Selections

Belmont June 26

Race 1

  • 1  Verve’s Tale  9/5

  • 2  Opined  2-1

  • 3  Kelsocait  4-1

The good news – she hasn’t been out of the money in five starts. Bad news – she should have won by now. Speed, best figures and a short field makes her the favorite. Opined ran well in her first start. Stetches out today and McLaughlin is 22% with second start maidens. Kelsocait ran well first time on the turf  and has come back with some nice works. Note that she threw in the same 35 second workout before the last race. Breeding suggests distance is not an issue.

Race 2

  • 6  Cuckoo’s Saloon  

  • 1  Sunny Kitten  

  • 9  Dancer’s Edge  

Cuckoo’s Saloon scratched out of the last race yesterday to run in this spot. He should be the one to catch and has the figures to hang on. Sunny Kitten ran an improved race last out in a 4th of June affair that a number of the horses in this race were in. Dancer’s Edge is another horse coming out of the June 4 race. He showed some closing kick in that one and with some improvement he has outs.

Race 3

  • 6  Seventhfleethumor  8/5  **HORSE TO WATCH

  • 1  Bossmon  3-1

  • 4  Recanted  7/2

  • 8  Manofmanyvirtues  5-1

Seventhfleethumor was a good 10 lengths out of it at the top of the stretch and closed furiously to only lose by a half length. That was an impressive move and if he gets the right setup he should make it first to the wire this time. Bossmon won his NW2L race in strong fashion, but faltered first time at the NW3 level.  If he can get back to the figure from his winning effort, he’s dangerous here. Recanted makes a significant drop here after almost winning his NW3 race. Last race can be excused given the muddy conditions. Manofmanyvirtues drops to his lowest lifetime level. He’s run with better and could pop a good one today.

Race 4

  • 2  True Charm  5/2

  • 3  Classy Chris  3-1

  • 4  Madison Blues  4-1

  • 1  Town Fair/RockAve. Road  5-1

True Charm has been looking to crack the winner’s circle for a while. She has the best figs, but has proven somewhat heartless in the stretch. A very tepid choice. Classy Chris makes only her third start and has been in the money both times. Good chances today. Madison Blues takes the blinkers off after running with them in all but her first start. She’s competitive off her best figure. The entry of Town Fair and Rock Ave. Road both have some potential.

Race 5

  • 6  Silent Waters  2-1

  • 5  Bust Another  7/2

  • 1  Cloud Control  5-1

This race is ultra competitive, with cases to be for most of the runners. Silent Waters comes in off a nice fourth in the Penn Mile and a win in an allowance affair at LRL. Figures put him in the strongest position here. Bust Another just won a state-bred stakes and has five wins in eight lifetime starts. Hasn’t made a turf start yet, but he could be strong at the distance. Interesting contender. Cloud Control looks best poised to pick up the pieces should the speed falter. Much better than his 10-1 odds might indicate, although his win was after a very questionable DQ. By all rights he should still be a maiden. Still, could make the verticals.

Race 6

  • 2  Thirst For Glory  3-1

  • 4  Testosterstone  7/2

  • 1  Taoiseach  7/2

Thirst for Glory has been consistent in his last few and has a field topping last race figure. Gets a nice switch to Rosario. Testosterstone ran with open NW1X allowance runners last out, tracked a quick pace and faded. He’s back with state-breds where he’s run his best races. Taoiseach was unremarkable in the Mike Lee but has been competitive with higher priced state-breds. Dangerous today.

Race 7

  • 4  Forever in Love  2-1

  • 1  Crescent Street  3-1

  • 10  Storm Prophet  3-1

Forever in Love comes off an 8 month layoff for Linda Rice who is a reasonable 16% off the long rest. He has two good turf races, including the G3 Pilgrim as a two year old. His two year old numbers are better than horses that have started at three, so if he is in good condition he should take the field. Crescent Street has had his best races at BEL. His first race of 2016 was against open company and he showed good speed to the stretch. He should show improvement and that makes him a contender. Storm Prophet ran a good second in his 2016 debut and returns today at the same level. Should have a bit more condition for this run.

Race 8

  • 1  Portando  5/2

  • 2  Swipe  5/2

  • 4  Mawthooq  3-1

Portando comes in off a series of good races at CD. He’s got speed and should enjoy the six furlong distance. Swipe has done well graded company, although he faltered in the Lexington. That was his first race of the year and he should make a better accounting today. Mawthooq almost won a NW1X after coming off a year and five month layoff. He’s had five weeks to recover and should be dangerous on the lead.

Race 9

  • 5  Naked Empress  7/2

  • 1  Libreta  7/2

  • 4  Wonderment  4-1

  • 10  Louisville First  5-1

Naked Empress failed in her first with winners as the favorite, but still ran an impressive figure. She’ll be good odds today and Johnny V re-takes the mount. Libreta won the NY Stallion in her last start and makes her first attempt on the grass. Turf breeding is ambiguous but no doubt the horse has talent. Wonderment is a G3 winner and may have shown better if not for a bobble at the start of her last.  Another with limited turf experience but plenty of talent. Louisville First is a big longshot on the ML, but his one turf race was a big improvement over his races on the dirt. Could be a big surprise here.

Race 10

  • 5  Storm Pursuit  7/2

  • 1  Be a Hero  7/2

  • 8  Bass River Road  4-1

This race appears to be nothing but speed horses, making it a tough predictive affair.. Storm Pursuit just missed at this level last out and has been ultra-competitive in 2016. Be a Hero drops in price and that should help him carry his speed. Bass River Road was snagged for $25K by Bruce Levine last out and he drops him down to this level looking for a win. Levine is 22% first off the claim. Carmouche jumps back aboard.