth!