Derek Simon's Weekend Selection(s)

Belmont Park (07/02/11)
Race 8 * 8.5 Furlongs * Turf

7-Hungry Island (8/1)
Fair Odds: 3-1
4-Triune (6/1)
Fair Odds: 7-2
8-Skating (5/1)
Fair Odds: 9-2

COMMENT(S): This race appears to be highly contentious and, thus, I think it’s paramount that one insist on a price. Toward that end, I believe HUNGRY ISLAND might be worth a sawbuck or two. Although her speed figures are nothing to crow about, her late speed rations are the best in the field and she’s used to rallying off of slow fractions — a scenario that appears likely again today. The Belmont Park inner turf course has hardly been kind to frontrunners — just six percent wire-to-wire winners in 32 races this meet, according to Brisnet.com — but TRIUNE is the only true early speedster in the field. Plus, she’s run well after rating on the lead in the past (witness her Gulfstream Park score on Feb. 13). SKATING ran deceptively well at both Monmouth and Keeneland in her last two starts.

BET(S): WIN on 7 at odds of 3-1 or greater.

Derek Simon’s Free Selection Statistics

Races (Selections): 30 (33)
Wins: 10
Rate: 33.3%
Return: $74.70
ROI: +13.18%

(This year's published selections through 06/30/11.)

Note: Play is restricted to any horse(s) that meet my fair odds requirements (when listed). Multiple qualifying contenders will be bet separately, however, multiple bets will be adjusted to equal a single wager and the payoffs averaged. For example a winning WIN/PLACE wager paying $6.20 on top and $4.30 underneath would count as a single bet paying $5.25 (the average of $6.20 and $4.30).