It is going to be a scorcher in New York, both weather and pace wise.
POP THE HOOD, DEVILS HALO and PROFESSOR SNAPE are likely to go at it in the early fractions and that might open the door for a come from behind win by HAVE ANOTHER.
Lightly raced CALL TRIPLE A broke his maiden impressively in his only start and might make it two in row if he kept sharp. The first start on Lasix for this four years old colt might mean a big performance today
In the 5th race of Belmont Park on July 1 2018, the field notes are as follow:
Number 1, CALL TRIPLE A stayed patient in the early going in his only start and drew off to win by 5 lengths. He travels to Belmont Park for the first time and trained well here showing a bullet workout at the start of the month. Trying Lasix for the first time, CALL TRIPLE A might be in for an improved performance still and would benefit from the fast early fractions that his opponent are likely to produce. He might be in for a good race today
Number 2 POP THE HOOD has a very good record at the distance and has won before at Belmont Park. This speedy horse has not won at this class level however. The older gelding has the best speed figure record of the field but has not shown much so far this year. The very sharp workouts are a good sign though and POP THE HOOD should battle early for the lead from the inside. Keeping the lead to the wire is another story.
Number 3, DEVILS HALO won his only career start while fighting throughout for the lead and fighting against the Churchill Downs track bias which tends to favour inside horses. New York is a long way from Kentucky though so one can expect that they did not travel all this way with no ambition. The pace should be hotter than on his first try however and DEVILS HALO goes against winners for the first time. A tepid workout is not a very good sign but maybe the trainer was just keeping him warm for that race? DEVILS HALO will need a much better performance to win it today and starting at probably low odds, I don’t think that he is the right pick for this race.
Number 4, KILLYBEGS CAPTAIN has been rested a couple of months but has some sharp workouts in the interim. He failed to impress in his last two starts however and will need to step up his game to have a chance here today. Winner of an allowance at Aqueduct in February on an off-track, KILLYBEGS CAPTAIN has posted speed figures in the past that would allow him to compete today. The recent form is dubious however and the overall win record is not particularly impressive, though he did win at the distance in the past. KILLYBEGS CAPTAIN can go fast early but he has competition in this regard today so one can probably pass on him.
Number 5 PROFESSOR SNAPE failed to win a single race so far this year despite trying his luck at a lower class category last time out. His best speed figure performance came at Belmont Park on the same 6 furlongs track and he seems to like the surroundings, having never finished worse than 3rd when running here. He has however never won at the distance, coming close a couple of times recently. He switches trainer and owner for this one so maybe the change of connections can help but against this field and with competition for the lead today it is doubtful that he can go all the way.
Number 6, HAVE ANOTHER won two in a row at Belmont Park, including a win last time out at a slightly lower class level. The same jockey is on board and is a winning choice for his in-form trainer. The best speed figure in the field last time out is an angle that many bettors are likely to pick up on but if he can repeat the performance from two starts ago, he has a very good shot today. The come from behind style should be well suited today against a few speed horses so granted the lightly raced horses on the inside do not step up bigly, HAVE ANOTHER might beat them all to the wire.
CONCLUSION
A hot pace is in the cards which could setup the race nicely for HAVE ANOTHER.
One should not discard the chances of CALL TRIPLE A who is likely to improve further from his first career start, trying Lasix for the first time.
Granted that the speed horses run a fast pace in the early goings, the race is open for one of these two. It will come down to the odds at post time.
JULY 1 BELMONT PARK RACE 5 BETTING ADVICE
WIN BET at 2-1 or more on Number 6 HAVE ANOTHER
WIN BET at 3-1 or more on Number 1 CALL TRIPLE A
Exacta Box 1-6