Belmont Park $350,000 Guaranteed Pick Four

Belmont Park:  July 14 – Pick Four – Races 7-10 – First Post:  4:02 EST

Race 7 – $20,000 Claiming – 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf – The $350,000 Guaranteed Pick Four sequence begins with a very difficult claiming race for three-and-up who have never won three races or three-year-olds.  The lone 3-year-old in the race, Classic R and B (1), looks like a contender if you toss his last race on soft ground.  Plainview (3) is in good form, but just cleared non-winners- of- 2 conditions in his last race and these types of horses rarely win two in a row.  Love Shack (5) seems to be improving but was just beaten by Monastir (8), who looks like the favorite but is 2-35 lifetime with 16 slices.  With knocks against each of the logical horses, the fifth horse to use is Launch N Relaunch (10), who just might surprise at a nice price.

Race 8 – The Man O War Stakes (G1)- 1 3/8 miles on the turf – Treasure Beach (5) gives new meaning to the term well-traveled.  This Aidan O’Brien  colt has raced in Dubai, Great Britain, Honk Kong, Canada, Ireland, and the US.  The last time he shipped here he won the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park, and he is well-meant today and deserves to be a heavy favorite.  I’m singling him, but a case could be made for Point of Entry (3), who won twice at Keeneland in two weeks in April for Shug McGaughey.  He won the Grade 2 Elkhorn over Tahoe Lake and Simmard in impressive fashion, but there is a small worry about the nearly 3-month layoff.

Race 9 – $20,000 Claiming – 6 furlongs on the inner turf N2L for three-and-up – Angel Penna trains Fear Nothing (4), coming off an impressive if erratic maiden win at 7 furlongs on the turf.  If he runs straight today he may be tough to handle.  The other contenders are the well-bred Leroidessioux (6), who broke his maiden through disqualification last out, and Brown Indian (8), a class dropper for George Weaver.  My price play in here is Ventura Bar (10), who ran 2nd in his only lifetime start on the turf and may love a return to the surface.

Race 10 – Maiden Special Weight – 7 furlongs on the turf – You know it’s a weak race when an 0-31 maiden is the 9-2 third choice on the morning line.  Just out of principle, I’m tossing All Zipped Up (4); if she wins her 32nd start I will be out of the Pick Four.  Linda Rice has a first-time starter in here, Honest Johnny (12), who shows good works and attracts Cornelio Velasquez to ride.  Among the ones who have started, I’ll use Riverdance Rock (1), Northern Tripp (2), and Shy Humor (7), and will throw in the Dale Romans firster Prime Devil (5).

The Pick Four play is:  1,3,5,8,10/5/4,6,8,10/1,2,5,7,12 for a total of $50.  Best of luck!