DerbyJackpot’s Best Bets of the Weekend for May 23-24
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Photo courtesy of Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing
America’s Best Racing and DerbyJackpot team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend in a regular feature blog that will run on Fridays.
Each week, one of our crack handicappers - Jose Contreras, Dan Tordjman, Victoria Garofalo or Cory Moelis – will provide at least one “Best Bet” of the weekend, ideal for a win bet.
The post also will include some combination of additional bets for the weekend.
For some posts, our handicappers will try to identify a longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet.
Our handicappers also will look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or occasionally try to spot a nice opportunity to bet a trifecta or superfecta.
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Saturday, May 23
Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)
Belmont Park, Race 2, 1:51 p.m. ET
#1 DUKE OF THE CITY: This horse just missed at this level two back and hasn't finished worse than second this year. The rail draw is ideal for this one, who always shows speed out of the gate. Going a little longer in this spot should mean that he faces less pressure up front than he has in his last two. He also gets a weight break with a hot apprentice rider up in Eric Cancel. The only thing you won’t get with this horse is a lot of value but 2-1 is better than nothing.
Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)
Belmont Park, Race 5, 3:24 p.m. ET
#1 SAINT FINIAN: The connections show confidence with a slight bump up in company while moving back to the turf. This horse does have plenty of back form on the surface and at the distance. I think we'll get a better price here than with some of the other contenders.
#2 NON STOP: This one will relish the extra furlong, going seven furlongs here after closing some ground late in his last few. This is a very honest horse who has finished first or second in half of his eight tries on the turf at Belmont.
#5 ROCKFORD: This longshot speedster deserves a long look cutting back in distance and moving to the turf. He could find himself alone on the lead, which would make him extremely dangerous here.
#11 SPECIAL SELECTION: Like to see Javier Castellano riding this fairly inconsistent horse. Note that Castellano rode him to victory at Belmont going this same distance last October. Horse also won three races back against straight claimers sprinting at Gulfstream.
Sunday, May 24
Best Bet (Win Bet/Monkey Bet)
Belmont Park, Race 6, 3:55 p.m. ET
#11 HEAT FLASH: This horse shipped in from California and ran one of his best career races on the turf at Belmont last out to rally into the show spot. He gets a little more ground to cover here and gets the aforementioned apprentice rider, Eric Cancel, up. I don't see any real standouts here, and I think the price could be right on this one.
Exacta Box (Gonzo Bet)
Belmont, Race 8, 4:57 p.m. ET
#9 CRYPTIC COMET: We haven't seen this one since last August at Saratoga, but just about every horse trainer John Terranova has sent out at Belmont thus far has been live. Not sure this filly can win here, but she deserves a look as one who can fill out the exotics at a big price.
#10 GRAEME CRACKERS: This horse cuts back slightly while going out second off the layoff. She should be forwardly placed and will have every chance turning for home.
#3 KICKEN LIVI: Kicken Livi is a sneaky looking horse who ships in off of a poor-looking effort at Finger Lakes. She's got some gate speed and could try to steal it. Trainer Jeremiah Englehart is having a very nice meet thus far and jockey Angel Arroyo scores 28 percent of the time when up for Englehart.