Belmont Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 7/3/20

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 10 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.)

Spice is Nice, Race 6
Overjoyed, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1

Race 6 is the start of the Grand Slam and Late Pick 5. An Allowance race with just one of the seven entries running for an Optional Claiming $80,000 tag. This 1 1/16 mile race for 3-year-old fillies has two prohibitive favorites with Spice is Nice (4/5) the top choice at numberFire followed by Say Moi (9/5).

Spice is Nice is sired by the great Curlin, and she finished second in her stakes debut in February, posting a 93 speed figure in the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream. Her third career start was another Grade 2 race in March, and she missed the board after getting shuffled back early, but EPO trainer Todd Pletcher has her ready to go off the layoff with hall-of-fame jockey John Velazquez back on board.

Say Moi stalked the pace in a large Maiden field in May and won as the favorite at Churchill Downs. Her speed figures fit from two starts but not the best in here, and Velazquez leaves her to ride the favorite.

Overjoyed (10/1) can outrun her odds from the rail for California-based trainer Neil Drysdale. Overjoyed is well-bred, has two morning works over the track for her 2020 debut, and hit a 97 speed figure breaking her maiden in November. Drysale rarely ships East but has a better than 50% win rate on the NYRA circuit the past five years. Daily Horse Picks also picks Overjoyed second behind the favorite. Interesting.

Bourbon Bay, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1

Race 8 is an Allowance race for state-breds going 1-mile, and there are a pair of coupled entries. Yankee Division (2/1) and Big Thicket (2/1) are the coupled number-two entry, and Danny California (5/2) and Vintage Hollywood (5/2) are the coupled number-one entry.

The top choice at numberFire is Big Thicket with stablemate Yankee Division third. Can’t underestimate the top two favorites in here for EPO trainer Rudy Rodriguez, but watch the scratches and tote board as Big Thicket may scratch and run Sunday.

Yankee Division missed the money in his June start over a muddy track but posted a 100 speed rating earlier this year in winning a claiming race. Anything close to that wins today, and he’ll be the controlling speed out front. Include in Pick 5 and horizontal wagers.

Bourbon Bay (4/1) is the second pick of numberFire and has the speed and figures to move forward as a runner coming late. He’s hit the board in five of six starts. Bet him to do so again.

Dalika, Race 9
Getmotherarose, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1

Race 8 is the $80,000 License Fee, a minor stakes race for older fillies and mares going six furlongs. Dalika (5/2) is a rare shipper for trainer Al Stall, Jr., who has never won a race at Belmont (0-for-26). The German-bred cuts back in distance and breaks from the outside number-eight post with strong stretch rider Joel Rosario aboard.

She has top class, has beaten better, and will be coming from off a fast pace. Implied odds at FanDuel Racing give her a 29% chance to win, and numberFire believes she will win and run her sixth straight race with a triple-digit speed figure. Daily Horse Picks also has Dalika finishing first followed by Miss Auramet (6/1) breaking right inside the favorite with Luis Saez aboard.

Another horse with class in here is Bridlewood Cat (4/1) with leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard. She will be running up front and has also hit 100 speed figure before, but her last race was slower and missed the money in March.

Getmotherarose (6/1) is worth including in horizontals at a price and could upset with her best. She won a Grade 3 race at Gulfstream in February and posted a 107 speed figure. No surprise to see her flying late.