HORSE RACING

Belmont Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 6/26/20

With most of the sports world on pause, it's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 1:15 p.m. EST, we have 9 races at Belmont Park. Using our numberFire projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, keep an eye out for scratches and changes, and check the weather and track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions.)

Good Governance, Race 3

FD Odds: 3/5

There's no money to be made on the horse to win as Governance (3/5) will break from the rail and should dominate this Allowance field, which is going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. His implied odds to win at FanDuel Racing are ridiculous at 63% as he makes just the third start of his career as a 4-year-old. Off a long 10-month layoff, his speed figures are best, having run to a 101 rating last summer at Saratoga in a Grade 3 stakes race.

A high-dollar overseas purchase, Good Governance is a son of fantastic turf sire Kingman. The combination of EPO trainer Chad Brown and leading Belmont rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. makes for an easy winner on the best horse to start your Pick 3.

Family Biz (3/1) is the second choice at numberFire, winning his last start in March in Claiming ranks from off the pace with a solid 97 speed figure.

Good Governance stablemate High Amplitude is a main-track-only entrant and will run only if this race is taken off the turf, which won’t happen as the weather looks fine in the 80s and very small chance of rain.

Worth a Shot, Race 7

FD Odds: and 5/1

Race 7 drew nine state-bred runners going 1 1/16 miles on the Inner Turf. The aptly named Worth a Shot (5/1) is not running for a tag in this Allowance Optional Claimer. Rider Jose Lezcano has won just four of 58 starts at the Belmont meet, but he should press the pace while looking for a third straight win for Worth a Shot in his 2020 debut. His speed figure of 98 in his last race at this level and consistent work tab suggest a good effort off the bench.

The top pick of numberFire is Rinaldi (3/1) with Luis Saez riding from the outside No. 9 post followed by Doups Point (7/2) and strong stretch rider Joel Rosario. Rinaldi last raced 10 months ago. He broke his maiden one year ago at Belmont, going seven furlongs on the turf, and then won another minor state stakes race by margin the following month at Saratoga, posting a 94 speed figure in both races.

Twisted Tom (5/2) was the unworthy favorite with no turf form but has been scratched as a main-track only entrant. Same for Forever Wicked (6/1).

Hayezhee and Kefaliani, Race 9

FD Odds: 6/1 and 9/2

The nightcap drew a full field of 14 runners for this state-bred 6 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares. We’ll try a little price with Steve Asmussen-trained Hayezhee (6/1). She finished third in her last race in February at a more competitive price running at a higher $40k Maiden Claiming tag.

The far outside mare Crick (6/1) from the No. 14 post is the top pick at numbeFire. She had two straight runner-up finishes last fall and now makes her 2020 debut and is the only horse running in this race without a $25k tag. However, the post position and her career-best 68 speed figure in seven starts is a concern.

In this competitive field, FanDuel Racing gives the favorite Mopolka (7/2) an implied 22% chance to win followed by Kefaliani (9/2) at 18%. Mopolka just raced June 11 and finished 4th at this level on the turf. Trainer Carlos Martin brings her right back on dirt in her third career start.

Kefaliani can save ground breaking from the rail, and this closer comes off a layoff since January but ran her fastest race and a better speed figure than others in here.