Month: June 2024

Belmont Stakes Day Picks — Saturday, June 8, 2024 | Full Card Best Bets & Analysis

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Run Curtis Run needed one more jump Friday and the pain train continues. Back to back days with brutal beats have killed lesser men, but that’s why he’s the Conductor and we’re not. A beautiful Belmont Stakes card is in front of us and we have no choice but to pick up a shovel and get back to work. Let’s fill this caboose with some coal. Skip.

Race 8: 7 Furlongs. G1 Woody Stephens Stephens Stakes

#7 Prince of Monaco (7/2) – This Baffert colt showed serious talent last year sprinting. Making his first start as a 3-year-old today, he’s a cut above this group. He’s working like a typical Baffert monster and looks to get an ideal trip sitting just behind a contested pace.

#1 Book’em Danno (9/2) – The only horse the Conductor can see beating the Prince is this gelding on the rail. He’s undefeated sprinting and proved his class last time only beaten a neck by Forever Young. Forever Young then came back to run a winning race in the Kentucky Derby. The rail is usually dicey in sprints, but it’s typically a good place to be at Saratoga. If they go quick early as expected, the Conductor can see him tipping out and running them down late.

Race 12: 1 1/4 Mile. G1 Belmont Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #10 Mindframe (7/1) – This looks like a very competitive version of the Belmont Stakes on paper. #9 Sierre Leone (9/5) is the rightful favorite, but is currently even money and a massive overlay on a speed favoring Saratoga track. The Conductor has been a sucker with lightly raced horses like Mindframe before, but he thinks this colt has serious talent. The way he has finished off his races has been very impressive. The Conductor’s eyes don’t lie and this colt is a potential monster in a field of average 3-year-olds. Mindframe will sit a perfect trip stalking #1 Seize the Grey (4/1) and #6 Dornach (14/1) who will set a solid pace. 7/1 will be a gift from the pony gods in the 2024 Belmont Stakes. Make sure you take advantage.

Belmont Stakes 2024 Saratoga

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Saratoga Friday Picks — Belmont Stakes Weekend (June 7, 2024) | Best Bets & Analysis

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Maximum pain Thursday as Champagne Juan gets nailed at the wire. The Conductor is still having trouble picking himself off the mat. Alas, it’s a new day and this Saratoga card is ripe for the taking. Let’s make them pay and then some. Skip

Race 3: 1 1/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) Alw 50000s

#5 Addicted to You (8/1) – This gelding has improved since moving into the Horacio De Paz barn. Last time off the bench, he was sandwiched at start, causing him to take a bad step early. He still closed strongly into a slow pace and galloped out in front of the pack. The Conductor thinks he’ll appreciate the added distance today and 8/1 is more than fair.

Race 5: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) OC 62500n2x

#7 Run Curtis Run (10/1) – This horse ran well in his last turf start at Keeneland two back. He pressed the pace 3-wide and uncovered entire way and he never quit. You can ignore his last race in the slop. Run Curtis Run now returns to his best distance and surface and 10/1 is a massive overlay vs this group. The Conductor thinks he’s the most likely winner.

Race 11: 1 3/16 Mile. (Turf) F.G1 New York Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #6 Fev Rover (8/1) – This mare disappointed the Conductor in the Breeders’ Cup last year. However, he will give her another shot in an ideal spot today at Saratoga. She likes a soft turf course and looks to get an ideal trip, up close or setting a moderate pace. Fev Rover is classy and will be tough to pass when she has the lead entering the stretch. Her win two back in the EP Taylor stakes was as impressive a performance as you’ll see. If she runs back to that race, she wins.

Saratoga Stakes Picks

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Saratoga Thursday Picks — June 6, 2024 | Best Bets & Belmont Stakes Weekend Preview

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Alright passengers, it’s finally Belmont Stakes weekend up at Saratoga. The forecast looks better than expected and the Conductor is licking his chops as long as the races stay on the turf. Today isn’t the greatest betting card, but Friday and Saturday are fresh meat. The Conductor does like a bomb in the Gold Cup. Let’s Ride.

Race 5: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.S.Mdn 85k

#8 Beautiful Thief ( 12/1) – This is a wide open maiden race with a pretty weak field in the Conductor’s opinion. This 1st time starter has a solid work tab and debuts for trainer Peter Gulyas, who is 0/4 this year. However, Peter’s last 1st timer on turf scored at 17/1. Whenever Castellano hops aboard for a small barn, the Conductor takes a closer look. His jockey agent seems to know when a small outfit has one ready to fire on debut.

Race 10: 2 Miles. (Inner Turf) G2 Belmont Gold Cup Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #6 Champagne Juan (15/1) – 2 miles is a unique distance in America and last years winner, #12 Siskany will certainly be a heavy favorite. Although he is a likely winner, he’ll be a major overlay. The Conductor will take a swing with #6 Champagne Juan, a developing 4-year-old improving with each start. He showed real ability in his win in an allowance race at Keeneland last time. He got a good ground saving trip, but when he went to make his move at the top of the stretch, the hole closed and he had to check. Champagne Juan was able to gather himself and still re-rally to win comfortably. That in not an easy thing to do going 1 1/2 mile and is a good sign that he’ll be able to handle this marathon distance at Saratoga. At 15/1 he can fill up the caboose with ample coal to do some serious damage this weekend.

Saratoga Belmont Gold Cup

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