by Jeff Siegel
July 4, 2020
Jeff Siegel’s prime plays from around the country are offered on a daily basis to members of xpressbet.com and 1stbet.com. Always the day’s the cream of the crop, Day Makers emphasize price and wagering value and each selection should be given strong consideration both as a straight wager and as a key in vertical and horizontal exotics.
BELMONT PARK – 2nd RACE. POST TIME: 1:49 ET
2 – SPIRIT ANIMAL (7/2)
Made his first start as a 4-year-old off a seven month layoff and left his previous from behind when annihilating a restricted $50,000 claiming field three weeks ago with devastating late kick while registering a five and one-half length score and career top speed figure. Claimed by R. Rodriguez and protected on the raise after a recent bullet five furlong main track drill, the son of Lemon Drop Kid, a winner of three of six career starts, switches to J. Rosario, lands a favorable inside post, and should be capable of handling the class hike. At 7/2 on the morning line he’ll offer plenty of value both in the win pool and in rolling exotic play.
GULFSTREAM PARK – 7th RACE. POST TIME: 3:00 ET
3 – PLUM FUNNY (3-1)
Homebred son of Distorted Humor from the multiple Grade-1 winner Plum Pretty finally makes it to the post midway through his 3-year-old son and has trained like the goods for R. Nicks (solid stats with debut runners). While the work tab doesn’t jump off the page, this impressive chestnut colt has handled everything that’s been matched up with him in the morning and should be plenty fit and ready for a top effort first crack out of the box. The barn’s “go-to” rider E. Jaramillo takes the call, so at 4-1 on the morning line we’ll make him a win play and key in all of our rolling exotics.
BELMONT PARK – 5th RACE. POST TIME: 3:30 ET
7 -FORTIN HILL (5/2)
Had a right to be rusty in his first start since last June when rallying to be second in his comeback at Gulfstream Park in April and finding his best stride late after being somewhat sluggish early. Freshened for more than 10 weeks since that race but with a steady, healthy recent work tab, the son of Much Macho Macho lands the cozy outside draw, is reunited with “win rider” I. Ortiz, Jr., and returns to Belmont Park, where he is unbeaten in two starts. There should be no excuses today, so we’ll make him a win play and rolling exotic single while hoping to get close to his morning line odds of 5/2.
BELMONT PARK – 6TH RACE. POST TIME: 4:03 ET
8 – YES TO MISCHIEF (8-1)
Let’s take shot at a price with this well-bred first-time starter in a seven furlong turf affair for older maiden fillies and mares. A $400,000 OBS March Sale purchase last year after she breezed a blistering furlong in 10 seconds flat in the preview session, the daughter of Into Mischief might be a tad late to the party but hails from an outfit that hits at a respectable 17% with debut runners and shows a work tab that includes several good drills to have her plenty fit. By Into Mischief from a female family that includes major stakes winning turf runners Broken Dreams and Caribou Club, the M. Casse-trained filly looks like a live item and is worth a bit of gamble at 8-1 on the morning line.