HORSE RACING

​Belmont Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 6/9/22

Jay Ginsbach  —  @FairwayJay Jun 9th, 2022
There are nine races at Belmont on Thursday, including three stakes. Which horses should you bet on at FanDuel Racing?

Starting at 3:05 p.m. EST, we have 9 races at Belmont Park. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing.

As always, check the program 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..

Girl Bye and Devious Dame, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/2 and 4/5
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 6 is the $150K Astoria Stakes for two-year-old fillies sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs. Devious Dame (4/5) is the chalky favorite with top jockey Joel Rosario riding.

But numberFire projects Girl Bye (9/2) to edge her for the win as she won her debut at Gulfstream in April. Devious Dame also won her debut last month by 5 lengths at Churchill Downs.

Zelenskyy Strong and Valenzan Day, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 7/2
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 8 is the $150K Tremont Stakes for two-year-olds sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs. The numberFire algorithm projects Valenzan Day (7/2) to outkick favorite No Nay Hudson (5/2) and Zelenskyy Strong (5/1).

No Nay Hudson (Ire) won his debut impressively by 4 lengths at Keeneland. He should face more early pressure in this race going an extra furlong. His trainer, Wesley Ward, is just 4-for-26 with two-year-old starters this season, according to TVG.

Valenzan Day with jockey Joel Rosario and Two of a Kind (3/1) with Luis Saez also won debut races. Zelenskyy Strong drew off impressively to win his debut following a slower start, and top jock Irad Ortiz has the highest win rate (31%) at the meet and can get Zelenskyy Strong moving better from the outside No. 8 post.

Noble Aviate and Queen de La Creme, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1 and 12/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 9 is a Maiden Claimer at 6 furlongs and is being moved off the turf with four runners scratched. The top pick of numberFire's data favorite Dame Time (4/5) in front of Miscreant (6/1).

But Top Race Reports prefers to look at a pair of debut runners, Noble Aviate (10/1) and Queen de La Creme (12/1), who both race with first-time Lasix.

It's not a good group overall, but there is better value and opportunity on the debut runners.