Post Preakness Racing - Horse Picks from Belmont

Padding Your Bankroll: Wednesday May 20

The Belmont Stakes on June 6. Racing in New York should be on the steady improve over the next couple of weeks.

As long as the weather holds, we should see large fields in most of the turf events as well as plenty of stakes action.

The Late Pick 3 play could pay generously, as it looks quite possible for us to beat all three morning line favorites in the three-race sequence with our modest $24 ticket.

Today's Play of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 7 Alw $46,000N1X (4:12 et)

#6 Strike Again, #9 Le Grand Cru, #4 Nemo Landing

#6 Strike Again dueled for the early lead and weakened in the stretch to finish fifth last out at Keeneland. The colt exits a highly graded race, three runners coming out of the race to win next out. The colt was a good second two back in his first go against winners after breaking his maiden in his debut going a mile. The Mott colt is out of the stakes winner Strike It Up ($201K) who did her best work routing on the main track. She has produced  one other turf winner, stakes winner Euphony ($287K). The colt looks like he has a bright future on turf and his 6/1 ML looks more than fair.

#9 Le Grand Cru tries turf for the first time while adding lasix to the mix here. The colt looks capable of handling the grass. He is by Dynaformer out of a El Gran Senor mare that has dropped four winners, one turf winner. The colt finished second in his first three tries against winners and has plenty of pedigree to handle his first trip going past seven furlongs.

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

#2 Jasmine Gardens, #3 Flying Dixie

#2 Jasmine Gardens was off a step slow, then went up to duel for the early lead, unable to go with the winner late in a runner up finish at Gulfstream Park. The filly was coming off nearly a four month break last out and figures to be tighter here. The Albertrani barn has been live throughout '09, hitting at a 25% clip and has won with 3 of 11 starters here so far at the meet. The filly has done her best running coming from off the pace and I don't expect to see her near the lead in this spot.

#3 Flying Dixie stalked the early pace from the outside after having to break from the outside and was in the mix until just inside the final furlong where she weakened to finish fourth. She passed her first allowance condition going seven furlongs and she may appreciate the cut back to one turn here.

BEL Race 9 Clm $35,000N2L (5:17 et)

#8 Ballymoy, #2 Snuckinandsnuckout, #3 Chinese Whisper, #9 Marl

#8 Ballymoy drops in for a tag here after a couple of eighth place finishes versus tougher in Florida. Two back off the bench the colt dueled for the early lead and faded to finish eighth against Alw-1 company. The winner and third place finisher came out of the race to win next out. Last out the colt regressed, a non factor in a dull effort. Catches a softer spot here and may be primed for a better effort here in his third start off the bench.