7/18: Belmont Park (Closing Day-$53k C/O)

[Kasept]

Belmont Spring/Summer comes to a close today, and a mandatory payout carryover of $52,800 accompanies the annual pack up to Saratoga. Arrived back in New York last night after the annual pre-Spa stint in So. FL, and am increasingly excited about Friday's Opening Day upstate. Fields will be drawn Tuesday for the first of 40 days at Union Avenue, and the traditional Open House Sunday this afternoon will feature 4 non-wagering National Steeplechase Association jump races and one exhibition flat race on the grass.

Everything points to a good meet at the Old Spa, despite a weak ending to the session downstate. The last 30+ days at Belmont have been difficult, with a low quality brand of racing dominating the cards. The upside at Saratoga is the influx of Kentucky horsemen that have been biding their time since the end of the Churchill Downs meet, as well as an assortment of other ship-in outfits poised to fill the entry box. Dale Romans, David Carroll, Neil Howard, Bob Baffert, Tom Proctor, Eoin Harty, Al Stall, Carl Nafzger/Ian Wilkes and more should provide the much needed boost P.J. Campo needs to add variety and depth to Saratoga 2010.

'At the Races' coverage of Saratoga will feature a combination of morning and afternoon broadcasts on SiriusXM and streaming on the internet, and the schedule will be finalized later this week!


BELMONT PARK


CLOSING DAY -- $53k C/O MANDATORY PAY


POST-SCRATCHES


5th: CLM, 3+, 7f-T (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #8 Regal Prince 2-1
Best Value: #3 Straight Romance 5-1
Next Best: #4 Prince Woodman 4-1
Super Add: #5 Berning Blaze 8-1


6th: NY-CLM/N2L, 3+, 6f (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Smokin Conrad 6-5
Next Best: #9 Fairway Tom 2-1
Best Value: #4 Call the General 12-1
Super Add: #1 Mind Boggling 6-1


7th: MDN CLM, 3+, 7f-T (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Beijing Blues 3-1
Best Value: #6 Military Star 6-1
Next Best: #1 Supreme Serene 5-2
Super Add: #9 Adirondack Dew 5-1


8th: NY-ALW/N1x, F&M-3+, 6f-IT (DD, Super)

Very competitive feature with all but impossible Wine Bar and Sky Fever within a length or so of each other, (including the ML favorite who would be more appropriately 5-2 instead of 8-5). Playing against Violette favorite and suggest spreading as wide as you can..

Best Value: #8 Rosie's Run 10-1
Most Likely: #2 Pretty Cozzy 3-1
Exotics Use: #4 High Cry 4-1
Super Add: #7 Holy Blitzer 8-1


9th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (DD, Super)

Turner favorite Chick in Slacks has disappointed me twice in a row in starter company, but returns to level she technically cleared when gaining diploma..

Most Likely: #4 Chick in Slacks 5-2
Next Best: #7 Australis Princess 3-1
Exotics Use: #6 Playa Bonita 7-2
Super Add: #9 My Sweet Emily 12-1


10th: NY-MDN CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (Super)

Most Likely: #5 Satin Jet 5-2
Best Value: #2 Mardi Belle 5-1
Next Best: #4 Hit the Note 4-1
Super Add: #3 Cantstoplovingsue 4-1


<$200 P6 Play:

5: 3-8
6: 7-9
7: 4-6
8: 2-6-7-8-9
9: 4
10: 2-5

2x2x2x5x1x2 = 80 x $2 = $160


<$50 P4 Play:

7: 4-6
8: 2-6-7-8-9
9: 4
10: 1-2-3-4-5

2x5x1x5 = $50


Good luck!
Steve

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Steve, are you going to be at the open house today?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

Steve, are you going to be at the open house today?

Going over later this morning. Not sure how long I'm staying. Have been gone three weeks and have a ton to take of to get organized for this week.

[the_fat_man]

What an UNEVENTFUL (even downright PITIFUL) meet. Once upon a time, BEL was the premier spring/early summer and fall meet. How quickly things change. Now, NYRA is left only with SAR.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

What an UNEVENTFUL (even downright PITIFUL) meet. Once upon a time, BEL was the premier spring/early summer and fall meet. How quickly things change. Now, NYRA is left only with SAR.

Where was the better meet?

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

Where was the better meet?

WO has had a better meet.

But the point is not to find a single track that offers a better meet, as racing, presently, is about playing multiple tracks and finding advantages. The point is that BEL once was THE track for this time of the year. It offered the best TURF racing and the best overall racing. No longer the case. Now it's more about 'wait till SAR and we'll show you'.

[Kasept]

BEL SCR/CHG'S

No major changes but a couple of intriguing notes to consider including returnee Peat Bay adding blinkers and Military Star getting the alum pad OFF in the 7th...

#1a Hookedon Karakorum is the side of the entry that runs, and looked the more capable of the two...