Super Screener: Jockey Club Gold Cup right race to bet Patch

Despite his popularity, the one-eyed horse, Patch, has gone off at odds of 37-1 and 19-1 in his two most-recent Grade 1 starts. Entering Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, the Todd Pletcher trainee should offer value again, and Horse Racing Nation's Super Screener handicapping system suggests this is the time to include him on your tickets.

Authored by Mike Shutty, the Super Screener analyzes key graded stakes that run each weekend throughout the year. What's offered here is a small sample of the full product, which will also handicap other major races on a weekend packed with qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup.

So, why Patch, and why now?

"Patch was the victim of a very difficult trip in the Grade 1 Woodward," Shutty said. "He broke last of all, spotting the field 15 lengths heading into the first turn on a Saratoga surface that was kind to speed in these route races on most of the days of the meet."

Shutty cited Patch's "visually impressive move" starting midway through the far turn, then a move nine or 10 wide as the field fanned out in the stretch. The son of Union Rags finished fifth, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner, Yoshida.

"He was clearly third-best in that race and, one could argue, perhaps even better than that," Shutty said. "So coming off that trip, and this being his third race off the layoff, look for a nice move forward with a pace set up that couldn’t be more ideal. The added ground will only help his cause."

The Jockey Club Gold Cup runs at 1 1/4 miles and includes three known speed horses: Diversify, Thunder Snow and Mendelssohn. That trio is all gearing up for the Breeders' Cup Classic, with Patch's plans undetermined.

Shutty lists Patch as a top value, top board hitter and top closer for the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Diversify gets the nod in the win spot, with the Calumet Farms homebred trained by Todd Pletcher one he mixes underneath in exacta and trifecta wagers.

Shutty shares more likely board hitters, a full-field analysis and suggested wagers tickets in the full version of the Super Screener. Get the handicapping advantage today!