Horse Racing Picks for Fri., Sept. 18, 2026 @ Belmont Park
Horse racing picks and best bets for Sat., Sept. `8th, 2026, at Belmont from Turtle Sports’ Lundin Line. Get expert analysis, free tips, and stakes-race insights to help you cash in on today’s card.
HORSE RACING
- Fink
The long-awaited return to Belmont Park is finally here, and we are wasting no time getting back into the groove at the newly renovated track. On Saturday, we headed north to Woodbine, where it was a decent day overall, with four top-pick winners despite a small loss. Our second-ranked picks performed especially well, adding three more winners and pushing our ROI into positive territory.
Today’s card features just nine races, but right in the middle is our next Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event and the featured race of the day: the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes. This Grade 1 race is contested at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt for three-year-olds and up. The purse is $1 million, and the winner will earn a spot in the Longines Classic at Del Mar on Halloween.
The field includes several horses familiar to everyday horseplayers, along with a couple that even casual racing fans may recognize. We are particularly excited to welcome Forever Young back to the United States. He has not raced on American soil since winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup and is seeking his third start in the Classic. In previous years, Forever Young qualified with victories overseas, and he has done so again this season. However, with 22 horses still in contention for a 14-horse field, he will be looking to cement his starting position today.
The weather is shaping up nicely, with temperatures in the low 80s and mostly sunny skies. Although the renovations are complete, the track itself was not rebuilt, so we have plenty of historical data to work with. Conditions should be ideal, with a fast dirt track and firm turf expected.
Happy Return of Belmont Park 🏇
Need help picking winners? We've got you covered! Our (Always Free) Lundin Line's top picks and best bets are below. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -
It's time to get #InTheMoney! 💰💰💰
🏇 Fri., Sept. 18th 2026 @ Belmont
First Post @ 10:25 ETD (8:25 PDT)
⭑Best Bet(s)
R5: 1 Mil. Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1)/BC
1 1/4 Miles on Dirt for 3 Yr. Olds & Up
BC Div: Longines Classic
Ⓢtakes Race(s)
R1: 1-4-9-7
R2: 7-6-11-12
R3: 9-2-5-10
R4: (13)-8-6-(14)-4
🏇R5Ⓢ: Jockey Cup Gold Cup S.
LL: 4-5-1
Fink: 7-4-1
Mr. W: 4-7-5
R6: (14)-10-3-12-5
R7: 11⭑-10-3-6
R8: (14)-1-6-9-2
R9: 11-12-6-1
🏇= Featured Race(s)
R7: Card Man (#11)
