Weekend Winners Club

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Friday, June 10
Belmont Park
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There’s a lot more to Belmont Park than 1 race per year that non-racing fans know about. This weekend at Belmont is one of those weekends that racing fans revel in, with a lot of nice stakes racing.
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It’s a travesty that many pretend fans don’t even know the Belmont Stakes is this weekend because no horse is attempting a Triple Crown sweep. It’s a further shame that there are 16 stakes races at Belmont this weekend, including this lineup on today’s 11 race card:
Belmont Gold Cup Invitational, $300,000g, 4&up, 16f.
Jersey Girl S, $150,000g, 3yo f, 6f.
New York S (gr. II), $500,000g, 4&up f/m, 10f.
Rags to Riches Invitational, $150,000g, 4&up f/m, 12f.
Tremont, $200,000g, 2yo, 5.5f.
True North S (gr. II), $250,000g, 4&up, 6f.
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When I used to work full time, this is the type of day I used to take off every year so I could drive up to NY in 3 hours then spend another 3 hours getting from Staten Island to Elmont, which is less than 30 miles away.
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Now I just stay home and watch all the action on a wide screen TV, and record the results on my computer. I never could tolerate NYC for more than a few days anyway.
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Download Friday’s Belmont Grid PP’s here free to follow along.
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Today’s feature race is the 2 mile Belmont Gold Cup Invitational for $300k on turf. The field is full of 13 endurance horses led by Da Big Hoss and Kaigun. Foreign shipper Now We Can was real tough in his last North American race. Up With the Birds has the top LP.
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The race before that, the NY Stakes G2 will be at 10f on the inner turf for fillies and mares 4 and up. Favored are Chad Browns duo, but Photo Call could have the pace to herself.
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The True North G2 is an exciting sprint despite the short fiel for 4up, 6f on dirt. Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner up Private Zone is favored but making his first race start of the year. the 7yo gelding will have his hooves full with this talented field.
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It’s never too early to start looking at the 3yo crop for next year’s Triple Crown Trail. Race 4 is the Tremont Stakes for 2yo, 5.5f dirt with a $200k purse. The field of 7 have all run in and won 1 maiden race of 4.5-5f, except Hey Mike, the only horse with 2 races, who ran 2nd in the Kentucky Juvenile last month.
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Another thing they have in common is that they all ran for the lead early, which you kind of need to in races that short, except for Hey Mike and Pachi Cruze, who have the best LP numbers. The filly Lady Stardust had the best PF overall, 3rd best LP, and is currently the slight favorite over Hey Mike.
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For full Grids Belmont Friday and Saturday, download here.

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