Belmont at the Big A: Friday 5/22 Plays R8 - Pete's Picks

Little Pete
May 22
3 min read

Eight scheduled for this Memorial Day Weekend, Friday edition at the Big A. I will be condensing my plays down to just the numbers and attacking the early double (Races 1 & 2) and a spot pick 3 (Races 3-5). Big Pete will attack his "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 (Races 6-8). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.

Little Pete's $ 5.00 Early Double:

R1: 2

R2: 3, 4 Cost: $ 10.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R3: 1, 3, 5

R4: 1, 2, 6

R5: 1, 4, 6 Cost: $ 27.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R6: 1, 5, 6

R7: 5, 6, 7, 8

R8: 2, 7, 8, 9 Cost: $ 48.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 3:

(3) NOTABLE EXCHANGE ships in with her best speed figures run in her last two races. They top all the others in here, and Junior returns to the saddle. She's first or 2nd 50% of the time and drops slightly from two Florida state-bred stakes.

I’ll use (1) Stillthinkingofyou and (5) Seat At The Table underneath for the exacta.

$ 7.00 WPS 3 Cost $ 21.00

$ 7.00 Ex 3 w/ 1, 5 Cost $ 14.00

We’ll also use (3) Notable Exchange in R3 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.

(1) Paradise Vally and (2) Curvino in the 4th.

$ 7.00 Daily Double 3 w/ 1, 2 Cost $ 14.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 6:

(6) DOWNTOWN CHANNEL is possible lone speed in this short field. If Santana can slow the pace early, they might have a problem catching her. (1) CAN'T FOOL ME picks up Prat and had no chance catching the winner last time with slow fractions. She needs to stay closer or the same thing will happen again. Prat usually keeps them up close, so she might just get there today. (5) SCYTHIAN is the class of the field. She's faced decent runners in Tampa and then fell asleep behind Can't Fool Me last time. She'll be ready today.

$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 5, 6 Cost $ 18.00

Race 7:

(5) RAISE THE BAR and (8) TUSCAN SKY are from the big barns and will attract attention. On their best days, either one can take it. The problem is, we haven't seen their better days recently. I'll take a shot against but use them as savers. (6) OVER AND OLLIE is the wise guy pick and adds L1 again. He only seems to run well when on the medication. Through in Johnny V making the trip back home for this in the mix ad the 6:1 ML looks too good to pass up. I also like (7) T KRAFT in this spot. Mott was aggressive with him at the Spa as he tried G1 & G2 runners. Then he went to the bench. They gave him a public workout last month to get him ready for the 2026 season. He's yet to lose on this Aqueduct dirt course, and this may be his last time on it. Junior comes in to ride as they look live for this one.

$ 7.00 WPS 6 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex 6, 7 w/ 5, 6, 7, 8 Cost $ 18.00

Race 8:

(7) THUNDER ROLL and (9) FELONIOUS both drop from MSW to this MCL sprint. They have races against better that make them tough in here if they can find them. With Prat getting on Felonious, that is where I'll land as they move back to the turf where he started his career. We'll use (2) URGENCY as Maker turns to Franco and tries 6F today. The cutback will do him good. (8) OLIGARCH has the highest speed figure of this group. He just got by Two Ducks last time and probably will do it again.