New York Showcase Day Kicks Off Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Iron Bets players can take advantage of great Daily Promos throughout the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. On Wednesday wager $250 or more on the card and receive a FREE $20 wager. In addition, we have $20 Money Back Specials on the $200,000 Kingston and the $200,000 Mount Vernon. You will receive a refund of up to $20 if your pick does not win and runs second or third. (Six horses must run in race to qualify).

Let’s take a look at the two $20 Money Back Special races for Wednesday:

Saratoga Race 7 The $200,000 Kingston Post time 4:02 ET

4 Be of Courage   6-1

9 Hush of a Storm   2-1

3 Bettrluckythangood   6-1

1 Itsallcomintogetha   7-2

Be of Courage

This five-year-old took quite a while to pass his first state bred condition but came back off a year layoff to beat NY bred Alw-2 optional claimers last out in a game effort over three foes he squares off with here again today. The Pregman trainee appears to have matured with the time off and should get a good pace set up as there is plenty of early zip signed up to go here.

Hush of a Storm

The Cox trainee also figures to benefit from a sharp early pace but this guy is going to end up a much shorter price than our top pick. The gelding has raced more on the fake stuff but is 3 for 8 on turf including winning the state bred Ashley T. Cole last fall at nine furlongs with a solid late rally. The gelding did not show the same late punch last out in a fifth-place finish outside of the state bred ranks, but note the ground was good and this guy has fared better on firmer turf which he will likely get here. His third two back at Turfway Park in the Kentucky Jockey Cup Classic (G3) was a bit better than it looked. Two came out of that race to win next out while the winner Mercante came back to run a game second in the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs and then win the Arlington (G3). Prat / Cox assures us the price will be on the light side.

Wagering

WIN: Be of Courage to win at 4-1 or better.

Exacta: 4 / 1,3,9 and 4,9 / 3,4,9

Saratoga Race 9 The $200,000 Mount Vernon Post time 5:12 ET

5 Awesome Czech   4-1

10 Whatlovelookslike   7-2

1 Silver Skillet   3-1

2 Spinning Colors   8-1

Awesome Czech

This filly is making her second start off a five-month break for the De Paz barn. Off the shelf last out she came with a good late rally to just miss by a neck going a mile against open Alw-1 optional claimers. She is a three-time winner on turf including a perfect 2 for 2 on the Spa turf, taking the state bred Suzie O’Cain last summer here. She should get a good trip midflight and looks capable of moving forward off her last effort at what should be a fair price.

Whatlovelookslike

The Pletcher trainee looks well spotted back in with state breds after setting the early fractions and weakening to finish fifth in the Sheepshead Bay (G3) going 1 3/8 miles. Two back at Gulfstream Park she checked in sixth in the highly graded The Very One that produced a pair of next out stakes winners, Forever After All winning the Bewitch (G3) and Beach Bomb winning the Orchid (G3) and then running second in the Sheepshead Bay (G3). The cut back in distance will suit this mare and she has done some of her best running over the Spa turf.

Wagering

WIN:  Awesome Czech to win at 7-2 or better.

EXACTA: 5/ 1,2,10 and 5,10 / 1,5,10