Friday Disabled Jockey’s Fund Charity Contest: Garrity picks the $125,000 Commentator Stakes at Belmont Park, RT picks Churchill Downs

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 bet $7 win, $13 place on 2-Master of Hope in the 5th race at Belmont. Garrity put $20 to win on 1-Tankerville, in the 7th at Belmont. Master of Hope offered no hope and finished out of the money. RT is now +$23.10. Tankerville ran backwards down the stretch and jogged home out of the money. Garrity is -$80.

RT's Pick

The pick: Churchill Downs, Race 7, $7 to win, $13 to place on #3 Hidden Ruler, post time 4:14 pm EDT

Why: #3 Hidden Ruler (6/1) has best overall speed and best last. He just ran an $81K allowance at 6.5f and that last furlong did him in. He led throughout and gave way in the stretch. I like this horse as he beat $50K claimers, NW2L, three back in the slop at OP in 1:11 and this cutback, the last race experience facing tougher, and his rounding into great form make him my choice for the contest.

For my other picks and a more in-depth look at this race, please check out my post here.

Garrity's Pick

The pick: Belmont Park, Race 9, the $125,000 Commentator Stakes, $20 to win on #7 Mr. Buff, post time: 5:36 pm EDT.

Why: We are going to embrace our inner chalk-eating weasel, as we like the favorite, 7-Mr. Buff. He’s won three in a row, and his last race was exceptionally good, when he won the Haynesfield Stakes at Aqueduct by an eye-popping twenty lengths. We do not think he will win by quite that big a margin, but we do think he will win, and while his 6/5 morning line price will not make anyone rich, we will make him our contest play today with the hope of cashing a ticket. Look for him to go right to the front, and stay there all the way around the track. We will bet our $20 stake today on Mr. Buff to win the Commentator.

For my picks of today's Stronach Pick 5, please check out my article here.