Ricky’s Rockets ?: Belmont Park Picks for June 11, 2020

Racing at Belmont Park is back for another exciting week! The Early Pick 5 sequence was highlighted by Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful Spice Is Nice. She was my single in the sequence and unfortunately will not be making her return today. Please refer to my ticket at the bottom of the page for updated information!

Best of luck!

Race 1: $40k Maiden Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#4 Ink Splotz has shown an ability to be quick out of the gate throughout his career and has done much better when in for a tag than at the maiden special weight level. I’m not sure if he can win gate-to-wire, but there’s a strong enough chance that he’s worth adding to the ticket. #8 Eagles Palace was in for a higher tag his past two races while going long on turf and has the field’s best back class, having faced several stakes runners at Saratoga last year. #9 Warfront Fighter gets a rider upgrade to Irad Ortiz, Jr., who’s won 45% through the first five race days.

Race 2: $50k Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

I didn’t have a strong opinion, so I tried to buy as much of the race as I could afford. The most logical winner is Danny Gargan’s trainee #4 Who’s in Charge, who dominated non-winners of two lifetime in his last start and makes the logical step up in class. The only concern is that he’s a lightly-raced 4-year-old with just three starts under his belt. Otherwise, he will be tough to beat. Other runners: #3 Vintage Hollywood, #6 Stage Left, #7 Blacktop Legend, #8 Tapizearance

Race 3: $25k Claiming for 3-year-olds and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

Several runners should try to establish an early position out of the gate, but I’m not sure if any of them can keep up with #2 Future Book. He has shown speed at slightly higher levels and should be able to do that again here. In the event that the race falls apart, #6 Mandatory Payout can close well and gets the right pace setup. On paper, he is the best closer of this bunch.

Race 4: Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt

The well-bred #4 Uncle Moonlight is by strong sire Uncle Mo and is out of the nine-time stakes-winning mare By the Light, which makes him a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner By the Moon. Routing is a tough ask for a debut, but his 8/1 morning line odds might be a bargain for a colt with two recent bullet works. #6 Ahjar makes his New York debut and is one of the few runners who has already gone this distance. Trainer Todd Pletcher hits at 27% in the past five years with older horses second time routing after a layoff of 2-4 months. #7 Cousin Andrew is by my favorite sire, Into Mischief and has finished second in both prior efforts, most recently missing by less than 1 length. #8 Creed is my top choice for a few different reasons. Shug McGaughey excels with runners on the stretch-out, winning at 23% in the last 365 days. Creed also showed the ability to fight between runners and close while going wide on the far turn. His 3/1 morning line is more than fair value.

Race 5: Allowance for 3-year-old fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt

#5 Spice Is Nice is SCRATCHED and was my single in the sequence. Will be using #1 Saratoga Affair and #4 Kansas Kis.

THE TICKET 

$.50 PICK 5 (Races 1-5) 4,8,9 / 3,4,6,7,8 / 2,6 / 4,6,7,8 / 1,4 – $120