July 16

Delaware

Delaware Handicap (race 9)

VEILED HEAT
Trainer: Jerry Fanning
Last race: July 15, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 3 1/4
Beyer: 49
This 2-year-old Cal-bred was tons best in her debut. Broke last, made a middle move, took dirt inside, finished with run on the inside, and galloped out in front. Unusual Heat filly can run.

The closing-day Belmont card features the $125,000 Lynbrook Stakes for New York-bred juveniles, but there are also a few other intriguing races with good-priced contenders. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

Race 1, Maiden Special Weight

The Play – (2) CAHIRCIVEEN (5-1 morning line, 3-1 value line)

There’s a nice card at Delaware Park on Saturday featuring the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, but the first pick three sequence of the day entices most.

RACE 1: Taking an immediate shot with sole "A" play and longshot CIRCULAR THUNDER, who stretches out for his first start off the layoff. His lone dirt-route try was better than it may look. Using him with favorite SUPER FUND and HOLIDAY MOUSSE, who come out of the same race.
A's: 7
B's: 2, 4
C's: NONE

Liking the first half of Saturday’s card better than the second, I will try my hand at the 50-cent Pick 5 that begins the card at Belmont. Here’s a look at the sequence, and a modest Ticketmaker ticket.

Opening weekend at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is a horseplayer’s signal that summer has officially begun (regardless of the June 20 “official” start to the summer season). Sunday represents day three of the summer meeting at Del Mar, and it’s highlighted by the Grade 2 Eddie Read – a nine furlong turf event that features one of the saltiest fields Southern California has seen this year. I’ll look to play the late double on Saturday, linking the Eddie Read with the finale, a $16,000 claiming event for non-winners of two races lifetime.

DEL MAR, Calif. – A win wager on an improving turf colt in race 7, a win wager on a 2-year-old first-time starter in race 8, and a pick three that ends in race 9 will form the basis of this handicapper’s plan of attack Saturday at Del Mar.

Race 7

It’s the Ice is a reasonable favorite in race 7, a first-level turf allowance for 3-year-olds. No knocks on the gelding, who kept good company last winter at Santa Anita. He could be tough to catch in his first start back.

They scratched our sneaky Pick at Ellis last week and our second choice was a one-paced third. Meanwhile, our Gulfstream Pick ran like she really doesn’t want to. In any case, it was not a bad week at all for BreezeFigs maidens. Among the 2-year-olds there were 11 which made it across the finish line first, including three at Santa Anita, two of which resulted in BreezeFigs exactas. Solos were recorded at Arlington, Belmont, Ellis, Gulfstream, Monmouth, Parx, Presque Isle, and Prairie Meadows.

Nyquist, the Kentucky Derby winner, will launch the second half of his 2016 campaign in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31, trainer Doug O’Neill said Monday.

O’Neill said he “got the go-ahead to point for the Haskell from Paul and Zillah Reddam,” the owners of Nyquist, shortly after Nyquist worked a strong five furlongs Monday at Santa Anita, which O’Neill caught in 59 seconds.

“He worked really well,” O’Neill said.

Belmont

Victory Ride (race 6)