Selections

Belmont May 26

Race 1

  • 3  Milaya  2-1

  • 5  Eskenformoney  2-1

  • 2  My Savannah Belle  3-1

Milaya finished second in her last race on the AQU dirt. Has done well at the distance and has slightly the best pace figure. Eskenformoney has a resume filled with graded stakes races, but her wins came in her maiden and in an OC$75K. Her last race was her 2016 debut and she should improve today. She’s at the right level. My Savannah Belle had a troubled beginning in the G3 Distaff but has three wins in her seven lifetime starts. She’s another that fits on speed and price.

Race 2

  • 1  Driven By Speed  5/2

  • 2  Conquest Hardcandy  7/2

  • 8  Paz the Bourbon  4-1

This state-bred juvenile filly race looks fairly wide open. Driven By Speed is the Pletcher/Velasquez entrant. He looks like he might be prepping for something longer, but he’s well bred for the sprint. Tepid choice. Conquest Hardcandy goes for the competent Mark Casse. She sold for $150K as a yearling and that is one of the more expensive fillies in the field. Paz the Bourbon has some good gate works and should be able to get good early position. She sold for 20 times the stud fee.

Race 3

  • 9  High I.Q. Pete  5/2

  • 6  Afleet Martini  3-1

  • 7  Lubsen  9/2

High I.Q. Pete drops out of MSW in this MCL event. Flopped in the slop last out but should be the one to catch and has competitive figures. Afleet Martini jumps up in price today but his figures say he’s competitive with this group. Lubsen makes his 2016 debut with a couple of changes. He’s been gelded since last year and he drops into a MCL after debuting in a MSW. Might be the one to catch in this race.

Race 4

  • 5  Try Flying  5/2

  • 4  Nicholson  4-1

  • 3  Interior Secretary  9/2

Try Flying won at $25K two back and was claimed last out by DJ. Looks to be the fastest horse in the race but may not be as good as the 4/5 ML indicates. Nicholson has a lot of races and a tendency to finish second. More likely in the verticals.  Interior Secretary broke his maiden three back, jumped up to an ALW NW1X  and then back down to this level. In a paceless race he might have an advantage. Irad takes the mount and that is a slight positive.

Race 5

  • 1  Alabama Bound  5/2

  • 9  Talkin Til Midnight  3-1

  • 7  Tizzelle  7/2

Alabama Bound makes her 2016 debut after running a bang up race to end the 2015 campaign. She looks like she has good front speed and works should have her ready. Talkin Til Midnight ran well in her maiden effort at AQU and Linda Rice is having a good BEL meet. Some improvement makes her a major contender. Tizzelle had a troubled start in her first race but still managed to finish within a half length of the winner. With a clean start she has every chance to win.

Race 6

  • 9  Pira  2-1

  • 7  Meatball Maddness  3-1

  • 1  Picco Uno  4-1

Pira has been compromised at the break in her first two starts but still has the top turf figures in the race. With a clean break she might have a much better position. Meatball Maddness showed good speed at a route distance and looked comfortable first time on the turf.  Positive switch to Jose Ortiz. Picco Uno looked good on the dirt and tries this turf sprint. Only question is whether she will get a good trip from the rail.

Race 7

  • 8  Gracious Plenty  5/2

  • 2  Dissident  3-1

  • 4  Bibbo  7/2

Gracious Plenty looks to be in great shape for Pletcher and has the top last race figure.  Dissident makes a substantial drop. Last race was better than looked. Bibbo should be the speed in what looks to be a fairly paceless field.

Race 8

  • 4  Gettysburg  5/2

  • 2  Direct Message 7/2

  • 9  Gift Box  7/2

Gettysburg ran a bang up race in the Arkansas Derby and wasn’t embarrassed by losses to stakes runners Destin, Collected and Creator. May be the class in this field. Direct Message ran evenly in the Lexington in his first race with winners. Figures are on the improve. Gift Box lost the Remsen to Moyhamen and has been off for Chad Brown since that race. Has a win at BEL and a win at the distance and Brown usually has his horses ready to roll off the layoff.

Race 9

  • 3  Weekend Score  3-1

  • 7  Wild Chatter  7/2

  • 2  Candida  4-1

  • 9  Dicey Flats  9/2

Lots of potential contenders in the finale. Weekend Score was impressive in her 2016 debut. Much more effective on the turf and gets a good switch to Castellano. Wild Chatter was claimed by Linda Rice after a win at $40K and she is 26% first off the claim. She will be tough off her best. Candida goes first time with winners after breaking her maiden in a $75K claimer. Pletcher should have her ready to roll. Dicey Flats may turn out to the the speed in this field Her first try on turf was impressive and if she repeats that race she’ll be tough to catch.