Quills Picks Winners – Sunday 5/3 – Belmont at the Big A Race 11

We return to a sense of normalcy for a few days after a crazy and historic Kentucky Derby. We head to Aqueduct today as the final Belmont at the Big A meet is underway. We will take a look at race 11 on a 12-race card this afternoon as fillies and mares sprint six furlongs on the outer turf course this afternoon in the License Fee Stakes.

Belmont at the Big A Race 11 – License Fee Stakes

Favored in the License Fee Stakes if the 3 Jody’s Pride (5/2 morning line). She finished third in the Grade 3 Distaff Stakes on the main track here at Aqueduct last month. She is 0 for 3 lifetime on the grass, but she did finish third on the toughest turf course in the United States, Kentucky Downs. This mare does like to be close to the pace, but she does look like a vulnerable favorite here this afternoon.

The 5 Buttercream Babe (9/2 ML) scratched from a turf stakes race on the Kentucky Oaks undercard to run here today. She won on the grass at Keeneland last month in her 2026 debut. She steps up in class here this afternoon but has run against tougher on the grass back in 2024. Look for her to be closing in this race today.

The 2 Lost and Found (10/1 ML) faces for the first time for her new trainer, but this filly has run well in her three races on the turf last year. She won on the lead at Turfway Park at the end of March on the lead. She is more of a closer and showed her closing ability in February at Turfway Park as well as her three races on the grass in Kentucky and Indiana.

The 6 Love Cervere (4/1 ML) finished off the board in the Grade 2 Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland last month. It was her first race since last November and probably needed the race. She returns today and should be closing in a race that gives her some class relief.

Joe’s Pick

I think we have a very vulnerable favorite in the 3 Jody’s Pride. She has not run well on the turf in the past, She looks like she would be more of a sprinter on the main track.

I will take Buttercream Babe here this afternoon. She was scratched in a graded stakes on Friday to run here and I think she would be better suited with this level of stakes racing compared to a Grade 2 race on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. She will be challenged late by Love Cervere and Lost and Found, but the Babe will win this today.

I’m calling this race 5-2-6-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 5. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!