Horse Pick of the Day - Belmont Park Race 3

[Shame About Ray]

Declan’s Moon ran horrible in Race 7 at Hollywood Park on Thursday. I chose Declan’s Moon as the horse pick of the day for sports betting faithful and he disappointed. But the horse that I pegged as the second place finisher, Tall Texan, actually did finish second. Still, getting the second place horse isn’t going to help us all that much.

For online racebook fans, finding a price on a horse is always the key. I believe that there is such a horse running in the 7th at Hollywood on Friday night. Online sportsbook betting fans will notice that the morning line says that Friday’s horse pick of the day should have no shot. I beg to differ. I think she has a huge shot at what is sure to be a nice price.

Let’s get to it! - Hollywood Park Race 7

Optional Claimer $62,500 n2x

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Up

6 furlongs on cushion track

Cotton Bay - - 10/1 morning line

This daughter of El Corredor goes second time off the shelf for trainer Bob Baffert. She ran horrible in her first race since August of 2007 by finishing 5th 14 lengths behind the winner. That doesn’t bother me in the least. She obviously needed that race and with it behind her should move up tons in this affair. She’s the classiest filly in the race, gets a huge jockey switch to one of Baffert’s main guys, Joel Rosario, and can stalk what is sure to be an incredibly quick pace. I love her in this spot.

Highland Torre - - 5/1 morning line

Why is Highland Torre 5 to 1 on the morning line? She won her last race going six furlongs with a terrific speed rating and had a fantastic work on June 23rd. Yes, her trainer, Rafael Deleon, isn’t well known but this girl can certainly run with these and because she’s the lone closer in a race full of speed horses, she could find herself with very little work to do in the lane. Online racebook fans could do worse then to peg this girl for the place money.

Wickedandwackeyingrid - - 4/1 morning line

Overly Tempting is the 7 to 5 chalk in here but I actually like this speedy miss somewhat more. She won’t last for the win, but she can definitely rough up Overly Tempting enough and hang on for the show money. Wickedandwackeyingrid is a very tough filly who won’t give up just because another horse is supposed to beat her. She could take this field a long way.

Wagering Strategy

If Cotton Bay goes off anywhere near that 10 to 1 morning line, consider it a gift. Baffert would have either dropped her in class or freshened her again if he really thought that the 14 length loss had something to do with anything other then her just getting tired. I’ll have a nice size online bet on Cotton Bay to win and place. I will also use Cotton Bay on top of Highland Torre and Wickedandwackedingrid in an exacta. I will make an online bet on Highland Torre above Cotton Bay in a separate exacta.

Good luck!