Another Friday card at Belmont Park, 10 solid races with some good value to be found. Got a couple winners last week so let’s keep it going today, we figure to be fast/firm and first post is 12:50pm edt. Best of luck if you’re playing along and as always follow me on twitter @cjfelts87.
Daily Gallop stats: Total: 387-96-77-78 (25% win, 64% ITM)
Race 1 CLM 25k F&M 3up, 1 mile
Selections: 6-7-1-5
Top Pick: #6 Maiden Beauty is better than what is ML suggests, looks like he is getting the class relief he needs and he certainly has the back class and tactical speed to be competitive here.
Next up: #7 Stay Fond is stepping up the class ladder for Linda Rice after handily beating 10k claimers last out, It’s an ambitious move that she may be able to handle and Jose Lezcano stays on.
Race 2 MCL 30k 3up, 1 mile
Selections: 4-7-2
Top Pick: #4 Breithorn was way in over his head last time against maiden special company and that was in the slop, now dropping down to where he fits better and tossing that race he is in good form to compete today.
Next up: #7 Wild Cat West is a first time gelding who is getting class relief off the layoff for a new trainer, like that Irad gets the mount today.
Race 3 MCL 40k F&M 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 4-2-8
Top Pick: #4 Ballerina Showgirl ran a solid race against maiden special last time and will appreciate the class relief today, she’s certainly eligible to improve adding blinkers and again we see Jose Lezcano staying up for Linda Rice.
Next up: #2 Sevnteeneightysevn is also dropping in class, his race two back sprinting over the Saratoga turf against maiden special was fine and now finds a nice spot here as Manny Franco gets back aboard.
Race 4 MSW 63k 2yo fillies, 7 furlongs
Selections: 3-1-5
Top Pick: #3 Ready Seeker is one of two Todd Pletcher runners in here and he has experience after routing on turf last time on debut, that run can be forgiving and now he tries a couple new things here including adding blinkers, as good as Todd Pletcher is with first time starters he is even better with second time runners so look out for this one as he could offer a price.
Next up: #1 Orbs Baby Girl also has experience after debuting at Monmouth and it’s encouraging for her to ship here instead of staying in NJ so now she gets another run with experience to improve on as Manny Franco stays on.
Race 5 ALW 55k n1x state bred 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 10-8-1-5
Top Pick: #10 Ancient Times steps up after breaking his maiden on debut and has room to improve, Pletcher is 21% with last out winners and Irad stays aboard today. Has tactical speed and will be up front early.
Next up: #8 Mr. Kringle takes a bit of a step up from starter allowance company but has figures to compete here and is already multiple stakes placed. Lezcano stays on and 3-1 seems like fair value on him.
Race 6 CLM 12.5k 3up, 6 furlongs
Selections: 9-8-4
Top Pick: #9 Win With Pride did absolutely no running last time against 16k claimers which I can excuse and his race three back actually fits pretty well in here. He’s getting some class relief first off the claim and 5-1 is a nice price if you can get it.
Next up: #8 Our Honor didn’t run much last time but has a decent race two back and is in decent enough form to compete at this level. Encouraging to see a jock upgrade to Luis Saez.
Race 7 ALW 55k n1x state bred 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 11-12-4-1
Top Pick: #11 Microsecond comes off a solid second place finish at this level and will get another try here today. Has the tactical speed to be competitive and I like that Jose Ortiz stays aboard for Todd Pletcher.
Next up: #12 Stanhope had a tough trip last time at this level and now he comes off a layoff getting Lasix for the first time and Brad Cox is 22% with 61-180 day layoffs and 7/17 recently with runners getting Lasix for the first time. Saez gets on who does well with speed horses routing on turf and so a couple things to like at 6-1.
Race 8 ALW 65k n1x 3up, 1 1/16 miles
Selections: 5-1-2
Top Pick: #5 First Line is a talented runner for Orlando Noda who was in over his head running in the Jim Dandy, willing to forgive him for that effort and now drops in to a much more logical spot and is in good form if you toss the last race. He prefers routing so he’ll like the distance and Jose Ortiz gets back aboard.
Next up: #1 Dudley Square might get overlooked on the board opening at 12-1 ML but has a chance to outrun his odds here, can improve second off the layoff as he stretches out for Todd Pletcher and gets Johnny V in the irons today.
Race 9 AOC 62k n2x F&M 3up, 1 ⅛ miles turf
Selections: 3-6
Top Pick: #3 Sorrentina Lemon ran a solid second at Kentucky Downs last time out and now gets another try at the level, Clement teams up with Rosario here and the pair hits at 23%; stakes placed filly has room to improve and is a major player in here.
Next up: #6 Bacchanalia ships up from Gulfstream off a layoff and finds a logical spot to run in for Chad Brown, has a good turn of foot late and will be coming down the stretch.
Race 10 CLM 30k N2L 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 7-8-12
Top Pick: #7 That Quality offers fair value at 4-1 ML, he has races that fit well in here and showed speed when routing which he can use to his advantage cutting back. Jonathan Thomas has solid numbers with runners cutting back (2/20), in turf sprints (24%) and second off the layoff (26%). Look for him to be on the front end early on.
Next up: #12 Adios Amigos is a bit of a longshot drawing the outside at 12-1 but he’s getting some needed class relief and his win over maiden 40k two back would indicate he fits well here. Should have some pace to run into which will benefit him and he has a good shot to outrun his odds.