Belmont Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 4/22/21
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 1:05 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Belmont Park. Using numberFire’s 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).
Square Shooter, Race 4
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 4 is a high-end Claiming race at 7 furlongs. The top pick, according to numberFire’s data, is Clench (4/1), with Square Shooter (5/2) and Fed Funds (7/2) also projected to hit the board.
Always Sunshine (2/1) is a nine-year-old and the favorite with leading-jockey Jose Ortiz riding. He won his 2021 debut at Laurel off an 18-month layoff and hasn’t raced at Belmont since 2018. Clench has hit the board in all four starts this year at Aqueduct, including a win with a 102 speed figure. He’s shown a good late run and will have to track down Always Sunshine. Square Shooter is in strong form with a win and three runner-up finishes since November. He pulled away for a two-length win over Clench in January on a muddy track and came back for another triple-digit speed figure to finish a close second against cheaper claimers.
Coalition Building and Spatial, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 7/2
Race 6 is a Maiden Special Weight for fillies & mares going a 1 ¼ mile route on the Turf. numberFire's algorithm projects a strong run by Ceant (5/1) to duel with the favorite Coalition Building (2/1) for EPO trainer Chad Brown and top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Horse Racing Radar notes that Chad Brown is a strong 15 for 40 (38%, $2.48 ROI) in maiden turf routes at 10 furlongs and beyond, and Guaranteed Tip Sheet makes her a best bet.
Top trainer Christophe Clement has Community Adjusted (4/1) breaking from the rail with jockey Manny Franco up, and she ran well in her 2021 debut with a strong finish to get fourth. She looks like she’ll improve on the stretchout. Clement also has Spatial (7/2), who is a big, well-bred filly that should also improve in her second start after showing ability in her fourth-place finish five weeks ago.
Sailor’s Treasure and Mondeuse, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 20/1 and 5/2
Race 8 is a Maiden Claiming race for state bred fillies and mares sprinting 6 furlongs on the Turf. There are 12 runners entered plus alternates, and numberFire's models project longshots to strike with Nebo (10/1) a top win contender, and Madame Rose (30/1) and Sailor’s Treasure (20/1) to challenge as in-the-money finishers.
Mondeuse (5/2) and Sport Model (3/1) will get bet the most, but Sport Model was vanned off the sloppy track in her debut in February. Mondeuse makes her 2021 debut and is working well after going 0-for-3 last year and failing to hit the board.
So those two are not impressive yet and that opens the door to others at bigger prices. Nebo has shown little in going 0-for-4 this year, but now switches to turf and could surprise with her sprint sire. Sailor’s Treasure makes her debut with first time Lasix, and good works in place. Her sire was a multi-Grade I winner on dirt, and twice a Breeders’ Cup champion.
