Medina Spirit, still the winner of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. But that may still change. Either way, he runs today at Del Mar.
Medina Spirit, still the winner of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. But that may still change. Either way, he runs today at Del Mar.@KentuckyDerby on Twitter

Garrity's Sunday Stakes picks races at Monmouth Park, Saratoga, Del Mar, featuring the return of Medina Spirit

Garrity's first post post is 4:33 pm EDT.

We have plays today in three races, all stakes, at Monmouth, Saratoga, and Del Mar. We expect fast dirt and firm turf in all three, so let’s go.

Monmouth Park, Race 10, 4:33 pm ET

$100,000 Eleven North Handicap, 6 furlongs, Dirt, New Jersey-bred Fillies & Mares 3 & Up

The Eleven North, naturally enough, drew a field of eleven Jersey-bred females. The pick is 11-No Bull Jack, a 4-year-old filly who has superior speed figures, good tactical speed, and a tactically advantageous outside post position. The three should add up to a trip to the winner’s circle; we will bet her to win at 3-1. The bet: Monmouth Park, Race 11, $40 to win on 11-No Bull Jack.

Saratoga, Race 9, 5:39 pm ET
$120,000 Better Talk Now Stakes, 1 mile, Turf, 3-Year-Olds

The early pace in the Better Talk Now, which drew a field of eight, looks hot, so we are going with a deep closer, and a colt at a decent price, in the form of 6-In Effect. He comes out of the Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga on August 6, when he rallied into a slow pace to finish third; with the fractions here looking to be faster, we think he’s going to get his picture taken. We will bet him to win at 6-1. The bet: Saratoga, Race 9, $40 to win on 6-In Effect.

Del Mar, Race 9, 9:20 pm ET

$100,000 Shared Belief Stakes, 1 mile, Dirt, 3-Year-Olds

The big news in the Shared Belief is the return of 2-Medina Spirit, the winner, for now, of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. He returns to action for the first time since his third-place finish in the Preakness, going against five other sophomore colts.

We didn’t like the way Medina Spirit looked, or ran in Baltimore, and don’t like him coming off a layoff here, especially at a short price. We like instead 3-Rock Your World, who was comically overbet in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes -- he finished 17th in the Derby at 9/2, and 6th in the Belmont at 5-1 -- but should rebound here against much, much lesser horses than he faced in Louisville and New York. His recent morning workouts suggest he is going to be ready to fire today, and with Medina Spirit in the field, we may get a decent price on Rock Your World, something close to his 8/5 morning line number. We will bet him to win. The bet: Del Mar, Race 9, $40 to win on 3-Rock Your World.

That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.

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