Along with today's races, Capital OTB has a special contest consisting of the stakes races. A "live" money handicapping contest, much like the Monday events at Saratoga this past summer with a $80 entry fee which $60 of it are "live" wagering plays of $5.00 win / place in each of the stakes race events. I'll give my selections for each of the races and my "live" money play of $10 for the contest which will be a price horse outside my top selections.
The grade II - Kelso Invitational Handicap (4th) at a mile on dirt is the first stake of the day. A field of seven are entered with the winner gaining a place in the starting gate for the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile. My selections here are : It'smyluckyday (#7) - Bradester (#5) - River Rocks (#4). The contest play is : Vyjack (#3) who drops from sprints and stretches out to a mile, 12-1 morning line seems best choice of runners with a chance entered here.
The grade I - Beldame Invitational Stakes (5th) is for older filly and mares going a mile & a eighth. Seven are in here too for a birth in the Breeder's Cup Distaff. My picks here are : Stopchargingmaria (#3) - Endless Chatter (#1) - Toasting (#2). For my contest play, it came down between Endless Chatter & my choice; Fiftyshadesofhay (#5) who has a victory over the course in the Ruffian Handicap at a mile coming off the pace back in May.
The grade I - Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (7th) is for the girls going a mile & a quarter over the Belmont Inner turf course. A win here gets the lady in the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf. My top three choices here are : Stephanie's Kitten (#9) - Viva Rafaela (#3) - Abaco (#1). It came down between two runners here also for the contest win / play wager. I went with Watsdachances (#6) over Alterite (#7). This Irish bred filly is making her third start off a layoff and may have a chance with her closing kick, IF fractions are quick up front.
The grade I - Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (8th) at six furlongs gathers the best sprinters on the east coast. Once you get past the morning line favorite; Palace (#1) my top choice, it's wide open. The two runners I'll use underneath him are; Salutos Amigos (#4) and Coup de Grace (#2). For the contest play, I'm going with a 20-1 morning line, first time Belmont runner; Ribo Bobo (#8). It's all about a price play here, with a consistent sprinter who is as hard hitting as they come!
The grade I - Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (9th) has the boys going the marathon distance of a mile & a half on the weeds. Top pick here is a runner who has done me no wrong in his starts here stateside; Main Sequence (#5) winner of back to back grade I races going this long distance. For second is the Kenneth Ramsey / Chad Brown duo entry of Big Blue Kitten & Real Solution (#1) and round out the top three ; Twilight Eclipse (#2). The "live" money wager here goes to the outside and Medal Count (#7) who was out finished in his last race at Kentucky Downs, price once again rules here again in this short wagering field.
The grade I - Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (10th) at a mile & quarter wraps up the day with a full field of 12 in a wide open betting event. Entered here are a Jim Dandy winner, a Suburban Handicap winner, a Belmont Stakes winner, a Travers Stakes winner and Whitney Handicap winner. Here I'm going with a Belmont loving runner; Tonalist (#8) as my top selection, Wicked Strong (#3) as the runner up and speedster Moreno (#11) holding on for third. When looking for a play here to round out my live plays, I couldn't really with any of the double digit odds horses. None were consistent enough for me, so it came down to me with the two single odds horses I didn't use in my top three selections. V.E. Day came into his own at Saratoga with two victories and a big one in the Travers Stakes. But, we're back at Belmont and there's a N.Y. bred who just loves the Belmont Park strip. Zivo (#4) who won the Suburban at 13-1 back in July, gets the call here. Honest as they come, he'll be flying down the lane late.
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