Horse Racing Picks - The $100,000 Athenia Stakes from Belmont Park
Padding Your Bankroll: Wednesday October 21
The weekend rains in New York washed out the stakes, and both were postponed and show up today and tomorrow, giving us some midweek stakes action for the racebook.
Today at Belmont Park, it is the $100,000 Athenia Stakes (G3), originally scheduled for last Saturday. The race drew a field of seven including the 6/5 morning line favorite Bella Allure, who sure has the look of an underlay to me.
Sunday’s $100,000 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3) was rescheduled for tomorrow, drawing a field of seven plus a pair of main track only entrants.
The imposing 9/5 morning line favorite is Proudinsky, a multiple graded stakes winner from the barn of Bobby Frankel, who has been on a roll of late.
Our play of the day for Wednesday is the Athenia, and we will head out to Keeneland for today’s Pick 3 play, a $24 investment starting in the seventh race on the nine race card.
Today's Play of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Athenia S. G3 (4:38 ET)
#6 Cable 6/1
#5 Namaste's Wish 4/1
#4 Belle Allure 6/5
#7 Kristi With a K 5/1
Analysis: #6 Cable tries stakes company for the first time here off a fourth place finish versus Alw-2 foes off a three-month break. The Dynafomer filly makes just her fourth start this year and earned solid numbers in a second and a third at the Alw-2 level. The filly is a half to Exchange Rate ($479K), still looks like she has a ton of upside and this is not a real deep field considering it is a Grade 3.
#5 Namaste's Wish beat Alw-3 optional claimers in a game win by a neck. Two back she came up a neck shy behind Quiet Harbor, who came back to win the Violet (G3) in her next outing on Oct. 10 at the Big M. She is a half to Purge ($905K).
#4 Bella Allure is going to be a light price in here despite coming up short in a restricted stake at the Spa last out. She looks tough in this spot but we cannot get too excited about backing her at close to even money.
Wagering Tips
WIN: #6 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 4,5,6,7
TRI: 5,6 / 4,5,6,7 / 3,4,5,6,7
Today’s Pick 3 Play from Keeneland:
Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,3 / 1,2,9 / 3,9,10,12 = $24
KEE Race 7 Alw $54,000N2X (4:11 ET)
#1 Cliffy's Future, #3 Sr. Henry
#1 Cliffy's Future made a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out at Arlington behind a runner that got loose turning for home. He rebounded nicely after getting outrun two and three back in Grade 1 company. The gelding won the Rushaway over poly back in March at Turfway. He makes his third start of his current form cycle and he does not need to move forward much off his last effort to get the job done in this spot.
#3 Sr. Henry is making his first start since February where the gelding went gate to wire to beat Alw-1 foes at Gulfstream Park. The gelding has popped a couple of quick works over the surface here for his first start on the surface. The McPeek barn is 22% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff.
KEE Race 8 Alw $54,000N2X (4:42 ET)
#1 Silver Mountain, #2 Laureate Conductor, #9 Thabazimbi
#1 Silver Mountain is coming off a third place finish in the Ky Cup Turf (G3) over good ground at today's marathon distance. I liked his effort two back a bit more, a third place finish in the restricted Johns Call at the Spa. He caught some traffic while down along the inside on the far turn and finished well when angled to the outside for the stretch drive. He is in good hands with the Proctor barn that is 3 for 10 at the meet and this guy seems like a bargain, purchased for just $2,700 back in '06.
#2 Laureate Conductor is a stakes winner at nine furlongs and will be trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time here. He was off poorly last out in the Kent (G3), made a middle move and faded in the stretch to finish fifth. He gets some class relief here, but not sure pedigree wise whether this guy can get the added ground.
KEE Race 9 Clm $20,000 (5:13 ET)
#10 Monty Cat, #3 Newport, #9 Linebacker, #12 Prince Teton
#10 Monty Cat returns to the fake stuff after a eighth place finish on turf versus Alw-1 optional claimers. It was his first start off the claim by the Bennett barn, who took him from Catalano. The colt won his first two career starts, both on poly at Arlington. Shippers from AP have fared very well here so far and this guy should bounce back with a better effort here facing a easier group dropping in for a $20K tag.
#3 Newport was not a threat last out at Ky Downs against Alw-1 foes and drops back in for a tag. It is tough to get a read on this guy as he broke his maiden in the slop and has not raced on poly in his career. He broke his maiden going seven furlongs on the turf three back at Belmont Park. If he runs back to that number on poly that should be good enough to put him in the hunt here for the Pletcher barn.
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.
R2: #1 Cuvee’s Girl 12/1
R2: #2 Cottage Industry 30/1
R3: #5 Beresford 10/1
R4: #4 Tickle Monster 12/1
R9: #4 Masterofthehouse 8/1
Good luck padding your bankroll today!
