Selections

Belmont October 3

Race 1

  • 5 Gold Shield – he was a million dollar purchase at the Keeneland  last September. He went off at low odds in his debut race but ran very poorly, quickly retreating to the back of the pack and not making a notable move at any point in the race. He has returned with two nice workouts, one looking like McGaughey might have been trying to put a little more speed in him. This field is very weak and if he runs to the expectations they had when they purchased him he should beat this field.
  • 1 Wild Dynaformer – We’ll toss his last race in the mud and assume the $350,000 purchase will run much better this time with the addition of Lasix. Albertrani has been strong with 2nd start maidens.
  • 2 Combat Diver – Did not like the BEL turf first out but has been a route. Did have a bullet work five days ago.

Race 2

  • 1/1a – Indian Nobility scratched out of a race yesterday to go in this spot. Jacobson claimed him last out and so far this meet he has been lights out first off the claim. Classic Salsa looks like the weaker of the two. He stumbled at the gate in his last start and was bumped in the start before that, but he did come close to wiring a field at BEL in May.
  • 4 Longfor the City – Ran evenly in his first race back in nearly a year. Clement is 32% 2nd off a long layoff
  • 2/2b – One of the horses should be scratched since Ortiz is named on both. The stronger of the two looks like Indy Sea. He goes for the hot Rudy Rodriguez barn second off the claim. He has three starts at BEL with a win, second, and third. He ran a good race last out after bobbling at the start and should improve today.
  • 5 Herd Mentality – should be the horse in front and the one to catch.

Race 3

  • 6 Ocean Boulevard – won a NW2L at this price last out and switches to the Violette barn for this one. Has the best last out pace figure.
  • 3 Da Wildcat Girl – another last out winner. Has been having a good 2014 running around this level.
  • 5Little Gidding – Ran poor in a race that was simply too fast early for her to keep up. Should find the pace more to her liking today.
  • 1 Lady Doris – Goes for Abigail Adsit first of the claim at SAR. The race at SAR was a fair run and Adsit adds the blinkers for this trip. Adsit has been doing a respectable job of improving horses and may have one much better than looked last out.

Race 4

  • 4 Blazing Truth – best last out pace figure. Drops from MSW to MCL for trainer Mott. His horses usually need a race or two and this looks like it should be his best effort. Second start after the addition of Lasix.
  • 5Ready Strike – Weaver is 24% with first time MCL. More Than Ready is has been putting a lot of strong 2 year olds on the track. Has a nice series of works including three recent works on the turf.
  • 2 Innocuous – A firster for Albertrani who has been lately much better with debut runners.
  • 1 Lucky Leroy Brown – has had two middling turf starts at MSW but drops down today for trainer Rice. Could be the formula for success.

Race 5

  • 7 Bossanova Lady – ran his best race in these condition. One of a number of horses with the same figure, but looks eligible to improve.
  • 3 Casey Roo – just missed last out at a mile and a sixteenth and should do better with the cutback in distance.
  • 8 Saratoga Karaoke – plodding sort that could get into the race in the stretch. Looks like the stretch out will have some benefit.

Race 6

  • 4 Glacken’s Gift – ran well in her BEL debut a year ago but has been on the shelf since. Clement is good off the layoff and she has a nice series of works for her 2014 debut.
  • 2 Mumtaazah – Made her debut last Nov at AQU, laid up after that race until SAR but did not distinguish herself. Shows no works between the middle of July to the end of August, so something probably happened in that race. Has been on the track in the morning four times in the last month so should be ready to go. Rider switch to Davis from Saez.
  • 3 Majestic Empire – First timer for Hushion who has been having a good BEL meeting from limited starters. Like the works.
  • 6 Love That –  Pletcher first timer’s are usually live, although this one is 6-1 on the ML. He gives this one Lasix. Have to respect.

Race 7

  • 2 Wealth to Me – was claimed by Jacobson two back for $20K, jumped up to $40 and just missed. Cuts back to 7F. Has the best last race pace figure.
  • 5 Doubledown Again – third consecutive claim last race, this time by Michelle Nevin. Not as hot as she was at SAR but still having a decent BEL meeting. two seconds from two starts at BEL.
  • 1a Ground Force – has been running consistently good numbers and likes the BEL dirt. FIrst time off the claim for Contessa and he is just 10% with that move.

Race 8

  • 4 Miz Orwell – last in the Yaddo after being bumped at the break. Fits much better with this group and this distance.
  • 12 Frosty Bay – only three lengths behind in the Hettinger but has been having some trouble cracking the winner’s circle this year. Looks like this might be a good spot to break through.
  • 10 Chrysolite – Last two have been good efforts and except for a small nose to Run to Mama would be going for his third straight win.
  • 3 Lucky Nancy E. – set the pace in the Run to Mama race and with the cut back in distance could stay to the end.

Race 9

  • 7 Enduring Touch  – nice series of works for her debut. Terranova not deadly with first timers but does get Ortiz to ride.
  • 5 Majestic Jessica – ran well in her first start, although Bruce Brown has had some hard luck getting his horses to the winner’s circle. Looks best of the horses that have started.
  • 3 Madoo – Violette average with first time starters but this is not a strong field so she has a better chance.
  • 6 Sandra – ran 4th in the Sweetpollypurebrd race on a lenght and three quarters behind Majestic Jessica. She was running hard while wide and should improve with a better trip.