Belmont at the Big A & Churchill Downs Expert Picks & Best Bets – 09/12/25
Belmont at he Big A Race 6
6 Cognoscenti hasn’t been able to get a victory his last 2 starts after a 5-lengths Maiden Score. Gelding ran a better than it looked on paper 5th last out. The distance just might have been too long for this son of Palace Malice and he was facing open company. He now gets back with the NY Breds where I believe he has a good chance for the victory at a price. Win Contender
5 Sounds Like a Plan looks like a deserving favorite and will be tough to beat today. He exits from a second by a head loss versus similar last out and prior to that race he ran a strong third beaten by just a length in local Stakes for NY Breds at the Spa. Win Contender
9 Zapruder makes his second start off the layoff after finishing a fast closing 5th beaten just under 3-lengths versus similar. Any move forward today will put Todd Pletcher trainee right there at the wire. Live Longshot
Selections 6-5-9-8
Belmont at the Big A Race 8
3 Iron Max enters here off back-to-back victories, a Maiden breaking win two races back and a victory last out versus Allowance/Optional 50kN1 foes. Colt was able to close into some very pedestrian paces in the last 2 races. He should get a much more favorable pace scenario today. I love this one’s chances for the W today. Top Pick
5 Real Saavy returned from an impressive Maiden win to run a disappointing 7th. I’m going forgive that effort as he was coming off a 9-month hiatus and was facing winners for the first time. I believe we see a much stronger effort today. Win Contender
1 Mo Kressa makes his second start for the Mark Henning barn after being claimed for 35k. Gelding ran a respectable 5th beaten by just 1-length first off the claim when he stepped up the class ladder. I didn’t care for the ride this one received last out and I like the jockey switch to Ricardo Santana Jr. Win Contender
Selections 3-5-1-10
Churchill Downs Race 9
4 Nova Rags just might get an ideal early pace scenario today to set up this 7-year-olds strong late kick. He finished up well last out despite being left at the gate, finishing a fast closing 4th. Colt is winless in last 6 starts but I feel he has an excellent chance for the victory today as the speed horses likely will be battling early. Look for Jockey Jaime Torres to be running them down in the stretch drive. Win Contender
5 Cat On Time is another in here who likely will benefit from a hot early pace. Gelding sports the best late pace numbers of this group and is a perfect 2-2 at this distance. Win Contender
2 Champlin has some sharp early foot but was no match for the likes of Banishing and Booth, two very talented sprinters, last out. This Gelding has nice resume when running here at Churchill. If somehow he can get a an early and set a moderate pace, he’ll be tough to beat. I just believe he doesn’t get an easy lead today. Use Underneath