Hello all and welcome back to beautiful Belmont Park! New York racing is back after quite the hiatus and I couldn’t be any happier. The Daily Gallop will have all your coverage for this Belmont meet, let’s jump right into the first Thursday’s card.
Race 1: 4-6-2
#4 DESBORDES is coming off a maiden breaking victory at Aqueduct in February and won that day by a big 11 1/2 lengths. That race the filly went right to the front and wired the field going away. Today we get JohnnyV up who’s one of the best pace jockey’s in the world. He should be going out to the front today with very little pace pressure. Also the trainer George Weaver has 8 wins, a second, and a fourth in 10 races, with New York runners on this specific layoff.
Race 2: 5-9-10
#5 BRIAN’S LAST SONG ran a very solid last race and just got nailed at the end of the race. Though the horse was leading the pack he still went 4 wide into the turn. If Lezcano can give him a better trip turning for home today then we may see a different outcome. He should be on the lead and the last race exceeded the Beyer par for this type of race as well.
Race 3: 2-3-4
#2 BIG THICKET Is looking like a great fit in this situation. 3 speeds in this race and we should see this one coming from off the speed, which should be hot. Last race we see this horse go 7 wide and still finish 2nd. With a better trip that would’ve been a win at this level. Today we get a rider upgrade to Irad who is back to New York, with Rudy Rodriguez who is 31% off the claim in the past 5 years.
Race 4: 7-3-4-1
#7 DANFUSI is the speed here and there shouldn’t be too much pace pressure. The colt is coming back off quite the hiatus but the trainer is 20% on layoffs of 180+ days. Trainer is 21% going dirt to turf and also we get Joel up who should be able to get us a good ride today. The one race run on the turf here at Belmont is the best Beyer in the field and works aren’t flashy but they’re consistent. Side note: I like the 1 as a bomb for under’s here. Throw out the last race, the gelding gets blinkers and lasix for the first time.
Race 5: 2-6-3
#2 KREESIE is going to be making a late run here in a race that will be a little shorter than normal. Eric Cancel is back up here and he has done a great job on this horse. This horse is ITM in every race at the distance with 2 wins. She’s ITM 8 races out of 12 races on at Belmont Park. She clearly likes Belmont Park and she should have some pace to run at turning for home.
Race 6: 2-7-13
#2 HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH had run ITM in all 4 races at this distance and third in her only attempt here over Big Sandy. Manny Franco has been on this filly for all of her races and jumps back up for this one here. There will be some speed in this race and she should be able to sit right off the pace and pass the fading leaders here.
Race 7: 12-4-3
#12 NORTHERN HAZE has two wins and a third in three races at this distance and all three of those races are his best Beyer figures. Those two wins were on a fast track with some speed ahead of him, that’s the pace situation today. Joel jumps up today and at a 12/1 ML, I would love to see him around that price going off. The trainer is 31% on dirt, 33% on this layoff and 23% in sprints.
Race 8: 8-3-4
#8 COUNTRY GRAMMER is coming out of the Fountain of Youth getting a very solid step down today. Javier jumps up today and this horse should be stalking a decent pace as there are a couple speed horses in here. Javier is 7 for 34 with Chad Brown this year as well, and the class drop plus the set up to the race works out very well for him here.
Race 9 Tiller Stakes: 5-8-4
#5 DOT MATRIX blew the break last time out so I drew a line through that. The race before that we see him winning a Grade 3 and that was at a longer distance than this race. His one attempt at this distance he ran third. There is not a lot of pace in this race and he could benefit from that as he will be close to the pace. There are a lot of closer’s here but they may be chasing him as they are coming toward the wire. A slower pace up front we could get him home at a price.
Race 10: 2-5-10
#2 SNICKET was the widest in the stretch last time out and closed very well considering. Trainer is 21% going dirt/turf and 22% with first time turf starters. The horse is bred better for the grass and a closer with Joel up in a turf sprint for us usually spells a win. This field is also quite light here and this filly looks the best by a decent margin.