A very nice card, with five graded stakes has been put together by NYRA for Preakness Day. The Grade I Belmont Derby serves as the feature. Lets go to the analysis:
1 – 6½ Furlongs. ™Clm 30000n2L Purse $36,000 (UP TO $6,264 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Picks: 5-9-1
Top pick drops for a tag for the first, has the speed to be forwardly placed and Ortiz on the saddle. Left Leaning Lucy should be fitter 2nd time out after a layoff and will be part of that early flight. Nice outside post. Big upset can be Holmdel Park, dropping in class sharply.
2 – 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ™Mdn 63k Purse $63,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $10,962 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD
Picks: 5-9-8
Bay Storm debuts for trainer Jonathan Thomas, who hits at a 25% on the grass. She commanded 13X her stud’s fee on auction. Apprentice Charlie Marquez will win a lot of races at NY. So Enchanting debuts for Chad on the grass, with Castellano up. Always dangerous combo. Mun Luv gets to run on the grass, which is what she intended to do debuting, and showed nice speed out of the gate.
3- 6 Furlongs. ‘OC 40000n2x Purse $59,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Picks: 3-1-8
Taking a chance here with More Graytful, who ran very well at nine furlongs against much better horses. Blinkers are back on, and Brad Cox has astonishing numbers on that stat. Golani Brigade should stalk what should be a very honest pace and come with his late run from the quarter pole on. Harris Bay was all out to win last time out, but the hot pace of the race should help him.
4 – 6 Furlongs. (Turf) ™Mdn 63k Purse $63,000 (UP TO $10,962 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD
Picks: 2-6-7
By past performances, Army Wife should be a tough beat, but is interesting that Jose Ortiz preferred the #7 to ride. The cutback to six panels will be great for her. Fort Drum ran very well in an off the turf maiden race that produced a stakes performer. Grass is what she intended to race in her vow run, and the same can be said for Split Then Double, who gets Ortiz.
5 – 6½ Furlongs. ™GlntBlmH-G2 Gallant Bloom H. Grade II. Purse $150,000 A HANDICAP FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Picks; 4-1-2
The race sets up perfectly for Frank’s Rockette, who should be dictating terms from the start. Five wins and four seconds in nine starts tell the story about her consistency. Bronx Beauty ships from Monmouth and is on a steady improving pattern. Royal Charlotte completes the trio, consistent but maybe a bit overmatched against the favorite.
6 – 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) Pilgrim-G2 Pilgrim S. Grade II. Purse $150,000 INNER TURF FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
Picks: 3-8-2
Public Sector won from the back without the benefit of a hot pace. Second time out he will have to contend with the same again, but showed he has the talent. I see very little speed in here, so I expect Jose Ortiz to put Zippy Baby on the engine from the start. I think he will be better going two turns. Nice debut win for It’s a Gamble, taking advantage of a scorching pace
7 – 1½ Mile. (Turf) TfClscIv-G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Picks: 6-4-3
Laccario debuts in the US with solid foundation because of his experience at the 12 panels trip. He won three graded stakes in Germany, so he is no slouch. If he can reencounter his old form, he is a player. Rockemperor always finds a way to lose, now Brown takes off the shades, lets see how he fares. Channel Maker wire a similar field last time out, and if he is let loose, he can repeat.
8 – 1 Mile. KelsoH-G2 Kelso H. Grade II. Purse $150,000 A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Picks: 4-5-3
If Complexity can replicate his run in the Forego, he will be a very tough beat. He is the fastest in here and he has shown he is best here at Big Sandy. Code of Honor is maybe a step slower than last year. Will Shug do the trick with him again? He is up against it from a pace standpoint. Endorsed completes the trio, good horse, but not in the same league as the first two.
9 – 1 ¼ Mile. (Inner Turf) BelDby-G1 Belmont Derby Invitational S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 INNER TURF AN INVITATIONAL FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Picks: 4-1-2
Very nice rendition of the Belmont Derby. Domestic Spending has shown he is better as the distances increase, and now he gets an additional half a furlong to work with. No Word keeps improving with each and every race, and he is dangerous if let alone on the lead, with Ortiz piloting. Gufo is another very good horse, won four in a row before losing a photo to my top pick. Needs a solid pace to run at.
10 – 6 Furlongs. (Turf) ™‘Mdn 52k Purse $52,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Picks: 5-7-6
| She’s a Majestic showed very nice early foot in her debut, which came off the turf. Now gets the grass she wanted and could be her wire to wire. Hedda debuts for Chad, and Javier riding, a top combo. Enough said. |