Belmont at the Big A: 5/23 Plays Pete's Picks

Little Pete
May 23, 2025
3 min read

We have 9 scheduled for Belmont at the Big A as we kick off the holiday weekend on this Friday. Off the turf but it looks dry for the afternoon. I will be condensing my plays down to just the number and attacking the early double ( Races 1 & 2 ) and a spot pick 3 ( Races 4-6 ). Big Pete will attack his "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 ( Races 7-9 ). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.

Little Pete's $ 5.00 Early Double:

R1: 4, 5

R2: 8, 11 Cost: $ 20.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R4: 2, 7

R5: 1, 3, 7

R6: 2, 6, 8 Cost: $ 18.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R7: 2, 5, 12

R8: 1, 2, 6

R9: 5, 7, 9, 10 Cost: $ 36.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 3:

(8) BOURBON DAY ships in for Maker and gets Manny up. He did this last year around this time, and it paid off. They claimed him three back and put him in a small stakes race and now drop him slightly for this. The speed figures are high enough for this group and should prove tough against this bunch.

We'll use (1A) Mikealicious and (10) Waitlist underneath for the exacta

$ 7.00 WPS 8 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Exacta Box 1, 8, 10 Cost $ 18.00

We'll use (8) Bourbon Day in R3 and try to cash in on the Double in R4

(2) Bold Victory and (7) Khafre look solid in Race 4

$ 7.00 Double 8 w/ 2, 7 Cost $ 14.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 7:

(5) SOHANA was looking for dirt anyway, and she gets her wish. Cox put her on the shelf for a long time, and she looked bad in that return back in April. The stumble set all that in motion, so I'll draw a line through it and give her another shot. Her races last year would make her tough in here, and I'm guessing we see the filly again today. (2) BAM'S BLISS KISS is the other Solomini with speed and cuts back slightly for this. If she clears early, they may not catch her. The one to beat is (12) LA BANQUERA moving back in against fellow NY Breds. Her last start was not great, but she too didn't get away cleanly. Prior to that, she has been dominant this year. A must-use as this race goes through her.

$ 7.00 WPS 5 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Exacta Box 2, 5, 12 Cost $ 18.00

Race 8:

(1) TOP GUN ROCKET and (1A) GOLDEN SYMPHONY are the entry to beat. Top Gun has a bullet, so he probably goes early, and Golden can pick up the pieces late if his entrymate comes back to the group. Ness scratches down to one with (2B) MAD BANKER. He'll add fuel to the fire up front. The key is he goes from several two turn races to now one turn and breaks outside to avoid any traffic. I'll take a shot with (6) STREET VIEW to come and get them all. "She" faces the boys today. Her four races this year are the best races of her career. The speed figures have gone up in each outing while moving through different barns. She looks to be in top form and will try to run away from the boys turning for home.

$ 7.00 WPS 6 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Exacta 2, 6 w/ 1, 2, 4, 6 Cost $ 18.00

Race 9:

(5) TIOTE is the colt to beat. Cox drops this guy several levels and puts Manny up again. His two previous races top this bunch, and the competition gets a little easier for him. (7) RUNAMOR and (9) OMAHA PISTOL both have speed, so if either one can shake loose from the other, they have the advantage. I like Irad showing up on (10) CAPT JAX PARROW in this finale. They cut back slightly and figure to get some help up front with several speeds signed on.