We have a solid looking card at Belmont Park today, 10 races with some good fields so we should see some exciting action today. First post time is 12:20 pm est and as always follow me on twitter @cjfelts87.
Daily Gallop stats: Total: 397-97-77-79 (25% win, 64% ITM)
Race 1 ALW 65k n1x 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 3-8-6-4
Top Pick: #3 Maxwell Esquire enters into his eligible condition and is in good form of Joel Rosario and Christophe Clement, 5-2 will be a good price on him if you can get it.
Next up: #8 Duress is interesting drawing the outside, strong last race with Carmouche aboard and now he stays on and gets another try at this level.
Race 2 MCL 50k 2yo fillies, 1 mile turf
Selections: 10-2-3-6
Top Pick: #10 Song of Innocence is eligible to improve off his debut at Monmouth, trainer Jonathan Thomas is 35% with second time starters and 38% making the msw to mcl class drop. Also nice to see Castellano take the mount.
Next up: #2 Niiji is another second time starter who can improve coming off a bit of a layoff, Linda Rice has strong numbers with second time starters and off layoffs.
Race 3 MSW 52k state bred 2yo fillies
Selections: 5-6-1
Top Pick: #5 La Urbana ran solid on debut when we dueled up front before fading late, now can improve with that experience and this is a shorter and easier field he is facing today. Rosario stays on for Steve Asmussen who is 22% with second time starters and its nice to see him staying at this level.
Next up: #6 Vacay is a first time starter for Todd Pletcher who is 20% with firsters, solid works coming into today and this isn’t the toughest msw in the world.
Race 4 CLM 12.5k 3up, 1 mile
Selections: 10-2
Top Pick: This looks like a stinker of a claiming race and #10 Summer Bourbon looks to have the best form of this bunch, ran a solid second at this level last time and now gets another try as Jose Lezcano stays on for Linda Rice. She sends this one out just a week after her last effort and he could benefit from the stretch out as Rice is 25% going from sprint to route.
Next up: #2 Autostrade steps up a peg on the class ladder and his figures are solid enough to compete here, Alvarado takes the call today.
Race 5 MCL 30k state bred F&M 3up, 6.5 furlongs
Selections: 2-1-7
Top Pick: #2 Love That Face will appreciate the drop in class after the msw proved to be too much, she gets back to dirt here and Michael Miceli and Dylan Davis have teamed up at a 27% clip this year, 7-2 ML should tell you something too after being sent off at over 20-1 in all three previous starts.
Next up: #1 Crick is in solid form for trainer Bob Dunham, Luis Cardenas stays on who has been solid as a bug rider this meet and she should be there with a good trip.
Race 6 AOC 40k n2x state bred 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 10-3-1
Top Pick: A lot of pace signed on in this race so looking for a closer and found #10 Big Package, his last race was solid at this level finishing second at 13-1 and now gets another try here, improving off the layoff and should be a nice price around that 4-1 ML.
Next up: #3 Noble Emotion has speed and will be involved early, Rosario is one of the best turf riders right now and Jonathan Thomas has strong numbers on turf so don’t overlook this guy at 8-1 ML.
Race 7 AOC 62k n2x F&M 3up, 7 furlongs turf
Selections: 3-7-9
Top Pick: #3 Madeleine Must is eligible to improve second off the layoff, Clement and Rosario are a deadly combo especially on the turf and Clement especially has good numbers second off the layoff.
Next up: #7 Bredenbury has the back class to compete here and 6-1 on the ML looks like an overlay to me, the class drop from stakes company will help and her form is good enough to challenge here.
Race 8 MSW 63k 2yo, 1 1/16 miles
Selections: 2-6-7
Top Pick: #2 Rational Choice looks pretty rational to me, solid debuting beaten 8 lengths by a runaway winner and now can improve off that debut here. Chad Brown has solid numbers with maidens and 3-1 ML is a solid price if you can get it.
Next up: #6 Ten for Ten is another second time starter who is certainly eligible to improve today, Jose Ortiz stays on for Shug McGaughey.
Race 9 ALW 65k n1x F&M 3up, 1 ⅛ miles
Selections: 8-3-7-9
Top Pick: #8 Windfall Profit had a solid effort last out and now gets another try at this level, Rosario hops on and he should be coming late with her good closing speed.
Next up: #3 Key Biscayne drops in from stakes company which should help her cause today, her last 3 races against tougher would all suggest that she should be competitive here and is a logical choice at 3-1 ML.
Race 10 MSW 63k 2yo fillies, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 11-6-2
Top Pick: #11 Evie Jets ran above today’s beyer par on debut and now sits at a nice 5-1 ML, will try to take a swing with her and gamble that she improves off that effort with Eric Cancel staying aboard for Anthony Dutrow.
Next up: #6 No Ordinary Time is dangerous with improvement off a solid debut, showed speed before fading to fourth and now can use that experience to her advantage as Jose Lezcano stays on.