Garrity's Sunday Stakes picks the Gold Fever at Belmont, Jacques Cartier at Woodbine

We have three plays today, two at Belmont in New York, and one at Woodbine in Toronto. We expect fast and firm conditions in all three, so let’s go.

Belmont Park, Race 7, 4:00 pm ET

Allowance/Optional Claiming, 1 mile, Turf, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up

Today’s 7th at Belmont is a second-level allowance for female turf milers. It drew a very good field of nine. We like 5-King’s Harlequin, who makes her North American debut in this spot after campaigning in France the past two years. We think there is a lot to like about this Irish-bred 4-year-old filly: she ran quite well in some pretty good races on the other side of the pond, including a win in a Group 3 at Longchamps 18 months ago; she is trained by Christophe Clement, who is good with turf horses and who is particularly good with Euro imports; and most importantly, she has shown in her career an affinity for firmer, rather than softer, going, so she should love the turf at Belmont. Add it up, and she looks to be the class of the field; at 9/2, she is also a terrific price, and we will consequently bet her to win, and so so aggressively. The bet: Belmont Park, Race 7, $60 to win on 5-King’s Harlequin.

Belmont Park, Race 8, 4:40 pm ET

$100,000 Gold Fever Stakes, 6 furlongs, Dirt, 3-Year-Olds

Six go in the Gold Fever. Five of them have the same running style – fast early, slow late – which makes us think that the race shape will favor the field’s lone stretch runner, 2-Runninsonofagun. This well-bred 3-year-old comes off a sharp win in an allowance race at Parx on March 29, when he sat behind the leaders early, and surged late; we see a similar setup, and a similar result, for him today, which makes his 8-1 morning line price too good to pass up. We will bet him to win. The bet: Belmont Park, Race 8, $40 to win on 2-Runninsonofagun.

Woodbine, Race 8, 4:59 pm ET

Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes, 6 furlongs, Synthetic, 4 & Up

A field of ten lines up at Woobine for the Cartier. We like 4-Striker, a 4-year-old who has only raced twice, but who was quite good in both, winning allowance and maiden races last fall. He makes his stakes debut here, but seems to be up to the task. Look for him to sit mid-pack early, to move to the front around the far turn, and to pull away in deep stretch. We will bet him to win at 4-1. The bet: Woodbine, Race 8, $40 to win on 4-Striker.

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