Selections

Belmont June 25

Race 1

  • 6  Beautyinthepulpit  5/2

  • 2  Marriage Fever  5/2

  • 5  Howaboutwe  5-1

While Beautyinthepulpit has consistent figures, short priced favorites in cheap claiming races are not always as reliable as the odds might suggest. Plus, he is going to have to come from well out of it to win the race. Marriage Fever may have the advantage as one of the speedier runners in the race and takes the blinkers off today. Howaboutwe was much better with a higher class of horses last year. Just a thought at the odds.

Race 2

  • 4  Tapa Liath  5/2

  • 6  Majestic Bloom  3-1

  • 8  Eloweasel  3-1

  • 5  Cotton Candy Cutie  5-1

Tapa Liath has run competitively in her three lifetime races. Has good early foot and just missed at this level last out. I’m never really excited about horses that spend 6 or 7 races in a row, so I wouldn’t invest heavily in Majestic Bloom, but she does have the best lifetime figure. Eloweasel made an impressive 2016 debut and may wind up at a short price here. Cotton Candy Cutie is another one with a good 2016 debut and with a little improvement could be the longshot winner.

Race 3

  • 5  D’Eloquent  8/5

  • 3  Grassady  3-1

  • 4  Brooklyn Major  5-1

  • 6  Smadi Sky  5-1

D’Eloquent has been figuring it out and should appreciate the slight cutback in distance. Grassady made a good debut, pressing a very fast pace. Has a couple of fast drills in prep for this. Brooklyn Major is starting to approach professional maiden status. He can win, but he doesn’t have the sort of sharpness I like to see. More of an in-the-money type. Smadi Sky was gelded since last year after making her debut as the favorite. Interesting at the odds.

Race 4

  • 4  Gio’s Calling  2-1

  • 6  Ray’s the Bar  2-1

  • 2  Kassiopia  7/2

Gio’s Calling has some low profile connections, but he likes the track and his figures suggest he can top this field and he’s by one of the top turf horses. Ray’s the Bar is trained by Chad Brown and he rarely puts a horse on the track that isn’t competitive. Would be no surprise here. Kassiopia has been competitive in graded stakes and has the talent to top the field.

Race 5

  • 2  Don’t Point  2-1

  • 5  Howie’s Tiz  3-1

  • 1  Luckybuck Syndrome  4-1

Don’t Point looks like one of the frontrunners. Seems better on the dirt than the turf. Howie’s Tiz has been working a while to catch win number two, and this looks like about as easy a spot as he’s seen. Luckybuck Syndrome has been off a while but has run well previously at BEL and has been gelded since last year. Also makes a substantial drop in price from his last.

Race 6

  • 12  New York’s Zip  3-1

  • 7  Stormin Stephen  4-1

  • 3  A Chip and a Chair  5-1

  • 1  Irish Hope  5-1

New York’s Zip has looked better since dropping to this level. Get’s another chance today and the figures say he’s competitive. Stormin Stephen finally drops out of the MSW ranks. Given his speed and tendency to finish in the money, today may be his day. A Chip and a Chair drops from MSW. He’s shown speed with better and that is an angle I like. Irish Hope is interesting at 15-1. He’s dropping from MSW to the claiming ranks and is trying 4 year olds and up for the first time, but I think he may be valuable in the back holes. Should be one of the pacesetters.

Race 7

  • 9  Captain Moss  5/2

  • 4  Verger  3-1

  • 1  Yowl  7/2

  • 8  Gracious Plenty  4-1

I’ll be honest. There are only a couple of horses in here that would be a surprise in the win column. Captain Moss has a like for the BEL turf  and has the top figures in the race. Verger jumps up in price today, but his last race looked like he’s ready for this group. Yowl has two good races in a row at this level after breaking his maiden for a cheap price. Can’t be left out of the mix. Gracious Plenty is the Todd Pletcher entrant. Should be prompting up front and gets the still hot Jose Ortiz.

Race 8

  • 4  Realm  5/2

  • 3  Conviction  5/2

  • 5  Caeyrn  3-1

Realm looked like a potential winner last time but ran into the tough Gift Box. Looks best in this group. Conviction just broke his maiden at Monmouth for Todd Pletcher in good time and moves over the BEL today. Have to respect the TP entrant. Caeyrn was strong breaking his maiden on the AQU inner, shipped to PIM to run in the Sir Barton where he had enough trouble to not run his race. Might be overlooked today.

Race 9

  • 2  Wavell Avenue  9/5

  • 1  By the Moon  5/2

  • 3  Bar of Gold  4-1

  • 4  West Coast Chick  5-1

Wavell Avenue is the class leader in the field with a win in the G1 BC Filly and Mare Sprint. A little disappointing in 2016, but should turn it around today. By the Moon has good races at BEL and is decent at the distance. Good outs at a probable price. Bar of Gold won a state-bred stakes last out. Is in deeper waters today’s but is not without chances. West Coast Chick should be the one to catch today.

Race 10

  • 3  Brett the Jet  3-1

  • 12  Southern Union  7/2

  • 6  Cuckoo’s Saloon  4-1

  • 7  Majority  5-1

  • (16  Slapstick  contender if he draws in)

Brett the Jet drops down to MCL today. Makes his second start of 2016 and should improve today. Southern Union has been working at this level a while. Having Jose Ortiz gets him an ITM nod. Cuckoo’s Saloon is speed dropping in class and that is always dangerous. Majority made a big improvement when when moved back to the turf. Can’t ignore the previous race run.