We have a good nine race card to end the racing week here at Belmont, with a pair ff state bred stakes races on tap, both of them on the lawn. Let’s try to end this week on a high note.
1st race: 6½ Furlongs. ™Clm 40000n2L Purse $42,000 (UP TO $7,308 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Ardara Belle (5), Take Charge Tina (3), Fancycase (2)
Trainer Rob Atras brings a solid pair here in the opener. I like Ardara Belle on the change of surface, she seems to be the quickest of this group and the track is still playing nicely for the speed. She ran just eight days ago and was claimed, and she is wheeled right back in. Take Charge Tina is making her first appearance in six months, dropping from allowance company to this conditioned claiming group. Doesn’t look good at all, and her works have been very average, but she is the class of this field. Fancycase just broke her maiden and she is maybe the only one that has not reached her ceiling yet. If there is a speed duel, she can be dangerous in the stretch.
2nd race: 5 Furlongs. ™‘Mdn 62k Purse $62,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Time Limit (6), Strongerthanuknow (7), Gabi’s Tuff (2)
The fillies which I prefer both were scratched out of the fourth race yesterday in favor of this spot, so they should be well meant in this group. I prefer Time Limit because of her work out pattern, which shows she should be lightning fast. Strongerthanuknow’s works have been much slower, but Duarte gets them ready first time out and her 5/2 morning line tells me there is more under the hood. Gabi’s Tuff is another first time starter who should be forwardly placed, but the rail wasn’t too kind yesterday, so that number two post can be a bit of a disadvantage. Irad gets the call for trainer Gary Contessa.
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™OC 100000b Purse $87,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $15,138 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Barkaa (5), Xenobia (3), Munchkin Money (2)
Barkaa has not performed to the hype she had when she shipped from France, but this is the easiest bunch she has faced in a long time and Irad, after a bad race, keeps going to the pond. We can not forget this filly is a Grade I winner, so class is not an issue here. Xenobia hasn’t run in ten months, but she has been working steadily for this race and should be forwardly placed from the start. I would have preferred a shorter trip for her, but she has performed nicely at a mile, although this is a very different ball game distance wise. Munchkin Money runs for the first time for trainer Christophe Clement, a very good turf trainer. She needs some pace in front of her for her late push to be effective, and I think she should get it.
4th race: 6 Furlongs. ™Mdn 80k Purse $80,000 (UP TO $13,920 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Concerned (3), Paint it Green (6), Quasar (1)
This is a race in which we can make a case for each participant, so if you can, buy it on your exotics. Concerned has the most consistent work pattern of all debut runners and Hennig hits at a 15% clip with first time starters. Another thing I like is that she has been breezing at Monmouth and ships to a higher ranked circuit. Paint it Green has three bullet works in her last four, Zito is not known for winning first time out, but this filly looks ready for a big effort today. Quasar has the experience factor in her favor, with four races already under her belt. If she doesn’t have any traffic issues on the rail, she should be right there at the end.
5th race: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) ™‘NYStllnB150K New York Stallion S. Purse $150,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW YORK STALLION STAKES
Newly Minted (6), Niko’s Dream (3), Funny Money Honey (1)
After destroying her running mates last time out, trainer Linda Rice brings Newly Minted to the lawn. If Linda Rice pencils her in here, is because she knows she will do good on the grass, and she worked over the green stuff last week, earning a bullet designation. The pace scenario favors her also. Niko’s Dream is already proven on the grass, with a win and two second place finishes, and now takes the always helpful cutback in distance. The seven furlongs should be right up her alley. Watch out for Funny Money Honey. It is true she already lost to the favorite on her debut, but that was on the dirt. She has shown much more affinity to the grass, and with a good enough trip, she can light up the toteboard.
6th race: 5 Furlongs. ‘Mdn 62k Purse $62,000 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Impetuous (4), Cleon Jones (5), Justintimeforwine (2)
Another very competitive two year old race for state breds. Impetuous has been breezing consistently since at least March and being a son of Fast Anna, we can expect him to be fleet footed from the start. Jose Ortiz is a master in harnessing speed up front and gets the call here. Cleon Jones hasn’t missed a beat in his workouts and the $325,000 that they paid for him is enough testament to conclude that there is talent here. We complete the 1-2-3 with Justintimeforwine, who has the services of Joel Rosario for trainer Gary Contessa, a combination that hits at a 22% clip over the last year.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. Alw 82000n1x Purse $82,000 (UP TO $14,268 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Bernin Thru Gold (5), Endorsed (4), Fortin Hill (2)
Very good race, with horse that have shown some talent. Bernin Thru Gold flunked in his last effort, but now comes back to a distance in which he should perform better. It gives you confidence to see Hall of Famer Johnny V. on his saddle and has three works since that last race. Furthermore, the winner of that last race came back to sin the Easy Goer at Belmont day. Endorsed was well regarded last year, to the point of being a 4-1 proposition in the Champagne. He is coming back from an eight month rest and seems to be a good spot for him to get back in the groove. Joel Rosario rides for Kiaran Mc. Laughlin. Fortin Hill hasn’t done anything wrong so far, with 2 wins in 2 lifetime starts, but now the stakes are much higher. He will be tested today, but if he keeps improving, he will be a tough cookie to swallow. Irad keeps going to the pond with him.
8th race: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) ‘NYStllnB150K New York Stallion S. Purse $150,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW YORK STALLION STAKES
Veterans Beach (10), Funny Guy (1), Analyzethisandthat (2)
This is a handicapping challenge, because the horses that are running the best have not run on the grass yet, so its an exercise of who you think will relish the green rug. My favorite, Veterans Beach, does not have that question to answer. We know he likes the grass and he should be sitting in a comfy garden spot and come flying late. Johnny V. takes over the riding. Funny Guy worked on the turf twice over the last two weeks and seems like the grass will be no problem with him. He needs a live pace up front and he should get it. Analyzethisandthat returns to the surface in which he obtained his one and only win. From that number two hole, Carmouche will look to clear the field, lets see how far he takes them. My recommendation with this race: spread.
9th race: 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ™‘MC 40000 Purse $41,000 INNER TURF FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Love That Goose (10), Mike’s Girl (3), Vitanza (7)
Love That Goose ran just nine days ago, in a race that was taken off the turf. She lost by 43 lengths, but now gets back to her preferred surface and Rosario still rides her. The cutback to six furlongs is another plus. Mike’s Girl has been knocking at the door, she is the speed of the speed but maybe she will have her work cut out on the stretch to hold on. Vitanza can be the big bomb in here, blinkers off after getting in contention in her debut, in which she didn’t came out well from the gate. Dropping from MSW to Maiden claimers, she can light up the toteboard.