Ricky’s Rockets ?: Belmont Park Picks for June 13, 2020

Another Saturday at Belmont Park means another great card. The feature is the Ogden Phipps Stakes(G1), highlighted by Ollie’s Candy. The 5-year-old by Candy Ride will look to return to the winners’ circle for the first time since the Clement Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar last summer. Will she run away from this field, or will another runner have something to say about it?

Looking at the Early Pick 5, there is a must-use in race 3 that I am singling.

Best of luck!

Race 1: $40k Maiden Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the inner turf

#5 Catch That Party gets Javier Castellano aboard for his debut, which is a good sign: he’s 2 of 7 mounts for Carlos Martin in the last 365 days. #8 Dawn’s Early Light changes to turf for the first time after showing speed in his recent efforts. That form should translate well here and his previous efforts look good enough to beat this relatively weak group.

Race 2: $25k Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the outer turf

#1 Catch a Cab fits perfectly here, finishing second or third in his past 4 starts at this level. He makes his first start as a 6-year-old for new trainer Mike Maker and gets Joel Rosario aboard. He is coupled with #1A Shadow Rider, but that horse is a Main Track Only entry. #2 Zinger will need to perform better than what he has done recently, but he owns 2 wins at the distance and has finished on the board in 6 of his 14 starts. I’m curious how he will do returning from the long layoff.

Race 3: Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

#1 Primacy‘s 2/5 morning line is an incredibly short price to eat, and I will not be the only one that singles her, but this is a one-horse race on paper and it should play out that way on the track as well. 

Race 4: $40k Maiden Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the inner turf

This race is wide open because many of the runners don’t have turf experience. I went five-deep in this spot, but #5 Long Island City is an intriguing price play. He showed speed while going 6 furlongs on the dirt in his debut and that speed may be enough to get away from the rest of this group. Look for Kendrick Carmouche to be his usual aggressive self early on. Other runners I am using are #4 Fluent in Sarcasm, #7 Money in the Bank, #9 Go Rudy Go, and #12 Lord Camden.

Race 5: $40k Optional Claiming for New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt

By far the toughest in the sequence, this race could play out in a multitude of ways. My top pick #2 Pipes makes his return from a long layoff at a track where he owns 2 wins in 3 efforts. Rudy Rodriguez’s barn has started meet well (21-3-3-1 record) and Junior Alvarado has strung together several quality rides under the radar. Other runners I am using are #3 Hit It Once More, #4 Sea Foam, #7 Twisted Tom, and #8 Playwright.

THE TICKET

$.50 PICK 5 (Races 1-5) 5,8,12 / 1,2,7 / 1 / 4,5,7,9,12 / 2,3,4,7,8 – $112.50