New York bred Showcase Day 2013 ....... and .50 cent triples debut!

Today is New York bred Showcase Day at Belmont Park , featuring seven state bred stakes highlighting two year olds, turf & dirt races sprinting and route distances. It's one of the biggest race cards on the NYRA circuit and great betting opportunities are abound. The first two stakes of the day are for the juveniles going seven furlongs. The Joseph A. Gimma Stakes (2nd) is wide open filly race with two maiden runners included in the seven horse field. My top selection is Daddy's Little Saint (#1) coming off a sharp closing victory going six panels here. The horse to beat is Miss Narcissist (#7) who went wire to wire in her second start at Saratoga late in the meet. My exotic and multi-race runners for the 2nd race are; Court Dancer (#6) & Champagne Ruby (#4). The Bertram F. Bongard Stakes (3rd) is the boy's counterpart and has a prohibited favorite in my top selection; Wired Bryan (#8) who is both a state bred stakes winner and the grade II winner of the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga . Empire Dreams (#6) is my second pick coming off a maiden victory here and gets lasix for the first time today. Exotic and multi-race runners for race 3rd; Sol the Freud (#5) & Sing the Dream (#3). The 4th race - Iroquois Stakes for filly & mares going seven furlongs, also has an odd-on favorite and my Best Bet of the day; Cluster of Stars (#5) who is undefeated in six starts and beat the brilliant Dance to Bristol in her last start versus open company. Willet (#6) seems to be her only competition here and is my second choice. Miss Valentine (#1) & Vicki's Dancer (#8) round out my exotic and multi-race runners in the 4th.

We jump ahead to the 8th race and the late pick four of stake races starting with the Ticonderoga Stakes on the grass for filly and mares. Top selection here is the far outside horse; Wholelottashakin (#10) who just missed in the John Hettinger Stakes here going slightly longer last time out. My close second pick is the rail horse; Effie Trinket (#1) who has been rock solid in all four turf starts this year. Exotic & multi-race runners for the 8th are; Inimitable Romanee (#3) & Mystic City (#8). We split the two rturf aces with the Hudson Handicap (9th) six furlongs on the dirt. Top selection here is B Shanny (#4) coming off a wire to wire victory at Finger Lakes in a overnight stakes sprint. Moonlight Song (#6) is my second selection and faces stakes competition for the first time after three solid races this year. The exotic and multi-race runners are; Night Maneuver (#2) & Mine Over Matter (#3).

The boys are on the weeds in the 10th race - Mohawk Stakes, maybe the widest open race of the seven stake card. I'll try to beat the speedy favorite here with the three year old facing older horses for the first time; Notacatbutallama (#11) trained by Todd Pletcher. For the runner-up spot, the consistent Lubash (#6) will be my pick. I'll be attempting to leave off totally King Kreesa (#8) off his last effort in the grade I - Hirsch Turf Classic in my exotic plays. I'll be using; Hear the Footsteps (#1) & Kharafa (#10). The Empire Classic (11th) is the feature race of the day and with another odd-on favorite and horse to beat in Readtheprospectus (#8) who has a seven race win streak leading into today's event. He gets my top pick here with a out of town longshot for second; Warrioroftheroses (#6) who just missed in a stake at Delaware Park last time out. My exotic and multi-race runners are; Saratoga Snacks (#7) & Awesome Vision (#4).