Selections

Belmont June 30

Race 1

  • 6  Dynamo Flotilla  3-1  **HORSE TO WATCH

  • 1  Frosti Agosti  7/2

  • 5  Call Me Stoney  7/2

Dynamo Flotilla was dead last entering the stretch by at least 10 lengths, found a lane on the rail, and closed furiously to catch the place. Frosti Agosti looked good breaking his maiden, jumped to an ALW NW1X where he showed some speed before fading. Back to a more benevolent level today. Call Me Stoney has good speed and seems to enjoy finishing in the money. Solid in the verticals.

Race 2

  • 7  All Day Lawn  5/2  **HORSE TO WATCH

  • 6  Quigley’s Corner  5/2

  • 3  My Good Venezuela  4-1

All Day Lawn walked out of the gate, rushed to press the leader but could not sustain. Finished with some courage. Tom Quigley was my publisher when I was writing for Horseplayer Magazine and he now hangs out at the eponymously name Quigley’s Corner at Santa Anita. Shipper with some outs.

Race 3

  • 4  Sabrina Ballerina  1-1

  • 5  Grassaria  3-1

  • 3  Laura’s Moon  4-1

Sabrina Ballerina looks dominant considering the other horses likely to get bet have some downside.

Race 4

  • 2  Western Reserve  9/5

  • 5  Ascend  9/5

  • 3  Winter Springs  3-1

Mott, Motion and Brown. Looks like a trifecta from here.

Race 5

  • 4  Tree Top Lover  5/2

  • 2  Choir Director 3-1

  • 3  Biaviian  7/2

  • 9  Lightning Buzz  9/2

Tree Top Lover is listed at 7/5 on the ML. I think that’s too low and definitely not value. But given the big drop in price, it’s hard not to put him in the top slot. He and Choir Director are the speed horses, and are both dropping out of straight maidens. Lightning Buzz has been off a while after getting claimed by Gary Gullo, and Gullo has a strong percentage with first after the claim. A potential price horse.

Race 6

  • 8  Liscullan  3-1

  • 10  Madeyourpoint  4-1

  • 2  He’s One Wild Dude  5-1

  • 1  It’s a Given  5-1

Race 7

  • 2  Day After Day  5/2  **HORSE TO WATCH

  • 3  Even Bette  3-1

  • 6  Madame Maybry  4-1

  • 9  Moondance Joy  5-1

Day After Day went out on fast fractions, established a clear lead in the stretch and held it all the way to the wire. She ran a field topping figure and as long as she doesn’t bounce she looks strong here. Even Bette won her first time out and comes off a layoff for new trainer David Cannizzo. That puts her in the mix for me.

Race 8

  • 7  Roca Rojo  5/2

  • 6  Sparkle Factor  3-1

  • 4  Katie O.  4-1  **HORSE TO WATCH

  • 2  Angel Vision  5-1

Katie O. might have been a higher pick, but she was the speed on a day that favored front runners and she is moving up in price. But at 10-1 she’ll be overlooked and has real chances. I can’t ignore any Chad Brown horse, and he is dynamite with Euro shippers. Tough race.

Race 9

  • 8  North Slope  3-1

  • 9  Dream Man  7/2

  • 7  Sinatra  4-1

  • 5  Coturnix  5-1

Frankly, if I was live in the P4 going into the 9th, I’d prefer having an “ALL” ticket. There was hardly a horse I didn’t consider, including some of the longer prices. This might be reflected in the fact I put a horse that hadn’t been on the turf for a while on top, primarily on the strength of his previous turf races and the fact he was claimed last out by top claiming trainer Danny Gargan. Dream Man and Sinatra are coming out of the same race and finished next to each other. Coturnix may be the speed of the race and his figures suggest he can compete in this group. I’d give him a long look, especially at the odds.