Every Thursday through Sunday 1/ST BET handicapper Jeff Siegel offers his best wagering opportunity from a selected North American racetrack. These “Best Plays” can take the form of a win wager, exacta, trifecta, or a daily double, pick-3, pick-4 or pick-6. Selections are listed in chronological order.
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Belmont Park Race 2 – Post time: 3:38 ET
1-Grand Ave Girl (2-1)
This maiden sprint for fillies and mares appears to have come up relatively light, so let’s go with the newcomer Grand Ave Girl, a C. Brown-trained filly that has all the makings of a debut winner. Bred for intense speed, the $300,000 Keeneland yearling purchase has been impressive in her morning trials – See Workout – and if she leaves cleanly from the rail the daughter of Runhappy may take control early and never look back. She’s 2-1 on the morning line and at that price is worth a play in the win pool and as a rolling exotic single.
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Belmont Park Race 5 – Post time: 5:13 ET
7-The Golden Door (7/2)
The New-York bred turf specialist The Golden Door makes his first start since November and his first as a gelding in this nine furlong first-level allowance state-bred affair on grass. A clever maiden winner two runs back and then a better-than-looked closing fourth place finish (beaten a length) in a similar affair in his most recent start, the progressive son of Point of Entry seems likely to pick up where he left off and should thoroughly enjoy today’s extra distance. The D. Donk-trained 4-year-old retains Johnny V., sports a healthy series of workouts that should have him fit and ready, and catches a field that he should be able to handle. There’s wagering value at or near his morning line of 4-1 if you can get it.
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Churchill Downs Race 3 – Post time: 5:58 ET
4-Cavalry Charge (8-1)
Here’s a good price play in an open first-level allowance event for older horses on turf. Cavalry Charge, away since September but sporting a sharp series of workouts that should have him fit to fire off the bench, catches a pace scenario that should complement his pace-setting/stalking style. In fact, it would not be surprising if the son of Honor Code inherits the role as the controlling speed. A sharp maiden winner over this this course and distance three runs back and career-top effort when second in a similar affair when last seen in September, the D. Steward-trained gelding is listed at 8-1 on the morning line but probably will go a bit lower. An aggressive play in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics seems appropriate.
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Belmont Park Race 8 – Post time: 6:45 ET
7-Catch a Bid (5/2)
Has found her niche as a late-running turf sprinter and is a perfect one-for-one over the Belmont grass course, so with this class drop into the third level allowance ranks the daughter of Real Solution appears well-spotted to return to winning form. The J. Sharp-trained mare projects to settle off the pace and then have her chance to blast home, so with a decent pace up front and room to rally from the head of the lane to the wire she projects to produce a winning late kick under regular rider L. Saez.
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Churchill Downs Race 8 – Post time: 8:23 ET
2-Texas Shuffle (5/2)
Second-time starter displayed real promise in her debut on the Kentucky Derby day program when overcoming a bit of a rough start and a wide trip to rally bravely in the final furlong to finish third, beaten less than a length. With that bit of experience behind her and a bullet workout (:47 2/5, fastest of 32) at Keeneland six days ago, the daughter of War Front should produce a significant forward move in this nine furlong grass affair for maiden fillies and mares. She makes a positive jockey switch to F. Geroux, is comfortably drawn inside, and projects to settle just off the leaders with a ground-saving trip. She’s worth every bit of her 5/2 morning line both in the win pool and in rolling exotic play.
