Sunday's Best Bet: Beren strikes back in Gold Fever

Sunday’s 8th race from Belmont Park is the $100,000 Gold Fever Stakes for three-year-olds dashing six furlongs on the main track (Post Time 4:51 p.m. ET).

#1 BEREN (7-2) had a bad stumble at the start from the outside post and was basically eliminated early in the Bay Shore (G3) April 3. After that beginning he had no chance to catch Drain the Clock through below par splits. The versatile PA-bred colt was moving forward nicely prior to his last and can bounce back with a clean getaway.

#6 Candy Man Rocket (8-5) is probably best sprinting. He romped at this distance second time out at Gulfstream, and stretched out, stalked, took over, and held in his first start vs. winners in the Sam F. Davis (G3). He was getting weary late in the Sam Davis and tired badly in his last two Derby points race routes. Bill Mott wisely turns him back and he figures to work out a comfortable outside stalking trip.

#3 Roderick (9-5) is a bit tough to gauge. Both of his wins were at five panels and he was not really close in his other four starts. It is not as if he is without a chance, but I am just not sure I trust the $550k Keeneland sales grad at low odds. He romped in his local career debut and should be in the hunt from the outset under Joel Rosario.

Wagers:

#1 to win

Exacta 1/3-6

Exacta 3-6/1

Recent Best Bet Winners

May 3 - LEADER OF THE BAND ($3.60), Exacta ($23.80)
May 5 - WENTZ ($6.20), Exacta ($17.80)
May 7 - ULTIMATE HY ($4.40), Exacta ($13.60)