Friday’s Belmont card features 10 solid races as we inch closer to the end of the Belmont fall meet. First post is 12:20 pm est and we figure to be fast and firm. Good luck if you’re playing along and as always follow me on Twitter @cjfelts87.
Daily Gallop stats: Total: 407-100-78-80 (24% win, 63% ITM)
Race 1 MSW 80k fillies 2yo, 1 mile
Selections: 1-2-5
Top Pick: #1 Millefeuille can improve as a second time starter for Rosario and Mott in a small field, finished a close second on debut and will be in contention again today.
Next up: #2 Wedding Band is a first time starter sitting at a nice 6-1 ML, trainer Kelly Breen is 18% with first timers and he has some solid works coming into today.
Race 2 CLM 50k fillies 3yo, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 2-3-7-5
Top Pick: #2 Leeway steps up the class ladder after beating 40k claimers at a mile over the turf last time, improving in form and Clement is 22% with last out winners. 5-2 second choice on the ML.
Next up: #3 Little Red Frog exits the same race as Leeway and closed well to grab third, keeps Lezcano today and with a late closing kick should be coming late.
Race 3 MSW 70k state bred F&M 3up, 7 furlongs turf
Selections: 4-10-5
Top Pick: #4 Lookin to Fly will offer a price sitting at 10-1 ML, showed some good form over the Woodbine tapeta and now in the states second off the layoff she is eligible to improve in this spot. With the added distance and Carmouche staying aboard she looks a player here.
Next up: #10 Moon Sweeper can improve off a solid enough debut, should benefit from the added distance and nice to see Lezcano keep the mount.
Race 4 CLM 20k N3L 3up, 6.5 furlongs
Selections: 1-7-6-4
Top Pick: #1 Mine the Coin takes a logical step up for a new trainer jumping up to the N3L level, he’s improving in the form and today’s distance should suit him well. Luis Saez stays aboard at 7-2 ML.
Next up: #7 Twelfth Labour drops in class and takes back to dirt to his eligible condition at the N3L level, has the back class and figures to compete here for Linda Rice and Jose Lezcano. They’re always a threat when they team up and Rice is 21% on the surface switch
Race 5 MCL 40k 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 7-3-8-6
Top Pick: #7 Holy Emperor has the back class to be competitive here and should benefit from the drop in class. This is his preferred distance as Dylan Davis stays on for Jimmy Jerkens.
Next up: #3 Vicarage is in good form coming into today and Rosario/Clement on turf can not be overlooked. Clement has a positive ROI in maiden claiming events.
Race 6 Str ALW 50k 3up, 1 mile turf
Selections: 5-2-4
Top Pick: #5 Chocolate Bar is the horse to beat here in this spot, his recent form his terrific if you toss the last race, now he drops into his eligible condition from stakes company and his back class suggests he will be very tough here. 2-1 ML so don’t expect much of a price.
Next up: #2 Sidd Finch offers a nice alternative at 6-1 ML, smoked maidens going a mile over grass last out and now takes a step up. Can improve off that effort and has a good shot to outrun his odds; Eric Cancel stays on.
Race 7 AOC 40k n2x state bred 3up, 7 furlongs
Selections: 5-2-9
Top Pick: #5 Build to Suit can improve second off the layoff and the drop in class will help too, he should like running against state company here. Chad Brown is 28% second off the layoff and 23% running against allowance company so he should be tough here.
Next up: #2 Celtic Chaos will also enjoy dropping back to state company here, like fact that Saez stays on and 8-1 ML looks like a really nice overlay if you can get it.
Race 8 CLM 30k N2L F&M 3up, 1 ⅛ miles turf
Selections: 8-2-1
Top Pick: #8 Come Storming drops into her eligible condition and she should enjoy the class relief, she’s in good enough form and trainer Thomas Bush has a positive ROI when stretching runners out.
Next up: #2 Mopolka offers some nice value at 10-1 ML, drops a bit in class and I like that Eric Cancel stays on. She could benefit from the added distance.
Race 9 AOC 62k n2x 3up, 1 mile
Selections: 6-2
Top Pick: #6 Money Moves is even money on the ML but he comes out of the Kentucky Derby back into his eligible condition, two back against similar put up a 98 beyer finishing second so dropping in class with room for improvement he will be tough to beat in a small field.
Next up: #2 Expert has some back class to suggest he would be competitive here, would take a second look at 8-1 ML but might be better suited for the exacta.
Race 10 MSW 80k 2yo, 1 mile turf
Selections: 12-8-7-2
Top Pick: #12 Secret Potion raced in a grade 1 as a maiden at Woodbine last time which suggests that he has shown some ability in the past. Now finds a more realistic spot and is eligible to improve as he draws the outside post. Castellano gets aboard for Chad Brown.
Next up: #8 World Cruiser looks pretty good for a 15-1 shot, Rosario hops on for Clement as he adds blinkers and can improve off his debut run against similar.