Selections

Belmont June 8

Race 1

  • 2  Smooth Daddy  5/2

  • 4  Twilight Eclipse  3-1

  • 1  Golden Sabre  7/2

Smooth Daddy ran well in the G3 Ft. Marcy and has had some strong races at the OC level. Distance should be no issue. Twilight Eclipse is a veteran campaigner still running in Graded events. While he may not be the horse he once was, but he still has the talent to be a factor today,

Race 2

  • 3  Majestic Lassie  5/2

  • 5  Victoria Road  5/2

  • 2  Littlemissbusiness  3-1

Somewhat ambiguous race. The choices are horses that are dropping out of MSW races into a cheap claimer. Majestic Lassie ships in from PRX where she ran relatively evenly. Victoria Road goes first time for Leah Giamati. The horse was a $100K purchase as a yearling but has had a lot of trouble getting to the racetrack, with her first workout over a year ago. She’s well bred and particularly well bred for the distance. Perhaps a bit chancey, especially at potentially small odds. Littlemissbusiness has shown speed at a route, and may appreciate the cutback to a sprint. You can probably throw out the mud effort. Will probably get a ton of action, and may be the best horse in the race, but as I said it’s not a race to get too excited about.

Race 3

  • 4  Royal Posse  9/5

  • 2  Sioux  3-1

  • 3  Wake Up in Malibu  4-1

This is a small field with a few talented runners. Royal Posse is six of seven first or second at BEL and has been running in a steady string of statebred and restricted stakes. The numbers suggest he is the most consistent. Sioux and Wake Up Malibu are the speed horses and in a short field they may have the advantage. If the race breaks down that may throw in Good Luck Gus.

Race 4

  • 1  Snap Cat  5/2

  • 8  Christening  7/2

  • 6  Song for the Soul  4-1

Snap Cat goes first time for RuRod. While the workouts are not remarkable that seems to be a pattern for the trainer. Irad takes the mount and that is a very positive sign. Christening ran better than looked last out, breaking a step slow and having all sorts of trouble when she tried to close. Worth a second look. Song for the Soul has some nice workouts and Wesley Ward is 24% with first timers.

Race 5

  • 3  Richie’s Rich  2-1

  • 2  Brolic  3-1

  • 1  Rich n’ Tuck  4-1

Richie’s Rich jumps up in price off of two impressive wins in a row. He’s got a good turn of speed and the numbers say he’s not over his head. Brolic loves to win and likes the BEL dirt. Rich n’ Tuck has the top last race figure. Could be the Richie-Rich exacta.

Race 6

  • 6  Congarette  3-1

  • 3  Somerset Sandy  7/2

  • 4  Ametrine  4-1

Congarette looked good first time with winners and seems to have really responded to the turf. Somerset Sandy hasn’t really run a bad one yet. Ametrine comes off a close 6th in the NY Stallion’s series and has figures competitive with the others in the field.

Race 7

  • 5  Nile Princess  3-1

  • 2  Aussie Prayer  7/2

  • 8   Orzo  4-1

This is a difficult race so I’m going to price. Nile Princess ran a good one on May 22, making the horses to watch list. She had a bad trip last time, saving ground the whole way but getting trapped behind a wall of horses before she was able to angle out and show some close.   She’s better than 10-1 if she gets a decent trip, and from the five post she has a much better chance to run her race. Aussie Prayer seems to have a tendency to finish in the money. In her last she had every chance to run by the winner but would not. Verticals horse. Orzo broke her maiden last out and tries with winners today.

Race 8

  • 6  Queen’s Parade  3-1

  • 3  Carnevale  7-2

  • 2  Desiree Clary  4-1

Queen’s Parade has only been out of the money once in the last two years. Has the best set of figures in the race. Carnevale has been looking for a win since shipping in from England and moves to a slightly easier NW2X. Desiree Clary makes her first start since moving to the U.S.Clement is a solid 22% with Euro debut runners.

Race 9

  • 1  Peculiar Sensation  7/2

  • 2  Here Comes R J  4-1

  • 6  El Genio  5-1

Mr. Curiosity barely missed last out in his first start of 2016. Looks good for the return. Peculiar Sensation is proven at the distance and the price. Here Comes R J has a lot of starts but maybe the switch to the Nevin barn will get him past the wire on top. El Genio doesn’t look like a win sort, but does like finishing in the money.