There is a full day of horse racing action to attack on Monday. We are looking for winning ponies after a successful outing at Saratoga on Saturday.
Epicenter was much too good for his foes in the Travers Stakes (Gr. 1). He put on a clinic at Saratoga Race Course. There aren’t many horses that can beat Epicenter in that form right now.
We’re at Monmouth and Mountaineer Park on Monday. Mountaineer has an evening card in West Virginia worth $105,700 across eight events. Head below for our best Mountaineer Park picks on August 29, 2022.
Race 3
Race 3 is a $21,200 event covering 7 furlongs on the turf. We’re considering plays on Hurricain Hunter and Belle Brezing in this one.
Hurricain Hunter is 3 for 24 and finished 3rd, 13th, 3rd in her previous three starts. In her latest outing, Hurrican Hunter showed 3rd for an $18,800 purse on August 14.
The mare finished 13th a race earlier on July 17 for a $31,000 purse. Hurricain Hunter is started from the inside and should have an edge, but Belle Breezing should be tough.
Belle Brezing is 5 for 42 and has been putting in good work recently. She’s finished 1st, 2nd, 1st in her previous three performances.
In her latest start, Belle Brezing beat Curt’s Angel by a head for $18,800. This was two races after a ¾-length win in a $14,200 assignment.
She’s averaged around a speed figure of 80 in her previous three starts. Expect her to have enough to win tonight.
Race 4
Race 4 covers 5 ½ furlongs for a $7,700 purse. This looks like a duel between Hunter Jumper and Flat Out Miracle.
Flat Out Miracle is winless in nine attempts and finished 9th, 3rd, 3rd in three attempts going into Monday. He is coming off a tough performance on August 3.
Flat Out Miracle finished 9th for a $16,500 purse. He’s seeing a class drop to $7,700 tonight. That should help, but with a speed figure of 35, more is required to beat Hunter Jumper.
Hunter Jumper is winless in eight attempts in his career. In his last three starter, Hunter Jumper finished 3rd, 2nd, 7th.
He most recently showed 3rd on August 21 for a $16,500 purse. A few weeks earlier, the gelding placed 2nd behind Dynamometer by 6 ½ lengths for an $11,000 prize.
Against a beatable field in Race 4, Hunter Jumper should be well watched going into tonight.
Race 7
Our final selection at Mountaineer is a $18,800 event covering 6 furlongs on the dirt. Qualifly and U. S. Steel are going to be tough to beat in Race 7.
Qualifly is 8 for 57 and has been known to get into the winner’s circle recently. He’s finished 4th, 1st, 3rd, 1st in his previous four starts.
In his most recent start, Qualifly finished 4th in a $32,000 event on June 27. That was a drop from a win on June 6 for a $18,800 purse.
He feels more comfortable in this $18,800 grade and should react well back down here. U. S. Steel is 3 for 15 and is seeing a class drop after struggling recently.
He’s finished 7th, 6th, 2nd in his previous three attempts. In his latest performance, U. S. Steel finished 7th for a $57,500 prize on July 31 at Monmouth. This was after 6th on July 14 at Saratoga for a $70,000 prize.
In his most recent win, U. S. Steel won at Oaklawn in November for a $36,000 purse. All the way down from facing top talent at Saratoga and Monmouth to a $18,800 assignment at Mountaineer, this looks winnable for U. S. Steel.
