Spot Plays on Thursday at Belmont Park to Begin Belmont Stakes Week

In an extremely rare occurrence, I'm actually more excited about win betting opportunities on the Thursday card at Belmont Park than I am about the multi-race wagers.

The stakes action is particularly compelling, with three added-money events kicking off the blockbuster week that cullminates with the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

The Wonder Again is the first of these as race 3 on Thursday's card and is the perfect example of why I'll more likely be sticking to win bets today versus my usual multi-race wagers (at least at Belmont--there are Pick 5 carryovers at both Finger Lakes and Delaware Park).

New Money Honey is the morning line and deserving favorite in the Wonder Again, but she's only as good as these at best, so taking a protracted price when others are as good is a no brainer thing not to do--especially when the alternatives are also trained by Chad Brown in #3 Enchanting Kitten & #4 Fifty Five. If they were a three horse entry I'd probably win bet at 1-to-10.

In the Astoria (race 5), I picked #3 Sugar Babe on top on pure talent preferring her to #2 I Still Miss You, BUT think the outside fillies could have a say in this and would welcome an opportunity to bet on them at 10-to-1 odds or better. #7 Best Performance overcame the most adversity in her win, which I like among two-year-olds, and #8 Di Maria got a big Class Rating for her debut.

In the "featured" Intercontinental, trainer Chad Brown managed to have just two starters, including morning line favorite Take These Chains, but I'll try to beat him with #4 Fair Point my top choice. She has a win over track and looks to reach top form second off layoff, and Jose Ortiz has never strayed from her. 8-to-1 absolutely a square price. This is a race I'll full around in the gimmicks as well, considering my other "A" tabs, #1 & #8, are both prices as well.

Grid below. Good luck today, this week, and every day!