We had some rain hit mid card last week that took the finale off the turf and impacted the track a bit. Regardless of that we still hit our pick 5 ticket I gave out on twitter and we hop to keep that rolling into this week! Belmont is only 10 days away!
Race 1: 1-2-5
#1 SALTY SMILE won here 20 days ago and though this filly sees open company today this field is comparable to the field she just saw. That last races victory was at this distance as well and in this soft field we will have to give her the nod.
Race 2: 1-6-2
#1 SURFACE STRIKE has been ITM in all three races since Michelle Nevin claimed this horse. Today we see a drop in class and a furlong cutback in distance which could help and a bullet workout. We get Manny Franco up today, once again, who has had success on this guy since Nevin claimed.
Race 3: 5-3-1
Let me preface this by saying the second choice here is a must include in all multi race bets! #5 NO HAYNE NO GAYNE is the top selection for this race however, as this 5 year old mare is a veteran. She is ITM in 3 of 5 attempts where she is running second off the layoff, she’s been ITM in multiple ungraded stakes races and faces a shorter field of more inexperienced horses here. The last time she ran the distance she won and Irad picks her here over the favorite.
Race 4: 6-9-2
We are going to swing for the fences here boys with #6 DOTDOTDASH at 20/1 ML. We are taking the experience angle as we usually do here, this filly wasn’t a factor first time out but since that race has put together a collection of very consistent works with a couple of bullets and gets a step down in class a bit here.
Race 5: 2-5-3
#2 GO POKE THE BEAR is going for the three peat today and takes a small step up in class but one that doesn’t worry me too much. Joel Rosario is up with a closer and we are on the turf which we love. Brad Cos has been very hot winning at a 40% clip here during the spring/summer meet and this colt looks ready to go.
Race 6: 3-1-7
#3 FRIEND OF LIBERTY ran 2nd by a neck the last time she ran at this level. Since her last victory in November of 2017 she has never been out of the super. Manny Franco is up today and if you’re into speed figures this mares are just as good if not better then the rest of this fields.
Race 7: 7-6-5
#7 SMOOTH WITH A KICK has put together many consistent works and Javier continues to climb aboard for Chad Brown. This filly has been ITM in both career starts and has been the best of the rest in both races, today with the right trip she can be the best. The top two in this race I will be sending it in on for an exacta and go no deeper than these two for all multi race wagers.
Race 8: 2-1-3
#2 SMOKIN PLATINUM gets Joel Rosario back up after a short hiatus where he got the Luz-bucket. Joel has ridden him to his only win and has been ITM with him 4 of 5 races with the only out of the money run being in a stakes race. Last race this colt came off a layoff with Joel he was a winner.
Race 9: 10-2-9
This is bout as stinky as a Thursday finale can get, so with that being said bombs away boys!!!! #10 MAGICAL ROMANCE ran her best race on firm turf here at Belmont last summer and has good energy. Since then she hasn’t gotten to run over firm turf since, and today’s weather suggests it could be dry. If it doesn’t stay dry then she still looks like she will grab a piece.