Belmont Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 7/9/21
Starting at 1:00 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Belmont Park. Using our numberFire projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing.
As always, keep an eye out for scratches and changes and monitor the weather and track conditions. It's raining and will likely be a sloppy track.
(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).
Star Command, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1
The final weekend of racing has arrived at Belmont until the NYRA continues its schedule next week with the start of the Saratoga meet. Race 3 is an Allowance race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. The numberFire data projects the favorite Love And Thunder (1/1) to finish second behind Made In Italy (5/2) for EPO trainer Chad Brown.
Leading jockey Jose Ortiz rides Love and Thunder, and he’s two wins behind brother Irad for the lead at the meet. Love and Thunder is money despite failing to win in her last two races when coming to the U.S. and finishing second both times.
Made In Italy cuts back in distance and makes her second U.S. start after finishing third a month ago.
Star Command (3/1) broke her maiden last month off a layoff and recorded the fastest race of her career. She showed stronger late speed and can move along better up front as her improvement continues off a pair of solid morning works. Strong stretch rider Joel Rosario gets the call with Ortiz electing to ride the favorite.
Price Talk and Microsecond, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 4/1
Race 6 is an Allowance race at 1-mile on the turf. Watch the weather, but should the race remain on the grass then the outside horse Dreams of Tomorrow (9/5) is the one to beat. However, the numberFire algorithm projects Microsecond (4/1) and Price Talk (2/1) to decide the race.
Dreams of Tomorrow dominated in his win last race and was third in a stakes race at Pimlico prior.
Microsecond has won twice in his last five starts and also finished second by a nose two races back. His last start was a dud, as he had to check and never responded. But trainer Todd Pletcher has him breezing in the morning for a better try racing on or near the lead.
Price Talk is part of an entry with Principled Stand. Price Talk won here last fall but failed to fire when struck in traffic as the favorite last month going an eighth mile further. He’s a capable son of Kitten’s Joy, who can challenge the prohibitive favorite with a better trip and pace.
Zerenia and Freddymo Factor, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 5/1
Race 9 is a Claiming race at 1 mile on the turf. The outside horses in gates 11, 10 and 9 are contenders, and Kubie Snacks (7/2) broke his maiden last month with an off-the-pace run and good late move. But check the track for scratches. The numberFire data likes Giggle Factory (6/1) and Freddymo Factor (5/1).
Freddymo Factor ran three straight solid races earlier this year at Gulfstream and finished second each time. He had a clunker in Belmont at the end of May, but he’ll be racing along the lead looking to bounce back to his previous speed this spring.
Giggle Factory won here last fall but was not a factor last race off a layoff. Top jockey Luis Saez had left this mount to ride Zerenia (5/1), who won here last fall and finished a close fourth as the favorite last month in a sprint with a better speed figure. A value play at current morning line odds.
