Belmont Horse Racing Picks For Thursday 5/20/21
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 3:05 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, check for scratches and changes, and monitor 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).
After Five and Dazzle Time, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/5 and 8/1
Race 6 is a Maiden Special Weight with eight runners entered to sprint 6 furlongs on the inner turf. The top pick of numberFire is the favorite, After Five (6/5), followed by projected in-the-money finishers Newsworthy (5/2) and Dazzle Time (8/1).
After Five is still a maiden, but has finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, and just missed when second in a Grade 3 race last year as well. He also ran second after going wide on the far turn last race, and clearly has the ability to break through. Newsworthy cuts back in distance after fading in a race last month.
Dazzle Time (8/1) tries the turf for the first time after showing improvement and speed in recent starts. Worth a shot to include at a square price having hit the board in all three starts this year. Digital Future (9/2) has top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding for the meet's leading trainer, Chad Brown.
Malibu Curl, Race 7
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 7 is an Allowance race for three-year-old fillies going 1-mile. numberFire's algorithm projects Malibu Curl (5/2) to win over the favorite, Always Carina (4/5). Always Carina will be tough to beat with top turf trainer Chad Brown and jockey Jose Ortiz. She broke her maiden last month going wire-to-wire as the favorite to win a sprint by four lengths.
Malibu Curl is a best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet, and she makes her 2021 debut after finishing third in a Grade II race in December.
Blind Ambition and Battle Station, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds:10/1 and 4/1
Race 8 is an Optional Claiming sprint on the turf. numberFire's data projects the favorite, Shekky Shebaz (2/1), to win, but he’s not run his best since leaving an EPO trainer's barn. He’s beatable and will be overbet with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding.
Quarky (6/1) can challenge according to numberFire's algorithm. He gave up the lead in the stretch last race and finished just in front of Battle Station (4/1), who has posted three straight triple-digit speed figures. His last race was off a long layoff for EPO trainer Rob Atras
Blind Ambition (10/1) has previous strong form and has run to consistent 90’s speed figures including 98 last race when finishing a very close second three weeks ago. That winning horse came back to win again last weekend, and Bling Ambition can challenge with a pace-pressing trip.
