Tough going for us last week but we’re back at it for some more Friday action at Belmont Park, 10 solid races and hopefully we found some winners here. First post is at 1:00pm est, best of luck if you’re playing along and as always follow me on twitter @cjfelts87.
Daily Gallop stats: Total: 377-94-74-74 (25% win, 64% ITM)
Race 1 MCL 20k 3up, 6 furlongs
Selections: 1-3-8-6
Top Pick: #1 Kickin’ Kirby may be getting the class drop he needs to break through and his race 3 back fits well in here. 7-2 ML second choice offers some nice value to kick off the day.
Next up: #3 Freedom Force is dropping in class and switching surfaces as he takes to the dirt once again, certainly has the back class to compete here and is the most logical winner but 8-5 ML seems like too short a price with what seems like a suspicious class drop.
Race 2 CLM 40k F&M 3yo, 1 mile turf
Selections: 1-8-3
Top Pick: #1 Hurricane Breeze gets some class relief and drops into a nice spot here, improving 3 year old draws the rail with Manny Franco aboard.
Next up: #8 Mopolka is eligible to improve after her maiden win last time out against maiden 40k, now facing open company as Eric Cancel stays on.
Race 3 CLM 10k 3up, 6 furlongs
Selections: 5-7-1A-8
Top Pick: #5 Business Cycle has been competitive at this level and loves this Belmont surface hitting the board in all 5 starts with 3 wins. Manny Franco hops aboard who is 18% when he teams up with Rudy Rodriguez and Rudy is 18% first off the claim. Logical spot for this hard knocking 7 year old gelding.
Next up: #7 Deep Sea drops a couple pegs down the class ladder which will help him, keeps Jose Ortiz and 3 back won at the 12.5k level so should be competitive here.
Race 4 AOC 80k 3up, 7 furlongs
Selections: 3-5-1
Top Pick: Competitive race here and I will side with #3 Build to suit, has the back class to compete with a stakes win under his belt last year and can fire off the layoff so that should not be an issue for him.
Next up: #5 Soldado is also coming into this race off a layoff and has the tactical speed to make him competitive here. Ships up from Gulfstream as Johnny V takes the mount for Todd Pletcher.
Race 5 MCL 75k 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 9-6-4-3
Top Pick: #9 Bay Street Money should be able to win this race if he can run to his prior form against maiden special, this is a tough spot for this level but has a good late closing kick and will be there with the right trip.
Next up: #6 Break Beat outran his odds last time out running a solid second behind a next out winner and now gets another try at the same level. Can improve off that effort and Carmouche keeps the mount.
Race 6 MSW 52k state bred 2yo, 6 furlongs
Selections: 1-6-3-8
Top Pick: #1 Storm Shooter is a first time starter for Todd Pletcher, he is 21% with first time starters and sire Twirling Candy is 18% with first timers. Nice to see Jose Ortiz take the call who is 25% when he teams up with Pletcher this year; will need a trip drawing the rail but looks like the best first timer of the bunch.
Next up: #6 Deviou Mo has experience and with improvement will be competitive today. Now with that debut keeps Lezcano aboard and could be a price.
Race 7 CLM 40k N2L F&M 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 13-9-7-10
Top Pick: #13 Smack is my top choice should she draw in as an Also-Eligible, Joel Rosario and Christophe Clement were very successful over the turf when they teamed up in Saratoga and I’ll look for that trend to continue as Clement is already off to a hot start this meet. She’s dropping in class second off the layoff so she’s eligible to improve so the beyers are competitive enough to compete here. And did I mention it’s Rosario and Clement?
Next up: #9 Mo Me Mo My seems like a logical choice in a puzzling claiming race here, two back ran a good race that fits well here and Jose Ortiz gets the mount. Has tactical speed she can use from that outside draw.
Race 8 ALW 55k n1x state bred 3up, 1 mile
Selections: 1-8-7
Top Pick: #1 Blackjack Davey stretches out to a mile for Linda Rice and Jose Lezcano, has been solid at this level so maybe today is the day we see him break through. Rice and Lezcano have teamed up at a 24% clip this year.
Next up: #8 Bourbon Bay looks pretty good drawing the outside, ran a good race at this level 2 back which would make him competitive here today. Johnny V takes the mount for trainer Mark Hennig.
Race 9 AOC 62k n2x 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 5-7-9
Top Pick: #5 Readyforprimetime won at this level 2 back and then ran a pretty solid race against stakes company last race when he set the pace and faltered to third. Drops back down and can improve off that experience, maybe we get to see a Rice/Lezcano daily double?
Next up: #7 Sayyaaf looks like a pretty logical player on paper, has tactical speed and is competitive at this level. Has 3 seconds in 3 starts at Belmont so maybe use underneath.
Race 10 MCL 40k state bred F&M 3up, 6 furlongs turf
Selections: 9-12-4-1
Top Pick: #9 Prairie Tales is making his second start after debuting in a Saratoga turf sprint, Belmont turf sprints are a bit different pace wise so that should be to his benefit with his potential for improvement. Joel Rosario opts to ride over riding for his usual trainer in Christophe Clement which could tip that he thinks this one is live.
Next up: #12 Dream Chasing is the Clement horse I mentioned who keeps Manny Franco today and looks to be in contention if he can improve on his current form cycle. Both turf sprints 2 and 3 back at Belmont are solid and put him in the mix today.