Mother nature decided to force the New York Racing Association to cancel their Saturday and Sunday cards last week due to the Nor’easter in the area, but that means one of the best Thursday cards this century is on tap to kick off the month of October. That’s right, six graded stakes make up the Pick 6 sequence for the afternoon with the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) being the headliner.

Speaking of the start of the month, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet have a new promotion for October we are running back from last year. “Bonus Boonanza” rewards horseplayers for wagering $100 at a different track throughout the month with a bonus of $10. It begins on Thursday and you guessed it Belmont is the select track. Here are a few horses I like in the stakes and will wager on in order to earn my free 10% back.


Race 4: Winter Memories (G3)
This one-mile event over the grass for 3YO fillies is one of the more competitive races on the agenda. #8 Sister Troienne brings the strongest resume into the event for trainer Brian Lynch, but has not competed since early April at Keeneland. She is as capable as anyone probably, but may have peaked as a juvenile and early 3YO. I will try to beat her with #6 Lovely Grey. The Kelsey Danner trainee has been given three months to regroup after being involved in a spill in a restricted stake at Saratoga on July 3. Prior to that the Go Go Greys Stable filly was outrun taking an understandable shot on the dirt in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Her recent two starts have dirtied up her form, which hopefully helps counter the expected money from Dave Portnoy and his Barstool crew. Lovely Grey proved she can finish with energy and should appreciate getting back to the grass.

Play: #6 Lovely Grey (8-1 ML)
Picks: 6-7-3


Race 6: Vosburgh (G3)
My next play comes in this seven-furlong event for 3YOs+ over the main track where I expect #1 T Kraft to run a big race in his first start over the Belmont Park dirt. The son of Connect returns to the races after finishing in a dead heat with Senior Officer in the Forego (G1) at the Spa in late August. The 4YO colt draws the rail, which will be an issue if he breaks poorly, but also could lead to a perfect ground saving mid-pack trip under jockey Junior Alvarado. The Bill Mott trainee enters this year’s Vosburgh in the best form of his career and may prove to be at his best at seven-eighths of a mile.

Play: #1 T Kraft (6-1 ML)
Picks: 1-8-5


Race 7: Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1)
The lone Grade 1 on the stakes-laden Thursday slate is this 1 1/2-mile excursion over the Belmont grass where I could not get past 2-1-ML favorite #1 El Cordobes. The son of Frankel makes his first start since a trip to Qatar that led to a fifth-place finish for trainer Charles Appleby. Appleby has not won races in North America in bunches at all like he has in past years, but does come in off of two big wins at Woodbine with horses expected to finish first in the Summer (G1) and Woodbine Mile (G1). El Cordobes likely was given the spring and summer off to prepare for another shot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) after running third to Rebel’s Romance at Del Mar a year ago. Flavien Prat will be aboard the 5YO gelding who draws favorably along the inside in his first start over the new turf course in Long Island. He likely needs a good showing to get another chance to run in the World Championships. I expect him to get just that.

Play: #1 El Cordobes (2-1 ML)
Picks: 1-7-4