Belmont Park track update: Oct. 6, 2021

Much of the Breeders' Cup prep action is focused on Belmont Park this weekend.

A few weeks into the fall meet, it's a good time to check in, find out who is hot, and get ready to bet this weekend's classy cards.

Jockeys

Jose Ortiz (16 wins, 68 starts, 24%) has jumped to a narrow early lead over Dylan Davis (14 wins, 76 starts, 18%) and Irad Ortiz (13 wins, 93 starts, 14%) in the riding standings.

Among those leading riders, Davis has built a particularly strong ROI, +54% for the meet. His lucrative victories in routes, on both turf and dirt, account for that positive return.

As far as riders to play at a price, Javier Castellano and Kendrick Carmouche have emerged as options. Five of Castellano's 10 winners have been at prices of 8-1 or better, with four longer-priced winners on turf. Four of Carmouche's six winners have been north of 8-1, with three in races at a mile or longer.

Trainers

Todd Pletcher has gotten a hot start at Belmont and leads the way with 10 wins (44 starts, 23%). Chad Brown (seven wins, 51 starts, 14%) and Thomas Morley (seven wins, 16 starts, 44%) are on his heels.

As expected, with such a high strike rate, Morley's flat-bet ROI is fantastic, at +251%. The majority of Morley's success has come at a mile or longer. He has six wins from eight starts (75%), with a +481% ROI, in races at a mile or longer.

Pletcher has come in hot with first-time starters. He already has three wins from eight starts with debut runners and is the only trainer with more than one victory in that category at the Belmont meet.

Make sure to watch George Weaver on the turf. All four of his wins this meet have come on the lawn, where he has four wins from nine starts (44%), with a +213% ROI.

On dirt, Linda Rice (five wins, 14 starts, 36%, +84% ROI) has been particularly strong.

At a Glance

For more information about the latest trends at tracks all over North America, read the latest At a Glance reports, only on Brisnet.