Free Picks For Belmont Park - 6/4/20

Race 5 - Allowance Optional Claiming ($68,000)

12 fillies and mares will go seven furlongs on the turf in this $62,500 optional claimer. This should be an outstanding and very competitive race. #5 Kitten’s Covergirl is stepping up and increasing the distance in this competition after finishing fourth in a $50,000 optional claimer (May 8) in a short four-furlong meet, snapping a four-race streak of finishing in the top 3. The five-year-old mare, who has outstanding early speed, has a 50% winning percentage at this distance as well as three wins on turf. Jose Lezcano, the owner of a 20% win percentage and a 58% WPS this year, gets the ride. #4 Lady Grace, who finished right behind Kitten’s Cowgirl in her last outing at the $50,000 level, has finished in the money in seven of 10 career outings. The four-year-old filly will have John Valazquez on board and has a career 75% WPS percentage. #3 Queen Kahen is coming off a two-plus month layoff though she has been very successful in her 13 career starts, medaling 10 times. Queen Kahen also has failed to finish in the top 3 just once in five starts. #10 Lady Worthington is also worth a look in exotic bets.

Picks: With this very competitive field, I like a show bet on the #5. I also like an exacta box of #5, #4,#3.

Race 8 - Allowance (Purse $66,000)

Eight male runners will go one mile and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt in this allowance meet. This field also consists of several quality three-year-old colts. #3 Will Sing for Wine, under the tutelage of HOF’er Bill Mott, has been running well and broke his maiden the last time out at Aqueduct back on March 7. He finished third in his first career race at Belmont three races ago. Manuel Franco, owner of a 24% winning percentage along with a 53% WPS percentage this year, and Mott have a 100% win percentage when working together in 2020. #6 Mystic Guide also has been on a hiatus since breaking his maiden at the Fair Grounds back on March 21. Mystic Guide is in Michael Stidham’s barn -- Stidham’s horses have finished in the money in 49% of their races this year -- and had a strong workout on May 27 as he went five furlongs in just over one minute. #5 Basquiat won his first career race at Gulfstream on April 25. Jockey Irad Ortiz, who has a win percentage of 20% and a WPS% of 49% this year, will be in the saddle. #8 Country Grammer gets the favorable outside post and he registered a second consecutive strong performance at the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (Feb. 29). Country Grammer is an option in exotic bets.

Picks: I like #3 to win. I also like an exacta box of #3, #6, #5.