Card at Belmont Park Offers More Wagering Opportunities

Things appear more promising at Belmont Park on Thursday afternoon after rains made the main track muddy and knocked three races off the turf yesterday.

The conditions led to 26 late scratched, decimating the card, leading to an abundance of small fields.

The weather is on the improve, and today’s card at Belmont Park offers bettors more wagering opportunities than we saw yesterday.

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The play of the day is a $25,000 maiden claiming race in which it appears we can beat the favorite, then the Late Pick 3 starts in the following race.

While the three-race sequence may start chalky with morning betting line favorite Tempest Storm in the opening leg, we have three longshots in the final two legs that can certainly juice up the payoff.

Today’s Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 6 Md $25,000 (3:40 ET)

#6 Lemon Tiger 7/2
#4 Crystal Galopoff 10/1
#5 No Imagination 5/1
#3 Sundae’s a Meese 3/1

Analysis: #6 Lemon Tiger broke poorly and was not a threat in her debut over ground labeled as good against state bred maiden special weight company.

The filly took some play at the windows, set off at 3/1 in a field of 10. She drops in for a tag and figures to move forward off her debut if she breaks better.

She has a decent enough turf pedigree, by Hold That Tiger out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare, her first foal to race.

#4 Crystal Galopoff dueled for the early lead and faded to finish ninth last out for a $35K tag. She finally broke well, having gotten off poorly in her first three starts.

Two back she was a decent fourth and was only beaten 2 3/4 lengths for the top spot.

She gets in light here with the bug Serpa and her 10/1 ML makes her worth a look here.

Horse Wagering

WIN: #6 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 3,4,5,6
TRI: 4,6 / 3,4,5,6 / 3,4,5,6,8

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Belmont Park:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 3,8 / 1,3,8,9 / 3,6,8 = $24

BEL Race 7 Alw $16,000s (4:12 ET)

#8 Tempest Storm, #3 Linnea

#8 Tempest Storm dueled for the early lead and faded to finish seventh last out against Alw-1 foes. The mare catches an easier spot here facing starter allowance types and has won 3 of 6 over the turf here. A couple of quick works are on the morning tab since her last start and the Domino barn has been sending out live runners at the meet.

#3 Linnea is another Penn shipper, this one trained by Todd Beattie, and she is entered at Penn. She came off a seven week break with a sharp win last out at Philly against starter allowance company. She has won 5 of 7 on turf in her career and Ramon takes the call for the sharp outfit, which would seem to indicate they are making the trip with this filly.

BEL Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (4:45 ET)

#1 Extra Zip, #3 Gold Vendetta, #9 Mor Chances, #8 Hot Money

#1 Extra Zip had a solid year in ’09, winning five of his eight starts and bankrolling moiré than $150,000.

His two starts this year have not been pretty, beaten a combined 38 lengths in two routes on the turf. He cuts back to seven furlongs here and picks up Desormeaux.

The gelding did win at this distance and level last May, and that was off a nine-month layoff.

He is a four-time winner over the turf here and the cut back for his third start off the bench could wake him up. He draws the rail and has enough tactical speed that the jock should get him a good spot early.

#3 Gold Vendetta made a good late rally and was caught in traffic at the quarterpole last out, showing good interest late to finish third, beaten 1 ½ lengths for the top spot at this level.

Two back at today’s level he was a dozen lengths back and rallied strongly to finish a close up third, beaten just a half length for the top spot. He gets the extra furlong today with a jock upgrade to CVel.

#9 Mor Chances won at this level last out for his third turf win in eight tries. The Dutrow barn claimed this guy from Rice and proceeded to win four straight stakes on dirt.

He is a better dirt horse and the price is going to be on the light side, so we will try to beat the likely favorite for the top spot while still using him underneath in the exotics.

BEL Race 9 Md $40,000 (5:17 ET)

#3 Sea of Liquidity, #6 Luna Pegasus, #8 Ghosts and Legends

#3 Sea of Liquidity drops back in for a tag after a fifth place finish last out at Monmouth Park in a key race that produced four next out winners. The gelding showed plenty of promise with a runner up finish in his first two starts.

The cut back to one turn along the class drop should get this guy home first here for a sharp barn.

#6 Luna Pegasus was not a threat in his debut, which came on the turf versus maiden special weight company. He was dead on the tote and returns here with the seven-pound bug aboard.

He is in good hands with the Ice barn and drops into an easier spot here while trying dirt. He figures to be a decent price here.

Price Plays From Belmont Park:

These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers.

One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

R1: #1 Echt 10/1
R4: #2 Richie Rules 12/1
R4: #5 Love of Life 10/1
R5: #1 Unbridled Heat 10/1
R6: #4 Crystal Galopdoff 10/1
R8: #1 Extra Zip 12/1
R9: #6 Luna Pegasus 8/1
R9: #8 Ghosts and Legends 12/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!