Selections

Belmont May 19

Race 1

  • 3  Honor River  5/2

  • 5 Star Empire  3-1

  • 4  Fuhrlong  2-1

Honor River sold for 13 times the stud fee. Mark Casse is good with 2 YOs. Breeding says he should relish the distance. Star Empire goes for Wesley Ward who is 24% with debuting 2 YOs. Furlong has two starts and two seconds. He could be by far the best, or a horse struggling to become a winner.

Race 2

  • 3  Readthebyline  8/5

  • 6  Onecats Chance  3-1

  • 2  Hunt’s Road  7/2

Readthebyline is no win machine, but did just win one at this price. Has been successful at BEL and the distance. Onecats Chance is another that doesn’t have a high win percentage, but is dropping today and that may be enough to propel him forward. Hunt’s Road was claimed last out by RuRod. He’s been with better in the recent past and does seem to have a more reliable win percentage.

Race 3

  • 3  The Great Whiteway  2-1

  • 5  Prospectus  5-2

  • 4  Daggerpoint  4-1

The Great Whiteway is one of the horses that figures to be near the front and has the best figures of the group. Prospectus was TC nominated and makes a big drop for Pletcher. This is usually a sign that he is just thinning out the stable, and if the horse is in condition he’ll be a reliable bet. Daggerpoint has a race at BEL and while he figures slightly behind the top two, has some potential in the verticals.

Race 4

  • 3  Tracking Stock  3-1

  • 11  End Play  7/2

  • 5  Big Platinum.  4-1

  • 7  Finalize  6-1

Tracking Stock drops back to $40K after running decently in a  MSW at GP. Chad Brown trainee has a second at BEL and a top last race figure. End Play has to overcome the far outside post, but he has plenty of backstretch to find a good attacking spot. Last time he was in a MCL he nearly won. Should appreciate the cutback in distance. Big Platinum dropped down to a MCL last out that got moved off the turf to a sloppy main track. Should appreciate the return to the grass and the cutback in distance. Finalize barely missed in his first race last year. Could be any sort.

Race 5

  • 5  Outzap  5/2

  • 9  Don’t Blame Her  3-1

  • 3  Wild Street Girl  4-1

  • 2  Moneybrook  9/2

Outzap drops in half after breaking her maiden for $35K. Should be the early speed and has the top last race figure. Don’t Blame Her has run well at BEL and gets a switch to Jose Ortiz today. Last race was her best by far. Wild Street Girl goes for the suddenly ice cold Abby Adsit. She already has a race with winners that was decent. Moneybrook ran decently in the mud and should get a surface more like the one she won on today. Interesting at the price.

Race 6

  • 1  Love That Jazz  8/5

  • 4  Bluegrass Prevails  2-1

  • 6  In Condition  4-1

Love That Jazz was a state-bred stakes winner last year and ran well in his 2015 debut race. A return to his best 2 YO figure wins this race. Bluegrass Prevails has a ton of speed and has already been racing in 2016. Major threat to the top choice. In Condition had trouble at the break last out and was declared a nonstarter. Prior to that had shown good speed and a willingness to finish.

Race 7

  • 10  Uncle Sigh  5/2

  • 2  Slew’s Brew  7/2

  • 9  Ocala Jim  9/2

  • 6  Memories of Peter  5-1

Uncle Sigh really improved when moved to the turf last out and has by far the best last race figure. Slew’s Brew clearly didn’t care for the inner dirt but returned to form when moved back to the turf. Low-key trainer/jockey should ensure nice odds. Ocala Jim won his last at AQU and has had good success at BEL. Memories of Peter makes his 2016 debut on the BEL turf where he has run his best races.

Race 8

  • 7  Vicki’s Dancer  2-1

  • 3  Tahoe Tigress  3-1

  • 4  Zippity Zoom  4-1

Vicki’s Dancer didn’t run her best race when moved to a stakes on the turf but prior to that impressively won a sprint at this level, Tahoe Tigress makes her 2016 debut at her lowest price in a long while. If she comes out running she’s got outs. Zippity Zoom should be the frontrunner here and Linda Rice is 24% off the short layoff.

Race 9

  • 2  Dreamaker  9/5

  • 5  Just the Zip  5/2

  • 6  Certain Something  9/2

  • 7  Completely Bonkers  9/2

Dreamaker has the top figure on the turf, although it came in a 5F sprint. Still, should have the speed to get a good spot on the rail and should have no issue with the 7 furlong distance. Just the Zip is better on the turf and should adapt fine to the sprint distance. Certain Something only has one race but showed a bit of speed on a track that was deadly to front speed. Could be the surprise here. Completely Bonkers makes his 2016 turf debut for Linda Rice who is 15% moving from dirt to turf. Note his best lifetime race came on this BEL turf.