Friday at the track: Garrity picks races at Belmont, Keeneland and Santa Anita
We have three plays today, at three tracks, Belmont, Santa Anita, and Keeneland. We expect fast dirt and firm turf in all three. Let’s go.
Belmont Park, Race 6, 3:06 pm ET
Starter Allowance, 1 mile, Turf, 3 & Up
A full field of ten will go to the starting gate in this starter allowance from Belmont Park. The pick is 5-Chocolate Bar. He’s a 3-year-old colt trained by Mike Maker, who broke his maiden in a $40,000 maiden claiming race at Saratoga in August. Maker must have been impressed with the maiden win, because he entered him in an allowance race next (he finished second), and then in a minor stakes race on the Preakness undercard at Pilmlico, where he finished far back. We think the key to his chances here is class relief: he will be running against much, much lesser company today than he’s been facing in his last two. That will put him in the winner’s circle, so we will bet him to win at 2-1. The bet: Belmont Park, Race 6, $40 to win on 5-Chocolate Bar.
Keeneland, Race 8, 4:57 pm ET
$40,000 Claiming, 7 furlongs, Dirt, 3 & Up
A field of nine lines up for this claiming dirt sprint. We like 7-And Seek, who has been running in longer races, showing a good amount of early speed and earning good speed figures, but who today cuts back to 7 furlongs. Generally speaking, we like horses running around one turn after running in one or more races around two turns, and we especially like this angle here, with And Seek. Look for him to stalk the pace, and to finish strongly, showing off the stamina he developed running in those longer races. We will bet him to win at 5-1. The bet: Keeneland, Race 8, $40 to win on 7-And Seek.
Santa Anita Park, Race 3, 5:09 pm ET
Starter Allowance, 1 mile, Turf, 3 & Up
Six go in this turf race from Santa Anita. We like the favorite, 3-City Rage. He’s been an impressively consistent horse this year, running basically the same race in his last four starts. That effort has not been enough to win three of them, but we think he’s found a group here that he can handle. Look for him to press the pace, to move to the front at the top of the stretch, and hold off the closers late. We will bet him to win at 5/2. The bet: Santa Anita, Race 3, $35 to win on 3-City Rage.
That’s all for today. Until tomorrow, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.