Yesterday was chalky, but today it looks like there are a lot of very competitive races.
Race 1 1A-7-3 C=1 V=2
Lazarus Project sold for four times the stud fee and has a good series of workouts. Orseno not known for debut or two year olds, but the competition here is not that stout. Voluntario was caught wide in his debut on the turf. He’s really far better bred for the dirt and Irad stays for the trip. Dr. Edgar looks well bred for the sprint and has a useful looking workout pattern.
Race 2 1-10-8 C=3 V=3
Riviere Du Loup has been trying to break through since coming to America. He’s as talented as any horse in the race, and will win sooner or later. Schoolofhardrocks is the third horse coming out of the strong looking Sept 23 race. Second race off a four month layoff so potential to improve. Reach for Yield goes first off the claim for Jacobson. Horse has looked like he’s figured it out since he broke his maiden.
Race 3 2-1-3 C=1 V=2
Elated has had moderate success at BEL and the distance, but she’s starting to have the look of a horse that may have seconditis. Tough call. Regia Marina has four seconds and a third in six starts. Another that will have to overcome the seconitis. Pretty and Sweet looked good coming off a short layoff and seemed to take to the longer distance. Five starts, never out of the money.
Race 4 3-8-5 C=2 V=2
Bubbe Zena should prefer the sprint distance and has figures competitive with the field. Kellyesque drops down from MSW and hadn’t run that badly at the higher level. Looks well placed. Sing for Beauty should have all the front speed and will have to be caught. Another dropping from MSW.
Race 5 5-2-1 C=1 V=1
Upgrade has been close in every race he’s run in 2015. Figures have been ultra consistent and he looks ready for win number two of the year. U S Citizen actually looks best from a figure standpoint but it’s hard to know how well he’ll adapt to the turf at BEL. Can’t leave him out but go with caution. Saint Finian ran a big one at Saratoga and ran fair in his next at BEL. Competitive off his best.
Race 6 1-3-5 C=2 V=1
Privately Speaking flopped last out in the mud but her turf races are more impressive. Should be in the group up front. Chow Fun is 12-1 ML but she has run mid-pack with some better fields. Levine has good numbers with turf sprints and route to sprint. Looks live at the odds. Dot Product just won at $40K NW2 and takes a slight drop to $25K for the NW3 race. Has been competitive all year and matches well in this group.
Race 7 5-1-10 C=1 V=1
Dettifoss looked strong first time with winners and has been a new horse since Bruce Brown removed the hood. Should be a major player today. David Rocks will have to go out of the one post but he’s shown good ability to go to the front and stay to the end. Indiana Stones is a speedy sort with a win at BEL. Seems to be on the improve. And
Race 8 3-4-5 C=1 V=2
Request has been close at the longer distances and looks to be a good fit here. Nexrad is the closest thing there is to a pacesetter here and if he goes slow enough early he may steal the race. Grey Wizard has won at the distance and is 2 of 3 in the money at BEL.
Race 9 6-10-1-7 C=2 V=2
Laquesta just missed last out. Has improved in both her starts with good figures in both. Light the Sky was a $750K purchase. Lost as the favorite at DEL but showed respectably. Gets Johnny V for the trip. Amaze me Grace showed a lot of closing ability and unless she finds some speed today she’ll have to do it again in this race. Scatoosh takes the blinkers off today. Figures well at the distance.