Friday PDJFund Handicapping Contest: RT picks Churchill Downs, and Garrity picks 2 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 bet $7 to win, $13 to place on 8-Foxtail in the 3rd race at Churchill Downs. It was a sad tail, as he finished fourth. Garrity put $20 to win on 3-Casino Grande in the 8th race at Belmont and he was one of a number of scratches who turned the 8th into a match race. RT is now -$80 and Garrity stays at +$72.

Garrity's Pick

The Pick: Belmont Park, Race 7, Post time 4:32 pm EDT, $20 to win on #9 Rinaldi; Belmont Park, Race 8, Post time 5:04 pm EDT; $20 to win on #5 Mentality

Why: The 7th at Belmont is a first-level allowance for females at a mile and a sixteenth. We like 9-Rinaldi, who goes for trainer Jimmy Bond. She’s a New York-bred who ran a series of good races as a 3-year-old last year, but has been away since August, when she finished fourth in the Grade 3 Saranac at Saratoga. She debuts as a 4-year-old this afternoon, and any improvement from her 2020 form makes her strictly the one to beat. Our first play will be betting Rinaldi to win at 3-1.

Next, the 8th at Belmont, the $80,000 Hessonite Stakes at 6 furlongs on turf: trainer Wesley Ward is primary known these days as a trainer of juveniles, but he’s done some nice work with 5-Mentality, a 5-year-old mare. We think she fits here: she returned from a layoff in an allowance at Churchill Downs last month, finishing a sharp second. That race was at 5½ furlongs, which is probably a bit shorter than she wants. The 6 furlongs here suits her perfectly, and she should be ready for a top effort second off the layoff. We will bet her to win at 7/2.

RT's Pick

The Pick: Churchill Downs, Race 9, Post time 5:18 pm EDT, $7 to win, $13 to place on #10 Teenage Kicks

Why: If acting awards were handed out during the Eclipse Ceremony, jockey James Graham would win hands down after his “hard check” on Kisses For Heidi in #10 Teenage Kicks (5/2) last race. Teenage Kicks was clearly pulling away when he neared Graham’s horse and did not impeded with him. Graham, summarily yanked on Kisses For Heidi’s reins, giving the impression that he was being pinched. It was absolutely the best acting job in horse racing. It won’t happen again, and Teenage Kicks wins this today.

For RT's other picks today, please check out his post here.