Fast and firm at Belmont on Memorial Day.  Today is my favorite race of the year, The Metropolitan Handicap (Race 10).  But the scratch of Mr. Fantasy, may change the complexion of the race.  Bribon (#10) is my pick.  He loves Belmont and can stay close enough to a moderate pace and gain ground to be a major factor.  He will have to be close because the pace picture got slower with the scratch of Mr. Fantasy.  I’ll play Bribon to win and use him up and down with Driven By Success (#12), who will be the main speed, and Smooth Air (#2), who might find a mile to his liking!  Here’s the entire card — good luck!

Race 1: 6 and 7

Race 2: 3 and 10

Race 3: 7 and 1

Race 4: 2 with 6 and 4

Race 5: 6 (Best Bet) and 1

Race 6: 6 and 5

Race 7: 8 and 5

Race 8: 7 (Best Bet) with 9 and 11

Race 9: 3 with 6 and 2

Race 10: 11(Best Bet) with 12 and 2

Race 11: 11 and 4

Fast and firm today at Monmouth.  I really like horses in the two good stakes races today, race 9 (The Lamplighter) and race 10 (The Monmouth Beach).

In race 9, Todd Pletcher sends out Masala (#6).  This son of Lion Heart has been facing tougher on dirt and synthetic tracks, and goes back to the turf today which he handled well in his first start last October.  I’ll play to win and then key him with Sal The Barber (#5) in exactas and doubles.

In race 10, Pletcher has Awesome Ashley (#2),  a mare who also has been facing tougher in her last few races.  I think she will lay close to a hot pace and score at better than 2-1.  I’ll play her to win and key in doubles and exactas with Star Snuck(#5) a longshot who can close into a fast pace!

Here’s the entire card — good luck!

Race 1: 4 and 1

Race 2: 3 with 9 and 2

Race 3: 6 and 5

Race 4: 5 and 8

Race 5: 2 (Best Bet) and 4

Race 6: 7 and 8

Race 7: 5 and 1

Race 8: 1 and 9

Race 9: 6 (Best Bet) and 5

Race 10: 2 (Best Bet) and 5

Race 11: 7 with 10 and 4

I had my moments at each track yesterday.  One thing you won’t find in the statistics that makes my sight worth visiting is that I’m not afraid to pick longshots on top, but sometimes they run second.  Fregata (#7) in the second race at Belmont, ran second at 15-1.  So, you have to play up and down when I list a long one!  Here are some other highlights:

Belmont: 6 winners listed (including a $20 horse in race 2), two on top.  Hit a cold $18 exacta in race 6, a $60 exacta box in race 8 and listed a $79 pick 3 (races 8-10).  I was a nose away from listing the pick six (see race 7 results) which would have made yesterday a real home run!  Oh well, that’s horse racing!

Churchill: 3 winners listed, two on top, including a best bet in race 4 ($3.80).  Cold exacta ($17) in race 5.

Monmouth: 3 winners, 1 on top (my best bet in race 4 paid $12.80).  Listed $54 pick 3 (races 3-5).

See my picks for all three tracks today at 12:30pm!