Preakness Handicapping - June 29, 2008

Today we have a total of four races from Belmont Park for selections and analysis.

Today's Best Bet is # 7 Mithall in Race # 3 at Belmont Park.

Saturday's Results: Belmont Park Race #1 Top pick #7 (Big Motor) $8.10. 

Belmont Park Race #2 Exacta third pick with Best Bet (4-7) $26.00. 

Belmont Park Race #4 Top Pick #2 (Les Antiques) $3.90.
Exacta (2-5) $9.10.
Trifecta Exact Order (2-5-1) $46.40. 

Belmont Park Race #5 Exacta third pick with Top Pick (1-4) $44.40.
Trifecta Box of top three (1-4-2) $154.00.

Today's Horse Racing Picks:

BELMONT PARK Race #TWO (1:30 PM Eastern)

(# 2) DULCET TONE - Filly showed good speed in her debut at Monmouth just 10 days ago and held well to finish third. Daughter of "Empire Maker" was well-supported at the windows as are most Bob Frankel runners. Draws the rail in a field lacking a lot of visible speed. Wire-to-wire threat.

(# 6) Great Humor - Goes turf-to-dirt and shortens up at the same time for trainer Bill Mott. Filly by "Distorted Humor" has shown some speed in her pair of dirt starts and is working well for this attempt.

(# 4) Star Venue - First-timer from the barn of John Kimmel has been working in fast fashion for some time now and her latest work was a quick one from the gate. Looks "primed and ready."

(# 7) MITHAAL - Drops and stretches-out for the Levine barn off a sprint at Monmouth Park. Once classier runner has always performed well when under a $30,000 price tag and that's today's scenario. Recent work indicates he's on his toes and ready to go.

(# 6) Final Story - Stretches-out off a recent claim by the low-percentage Steve Jerkens barn. Runner has been sprinting recently and is in good shape at present. He's run very well at this distance in the past.

(# 5) Lieutenant Danz - Good tactical speed to utilize and he is coming off of a pair of tries where he set all the pace and hung on to finish second. Similar tactics will be employed today.

(# 1a) Wood Winner - Recent re-claim by Randi Persaud and trainer has been on a roll all season (37-7-6-7). When last with this barn runner was in pretty good form and lost it quickly when he was claimed away. Rebounds today with a better effort.

(# 8) BLUEGRASS GIRL - Filly was making a strong move in her last when blocked and forced to steady. Previous run sprinting on the grass produced a good-looking maiden win. Can rebound with a big race in this lackluster field.

(# 1) Too Much Zip - Filly returns from a fall layoff for trainer Gary Contessa. Has some speed, is working well, and draws a good post to "attack" from. Win contender.

(# 10) Miss Annie M - Stalker has hit the board in five of seven turf starts without winning. Has a good post and enough speed to stay within range before making a late charge.

(# 6) Karakorum Playmate - Heart-breaking loss in her last race. Filly set all the pace at this tag and distance, dug in determinely when challenged in late stretch, and was beaten in the very last stride. She may face pace-presure today.

(# 1) ARTISTIC TALENT - Drops into a claimer and returns to the dirt in her second back from a two-month layoff. Filly ran well in California against better maidens without winning. Training sharply at Saratoga for trainer Bob Frankel and she's the horse to beat.

(# 2) Panthera Tigre - Just missed in her last pair despite having some problems in both. Logical contender draws the hedge post and will need a trouble free trip to get the job done.

(# 3) Cobblestone Way - Filly showed speed in her debut on a muddy main track before tiring. Moves to the grass and drops into a claimer for the McLaughlin barn, and trainer is known for second-out success.

(# 5) Whirling Agatha - Allen Jerkens runner drops and shortens up today for her third start off a seven-month layoff. Has some talent and she also gets the addition of both lasix and blinkers. Should offer some value in the exotics.

Horse Racing Picks Resources:

• Check out horse handicapper here.
• View our horse racing handicapping philosophy here.
• Take a look at our horseracing handicapping here.
• Updated today: horse racing explained.
• View our bouncing horse racing here.
• Don't forget to visit our horse racing rules.
• View our horseracing racebook reviews here.
• View our kentucky derby handicappers here.
• Updated today: triple crown preakness stakes.
• Here we show our belmont stakes picks.
• Updated today: 2008 horse racing picks results.

Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters:

Horse-Racing-Picks-June-28-2008
BELMONT PARK Race #ONE (1:00 PM Eastern)( # 8) THUNDER ALLEY - Claimed by the Asmussen barn from Bill Mott in late March. He broke his maiden in his first start for the new connections on April 20. Ge...

Horse-Racing-Picks-June-27-2008
BELMONT PARK Race #ONE (3:00 PM Eastern)(# 4) RELATO DEL GATO - Very fast runner is fresh and fit off a mid-March layoff for the Steve Asmussen barn. He's won off of freshenings in the past. Veteran l...

Horse-Racing-Picks-June-26-2008
BELMONT PARK Race #ONE (1:00 PM Eastern)(# 1A) MY COUSIN MATT - Drops from $50,000 down to $20K and doeas so off a claim. Trainer (Dave Jacobson) specializes in this type of maneuver and runner looks ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-June-25-2008
DELAWARE PARK Race #TWO (1:10 PM Eastern)(# 5) SWEETAMYGEE - Goes second off a two-month break and showed big speed in her return against a bit better. Drops slightly and the other speed is inside of ...

Horse-Racing-Picks-June-24-2008
RIVER DOWNS Race #ONE (1:05 PM Eastern)(# 5) More Than Thought - Drops and stretches for the Wayne Bearden barn (21 of 87) on the year and (15 for 50) at this meet. Plenty of speed to use in a race wi...