Disabled Jockey’s Fund Charity Contest: Friday, RT picks the 4th at Ruidoso Downs; Garrity picks the Harmony Lodge Stakes at Belmont Park

Bettors Insider's two horse racing handicapping experts – Chris Garrity (@belmostickey) and RT and SmartCap (@RTsSpot) – have agreed to take part in a weekly handicapping contest throughout June.

For the contest, each handicapper will designate one of his race picks per weekday and two on Saturday and Sunday. Win, place, show betting only. $20 per bet. Weeks run Monday through Sunday.

The 'capper with the most money at the end of each week will have a donation made in his name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. You can donate to the fund here.

Play along and in future months you may have a chance to beat the pros.

Yesterday

RT's first contest pick, for another race, scratched late, so he rushed to get in 8-Arch Legacy to win in the 1st at Thistledown. Arch's legacy was to finish out of the money. Garrity had 8-Country Grammer to win in the 8th at Belmont. He ran better than Kelsey Grammer but only managed to take the bronze. Both 'cappers are -$80.

RT's Friday Pick

Ruidoso Downs, 4th race, #3 Sidneys Hope, $15 to win and $5 to place. Post time is 4:18 pm EDT.

Why: #3 Sidney’s Hope (4/1) has our overall best speed and class, second best last and best races two and three back. Last out, he was in a $10K claimer for 3yo+ and won in a battle. In that race, when nearing the wire and the second runner neared, his ears pricked up and he dug in. This is a game horse. Today, trainer Todd Fincher sticks with jockey Shane Laviolette, where they are a 40% prop. Fincher is also 20% when off 2-6 months, 32% moving horses down in class and 21% when winning last. Full race evaluation can be found here.

Garrity's Friday Pick

Belmont Park, 9th Race, the $80,000 Harmony Lodge Stakes, #4 Royal Charlotte, $20 to win. Post time is 5:36 pm EDT.

Why: For today’s play to benefit the Disabled Jockey Fund, we’re going to Belmont Park, where the lone stakes on the national simulcasting calendar, the $80,000 Harmony Lodge Stakes, goes as Race 9. It’s a six-furlong main-track sprint for fillies and mares 4 and older.

This race came up very strong, as have the races all week at Belmont Park, and it’s a tough race to handicap. But we like #4 - Royal Charlotte, a gray 4-year-old filly trained by Chad Brown. She has five wins in seven career starts, and both of her losses came at 7 furlongs, a longer distance than the Harmony Lodge. At this 6 furlong distance, she’s a perfect 4-for-4She should get a good trip stalking the pace from her inside post, and while she’s been away since October, her recent works have been good, and with the added physical maturity horses gain going from 3 to 4, we expect a top effort from her today. That should be enough to put her in the winner’s circle; we will put our $20 contest bankroll on her to win the Harmony Lodge at 3-1.