We are back at Belmont Park on the week of Royal Ascot. We are also one month away from opening day at Saratoga! There is a possibility for rain in the forecast so we will keep an eye out. Let’s get right into it here and get some winners!
Race 1: 1-5-2
#1 BLAME THE THIEF is taking a drop in class today and is coming off a bullet work over at Monmouth. This gelding has some of the best speed figures in the crop here, has won his only start breaking from the inside post. His record is deceiving as he has run 14 times on turf and other surfaces and never ran well. He has won 3 our of 11 races over dirt.
Race 2: 3-1-6
#3 MALARKEY finds herself at her lowest level to date and has some very encouraging, increasing speed figures on dirt. This filly has also run very well at this distance and at 6/1 ML with no world beaters in this field at all there is no reason to take a shot here.
Race 3: 5-2-1
#5 MEET ME IN LA is coming off a very nice race here over big sandy where he went 5 wide and still finished a closing 2nd. If he goes 5 wide today in a 5 horse field then Jose Lezcano should be taken off him immediately. He will get a better trip today and has the best speed figure in the whole field by a good amount.
Race 4: 4-5-2
#4 NOT ABOUT THE NAIL is coming back after a race this past Saturday where she ran her best career speed figure after getting bumped. Today Dylan Davis jumps up on a mare who has the best collection of speed figures of the field. This mare also runs very consistently at the distance and looks the best here.
Race 5: 3-7-6
#3 KIT KAT KATIE ran a very solid race last time out stalking the pace and gaining at the end. Today Javier jumps back up and we see a good collection of consistent works since that last race and her pedigree suggests she is ready for turf sprints. Lastly, Englehart is 5 for 8 with second time starters on grass who go off at 9/2 or less.
Race 6: 4-7-9
#4 BLAME IT ON MOM is coming back after a very solid debut here over big sandy at the distance. Today’s anticipated debut as a 3 year old gets a rider upgrade after a nice collection of works. The speed figure earned for that last race tied the highest in the field and after just missing last time this older filly should be able to win here.
Race 7: 3-6-2
#3 DANCINGWTHDAFFODLS is worth taking a shot here at 12/1 ML. Her last race was her best ever speed figure and she switched over to the grass. She went 5 wide in a 9 horse field and was able to get up and win at the wire. Today she gets Jose Ortiz back up (who has the choice of others) after that last race and she ran on after the wire. The stretch in distance might help her today as she has time to get a better trip.
Race 8: 6-2-8
This is admittedly a very intriguing race and extremely wide open. For multi race wagers this is a race you should go deep in. With that said we are going to tentatively go with #6 VINCENTO. We can throw away the last two races as the last one was on turf and the one before that he lost the rider. He owns a good collection of speed figures and if we look at his races at this level he has won twice since October. He does his best running against competition of this caliber and there is some speed he will be able to stalk early on.
Race 9: 7-10-8
Taking a decent shot here in the finale with #7 SANDRA’S MINE at 15/1 ML. This filly has run two consecutive ascending speed figures since coming on to the grass. Last race she gave a good rally toward the end and finished an un flashy looking 5th. If you watch back that race however it was a very good race for her and she looks like she wants this stretch out in distance. Last race she came from the back going 5 wide to finish 4th and like I mentioned before I believe that this stretch in distance will help her.