Belmont at Aqueduct Picks:
There will be a lot of eyes on Parx today with their marquee day of the year which includes five stakes races and champions Thorpedo Anna and Nest! We are going to focus on Belmont at Aqueduct, where I have been hot the last couple weeks!
Noble Damsel Stakes, Belmont at Aqueduct, Race #8
Like many of these New York stakes, there is not a bunch of speed signed on today, so let’s go with #1 Ocean Club on top. She is coming out of three straight graded stakes efforts, where she ran well each time. Her early foot will help her here, but she is not the type that needs the lead to win. The additional distance should help her today, and the rail will provide an ideal trip to either go to the lead or sit a very good pocket trip.
#6 Breath Away jumps into graded stakes company for the first time off a nice win last time out. She has been getting better with each start this season and should continue to improve today. She is at her preferred distance today which should help and the 8-1 price is enticing.
#9 Midnight Mile is one of two Chad Brown entries in the race and the horse I expect to make the lead. She’s jumping up in class, but the fact Brown sees fit to run her here is a positive sign.
#2 Five Towns is the biggest wildcard today. She improved nicely first time off the bench. If she can improve off that effort than she is very dangerous.
Belmont at Aqueduct Picks: 1-6-9-2
Bets: $50 Win #1
$81k N1X Allowance, Belmont at Aqueduct, Race #11
#7 Courtly Banker has had an interesting start to his career. The connections ran him three times in stakes company before he broke his maiden. He did that last time out over the Saratoga turf in a stakes race by staking and taking control late. I expect a very similar trip today against worse competition.
#3 Fake Celebrity improved nicely to win this time last year over the BAQ turf. He returns off the long layoff and should improve for the Brown barn. He has shown that he can be forwardly placed or close so you have to like the versatility.
#2 B D Saints is back in a spot where he projects to get the lead on turf. That is exactly what he did to win his maiden. Know him early and hope he sticks around late at a 12-1 price.
#4 Rabaja draws a much better post today, but at a much worse price. His maiden breaking score is good enough versus this field and was over this track, but he most likely needs to front to win. I like him underneath more than on top.
Belmont at Aqueduct Picks: 7-3-2-4
Bets: $50 Win #7
Spot Plays:
Belmont at Aqueduct Race #6 – $50 Win #7
Belmont at Aqueduct Race #10 – $50 Win #12
