Fast and firm for one of the greatest cards of the year — interesting to say that because the big race this year is wide open but mediocre in talent, which is not the case for the rest of this 13-race extravaganza.  Had a decent day yesterday with 4 winners on top (including a best bet), but they were short prices, so let’s see how I do today!

In race 1. Wild About Deb (#6) needed last and stretches out — will appreciate the one turn route with all the speed lined up to set up late run at a price.  Key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 3 and 1.

In race 4, The Grade 1 Acorn, Salty (#8) had tough trip in Kentucky Oaks and gets a great stalking post for the one turn mile here — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 7 and 3.

In race 13, Realm (#10) has faced much better and should get a perfect stalking trip and win the finale as the favorite — key in all multi-race wager and play an exacta box with #’s 9 and 3.

In race 11, The Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, I am using Multiplier (#10) and Tapwrit (#2) on top with #’s 12, 8 and 4 underneath in exactas, trifectas and superfectas..  Not much pace here, so the winner will have to be within 8 lengths on the backstretch to have a shot and both my top choices can stay close enough and finish today.  Here’s the entire card and good luck to everyone!

Race 1: 6 (Best Bet) with 3 and 1

Race 2: 7 with 8 and 5

Race 3: 3, 5 and 7

Race 4: 8 (Best Bet) with 7 and 3

Race 5: 7, 5 and 6

Race 6: 2 (Best Bet) with 3 and 10

Race 7: 7 (Best Bet) with 8 and 10

Race 8: 1 with 5 and 2

Race 9: 12 with 9 and 2

Race 10: 2 with 6 and 1

Race 11: 10, 2 and 12

Race 12: 3 with 1 and 11

Race 13: 10 (Best Bet) with 9 and 3

Fast and good for the Preakness card — had a horrible day yesterday and just want to move on today, although this card is a head scratcher also, so I am not much more optimistic.

In race 7, Theory (#8) clearly needed last and may have been victimized for a pretty slow pace up front — should get a better flow today and the price is too good to ignore.  Key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 1 and 5.

In race 6, Barney Rebel (#15) gets tough outside post, but is better than these and can win from here — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 5 and 1.

In race 5, Pretty Perfection (#5) gets perfect pace scenario to set up late burst after horror trip in last — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 2 and 1.  The Preakness looks like a race between Always Dreaming and Classic Empire — not much else in here.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 6, 5 and 1

Race 2: 6 with 4 and 3

Race 3: 1, 8 and 6

Race 4: 2, 5 and 3

Race 5: 5 (Best Bet) with 2 and 6

Race 6: 15 (Best Bet) with 1 and 6

Race 7: 8 (Best Bet) with 1 and 5

Race 8: 4, 6 and 3

Race 9: 5, 4 and 6

Race 10: 7, 6 and 2

Race 11: 5, 2 and 1

Race 12: 7, 10 and 4

Race 13: 5, 4 and 6

Race 14: 4, 7 and 8

Sloppy and good for Derby Day at Churchill — there should be some additional showers today, but all races should remain on the turf and the track may dry out a little, but still be wet for the big race so play accordingly. I’ve noticed a pattern at Churchill when it’s wet — early in the day speed is really good on the dirt and later the closers can run if there is a decent pace.  I will try that strategy today and want to improve on yesterday’s picks when I only had 3 winners on top and my second choice won the Oaks at a big price, so let’s see how I do today!

In race 12, The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Gunnevera (#10) had absolutely no chance as the favorite in the Florida Derby with a moderate pace and wide post — he will be flying late today with a clean trip and a decent pace today and should handle the track.  If you can get 10-1, that would be an overlay in my mind, so I will be betting across the board and then playing exotics with #’s 5, 8, 15 and 20.  I will be using McCracken (#15) on top in some exotics as well, since he needed his last race and loves Churchill, so if either of my top two choices win, I could be in good shape.  Patch (#20) is my longshot play to hit the number – wish it wasn’t post 20, but the value will be there!!

In race 7, The Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile, Roca Rojo (#6) loves a soft turf course and should be flying late to get the money as the second choice to Miss Temple City (#2) who may not be at best on this type of course — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 1 and 2.   Here’s the entire card and good luck to everyone!

Race 1: 3, 8 and 6

Race 2: 2, 6 and 4

Race 3: 3 (Best Bet) with 7 and 4

Race 4: 1, 6 and 5

Race 5: 1, 5 and 10

Race 6: 6, 7 and 2

Race 7: 6 (Best Bet) with 1 and 2

Race 8: 5 with 11 and 8

Race 9: 10, 7 and 4

Race 10: 8, 2 and 1

Race 11: 5 with 1 and 2

Race 12: 10 (Best Bet) with 15, 5, 20 and 8

Race 13: 9, 1 and 8

Race 14: 4, 14 and 11

Fast and firm for the Belmont Stakes card at Belmont — 6 grade 1′s to navigate, so it’s going to be a great day.  Let’s see if I can build on the 5 winners on top yesterday (including a 4-1 best bet) and help us make some money!

In race 6, The Grade 3 Jaipur, Mosler (#8) ran his eyeballs out for Mott in return and 6 furlongs is perfect for a stalk and pounce trip at a decent price — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 7 and 2.

In race 9, The Grade 1 Met Mile, Marking (#13) comes back from Meydan working well off the layoff and has good positional speed to sit a good trip from the outside and hold off the closers at a great price — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 7 and 6.

In race 12, Roman Approval (#1) has run well locally and cuts back against easier today with the right post — key in all doubles and pick 3′s and play an exacta box with #’s 8 and 6.

In race 11, The Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, Stradivari (#5) is lightly raced and has shown he belongs with the big guns after great run in Preakness on a surface he may not have cared for — has positional speed in a race without much pace and will get the first jump on Exaggerator and the closers if he can go this far.  I am using #5 and #2 on top with #’s 11 and 12 in exactas and tri’s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 3, 2 and 5

Race 2: 1 with 2 and 6

Race 3: 6, 4 and 5

Race 4: 7, 2 and 1

Race 5: 2 with 5 and 7

Race 6: 8 (Best Bet) with 7 and 2

Race 7: 3, 7 and 4

Race 8: 2, 7 and 9

Race 9: 13 (Best Bet) with 7 and 6

Race 10: 10 with 6 and 2

Race 11: 5, 2 and 11

Race 12: 1 (Best Bet) with 8 and 6

Race 13: 10 with 6 and 9