We will go quickly over this Sunday card at Big Sandy, hoping to do a better job than last week, in which our picks were lackadaisical at best. Our feature is the Mike Lee, for statebred three year olds going seven panels on the main track.
1st race: 1ˆ Mile. MC 30000 Purse $33,000 (UP TO $5,742 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
7-6-9
This race goes thru the top two choices in the morning line, which are the only two that haven’t tested the maiden claiming waters. Judicial Restraint (7) should have more upside, having raced only once lifetime, and Chad Brown hits at a 33% rate when dropping from straight maidens. Castellano, who is warming up lately, takes the call. Road Home (6) is the logical choice, and Mott hots at a very solid 24% when dropping for a tag. He should be situated at a garden spot position and will be right there when all is decided. Cause I Said So (9) draws a very favorable outside post and has done well against slightly better competition. He should be at or near the lead and if he is let an easy first flight advantage, watch out!
2nd race: 6½ Furlongs. ™Clm 16000 Purse $34,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
10-2-1
Miss Jack (10) takes a drop in class for half of what she ran last time out. It is true she has failed her last two times out as the odds on fave, but this group seems to fit her well and Rob Atras hits at a 33% second time with him, so I think she has her figured out already. Radiantrithym (2) had her share of trouble last time out , but I expect Jose Ortiz to put her right at the first flight and will be very dangerous if she can put a clear lead in his group. Gary Gullo wins at a 23% first off the claim. Cold Hearted Pearl (1) won her last at a very similar group. I don’t expect she will have such an easy advantage from the gate today, but horses turn the corner in a flash, and this can be the case with her.
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™Alw 66000n1x Purse $66,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $11,484 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
1-6-2
Very interesting race, with fillies that show talent early in their career. Linny Kate (1) won easily her vow run and now returns from a nearly four month rest working beautifully for Chad Brown. What we saw in Gulfstream in February from her makes us think there is much more in the tank. She should get a pretty good pace in front of her. Logic N Reason (6) gets Lasix for her return from six months out. She showed good promise at 2, to the point that she closed 2-1 in a stakes race she ran last time out. Now returns to the grass and maturity should fit her well. Love Beach (2) is another one coming back from a long layoff, but she didn’t disgrace herself against BC champion Sharing, and the pace of the race should be in her favor. Joel Rosario takes the call for trainer Michael Stidham.
4th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) ™MC 40000 Purse $39,000 (UP TO $6,786 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
6-1-4
Very difficult maiden contest, in which we will try to beat the 6-5 morning line choice, who has failed at low odds in lesser circuits. Duplicated (6) can be the big longshot in here. She debuted on the main track at Laurel, but her pedigree is very adequate for turf and the fact that Graham Motion sends her to Belmont while Laurel is still running, and for $15,000 more of a price, makes me think she is live in here. More Mango (1) drops from the allowance ranks to this maiden claimer and should be considered as one of the top contenders. She was making up good ground late and Jonathan Thomas wins at a 37% second time out. Ocean Fire (4) is the fastest in here, and if she can negotiate an easy lead, can be dangerous, but at that price I am willing to give a shot to other runners first.
5th race: 6 Furlongs. ™Clm 16000n2L Purse $27,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
9-7-11
Enough Love (9) broke her maiden last time out, so is one of the few that has not faced this condition. From that nine post, she should get a nice stalking trip and Luis Saez should be desperate to visit the winners circle in his return. Elegant Rose (7) is maybe the speed of the speed and coming back from a five month stay in the shelf, she will be ready to go looking for the lead from the gitgo. She will look to out some daylight in this field. Queendom (11) returns to the main track where she has perform much better. Good jockey Reylu Gutierrez sticks with her and takes a considerable drop in class.
6th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 50000n3L Purse $46,000 (UP TO $8,004 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
4-2-7
Spirit Animal (4) looks like the class of this field. It is a concern that he is dropping to this $50,000 level after spending seven months resting, but with the quantity of horses that Chad Brown has under his care, probably will not be the last one that will be risked for a tag. Blackline (2) drew the rail, always an important factor in a grass race, and has the speed to be on that first flight from the start. Joel Rosario will do the honors today and has the advantage over the favorite that is in race shape. The horse that can light up the toteboard is Megacity (7) who is risked for a tag for the first time in eighteen months, and has the speed to be a factor from the start.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ‘Mdn 53k Purse $53,000 INNER TURF FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
7-10-8
First time starter Ratchet (7) gets the nod in this group of maidens, which hasn’t show much promise yet. Trainer Christophe Clement is extremely effective bringing debut runners on the grass, with a 28% win rate, and should get a hot pace upfront. Scuttlebuzz (10) goes dirt to turf for trainer Jonathan Thomas (29%), who also brings them ready to fire from layoffs between 3 and 6 months (32%). This is another one who should benefit from a contested pace. Walrus Gumboot (8) seems to be the fastest of the bunch and with a fast surface, can be him wire to wire.
8th race: 6½ Furlongs. ™OC 62500n2x Purse $68,000 (UP TO $11,832 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
1-8-2
Sadie Lady (1) seems to be the quickest in here, and with Kendrick Carmouche on the saddle, we can expect her to be leading the way from the bell. She seems to be improving by the race, and we cant see anyone hat can go with her dictating things. Finding Fame (8) is undefeated and in one of those she beat Primacy, who came back to win easily yesterday. Stakes are higher now, but seems like a very talented filly and the cutback in distance should fit her nicely. Regal Retort (2) is coming back from a ten month layoff, it is interesting that Steve Asmussen leaves her east when the majority of his stable is at Churchill. She is a very honest filly and will not surprise me a bit if she gets the job done.
9th race: 7 Furlongs. ‘MikeLeeB100K Mike Lee S. Purse $100,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
3-6-4
Gandy Dancing (3) won his debut like a good thing, and the fact that his second lifetime race comes in a stakes race tells you that they are very high on him. Manny Franco keeps the mount and should be stalking the leaders. Captain Bombastic (6) went to Oaklawn to keep running during the closing of NY, and he did very nicely in races without any state restrictions. Now he returns to facing NY Breds only, and his chances are very good. Dream Bigger (4) is the proven commodity, but I think tomorrow he will have a target on his back. Anyway he is as game as they come and can not count him out at all.
10th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 40000n2L Purse $40,000 (UP TO $6,960 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES.
3-8-6
Shootin the Breeze (3) has been facing the better horses in this group and stayed active at Gulfstream. Now drops to this $40,000 level and Rosario repeats here at Belmont. Chantry Flats (8) should be able to dictate the pace in here, much more since he is coming from a prolonged stay on the shelf. Jose Ortiz is the perfect jockey for him and he will be right in the mix from the go. Albie (6) is another one on the return from rest, showed some talent last year and looks to be the best of the rest.