Racing starts in New York at 11:35 Eastern time, so go early if you want to make the thrid race.
It's a maiden race in which you have a triple whammy entrant. Trained by Zito, he raced at Keeneland, and he is a grandson of Star de Naskra. Allof these combine to figure on improved performance. WOODFORD MANHATTAN is likely to be about 15-1, coming off a poor showing on turf at Belmont. He ran second at Keeneland before that, and to be brutally honest, the best run at Keeneland.
His two main rivals are McGaughey's BIMINI and a 4 year old EMPIRIOR. Figure on you superfecta or tris to use these runners in about this order 6-8-4-12, with outside chances for the 2, 10, 7, 11, and 9.
3rd Belmont;
6 WOODFORD MANHATTAN 15-1
8 BIMINI 8-1
4 EMPIRIOR 8-1
12 FRENCHONIONSOUP 10-1
Belmont's 8th race is the Grade Woody Stephens, a mile for 3 year olds. Shug has a runner in here, but he looks like a long shot compared to some outstanding runners. REGAL RANSOM should be a 4-5 heavy favorite, with the class, and having great sprint breeding. He is the grandson of Forty Niner, who specializes in sprinters. And the most dangerous entrant is last year's 10th place finisher in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, MUNNINGS who sshould be second choice around 5-2.
8th Race Belmont picks:
3 GONE ASTRAY 20-1-Shug worth a stab on improving runner, but only at a price
4 MUNNINGS 5-2 Only needs slight imrovement off 2 year old form. The logical pick
1. REGAL RANSOM 4-5 the danger being a post time scratch leaves you with low odds on a weak stablemate. I get burnde on this every time, so I won't play them. Use caution. If you win with him, you're super lucky, because of the post time scratch problem.
Pick your own superfecta filler. THIS ONES FOR PHIL is the logical choice, but he seems to be a problem horse.
And since you can't talk about horse races with talking about Kentucky, and vice versa, since the mental image of a Kentuckian is a guy with a racing form folded in his back pocket, we move to Churchill.
The first race is cut and dry with 4 contenders to box.
5 HILLY M 5-2 had times at Indy, which is underrated, to win this
6 FIRST AND AWAY 6-1 is the sleeper, sporting a June win last year at 11-1 odds, so this is his time of year
1 THIS WAY HOME 8-5 is a deserving favorite with 9 wins.
4 PRETTY SIMPLE 8-1 gets consideration for being trained by Harlage, but must improve.
Superfectas: just box 1-3-4-6 and take the 5,6 with 1,5,6 with All with All
Churchill's 3rd race gets upcoming trainer Dawn Martin in a tough spot. MAKUTUS will be a long shot off a few bad races, and needs to run back to prior form to take this. This isn't a tough field, however. Multiple race winner CHARLIE V will be about even money, and Foley's Q MAC'S PHONE is the ain rival. Foley generally doesn't run good races back to back, but this one hasn't run since November, when he ran 5th.
Superfectas 3,4,7 with 3,4,7 with 1,2,3,4,7 with 1,2,3,4,7: then 3,4,7 with 3,4,7 with 3,4,7 with All
4 CHARLIE V 6-5 multiple race winner deserves favorite role
7 MAKULUS 15-1 good trainer, but this is a project. Would need a price.
3 Q MAC'S PHONE 3-1 solid contender, probably takes it if Charlie misfires
Finally, Churchill's 7th race looks like one to run true to form. Veteran star trainer John Churchman has STORM SIGHT knocking on the door, and has moves that take this, but there is a danger that he has been running longer races and it is hard to cut back in distancve. 3 year old MIDTWON BULLET is the obvious favorite here, but it'll be close with Storm Sight.
Superfectas Box 1-5-6-7: then 1,5 with 1-5 with All with All, then 1-5-6 with 1-5-6 with 1-5-6 with All. Finally 1 with 5-6-7 with All with All
1 STORM SIGHT 5-2 wins this on paper, especially if the 3 year old hasn't improved
5 MIDTOWN BULLET 2-1 must duplicate 2 year olf form, and needs little improvement.
6 CHARLIE'S THUNDER is a grandson of Forty Niner, who loves dirt tracks, particularly Churchill.
7 NICKEL PICKLE 4-1 is at this level, and Pincins is super hot at Churchill with 3 wins and a third in only 5 starts!
Remember to take those overlays
Keywords: Churchill and Belmont; spot plays for winning money on Belmont day
