Beldame G2
Race Analysis: By Vinny Blond (@PicksByDynasty)
A field of 6 are lined up for the 1-1/8th G2 Beldame which for 2 of these runners will be their final prep race before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. A few of the other top Filly’s and Mares have elected to try the G1 Spinster next weekend at Keeneland instead of facing potential Horse of the Year and likely Older Female Horse of the Year Midnight Bisou who is a perfect 6-6 this year and seems to just keep getting better. Let’s take a closer look at this field of 6.
Post 1: Midnight Bisou: 4 year old trained by Steve Asmussen and today’s jockey is Johnny Velazquez
As I said above Midnight Bisou has a serious case for Horse of the Year if she can get the job done again today. She was in a thriller last time out against Elate at Saratoga so there is a question of how much that race took out of her but looking at this field I think there is only 1 serious threat to her and that is Wow Cat. Bisou won’t have her normal jockey in the irons today though as Mike Smith is out west at Santa Anita riding McKinzie today in the G1 Awesome Again so today she will instead have Hall of Fame rider Johnny Velazquez who can take first place in all time graded stakes win with a win here. She is 2-2 at Belmont and proved last time out that the distance is not an issue. She is a single for me today on all my tickets.
Post 2: Spring In The Wind – 5 year old trained by Robert B. Hess Jr. and the jockey today is Jose A Bracho.
Another overmatched horse entered today at Belmont for Loooch who I am a fan of but Spring In The Wind will need a lot of help today to win this race. She has run against some very good horses this year but is 0/5 overall and I don’t see that changing today. She is coming in off a bullet work on September 8th but I can’t see this one being used for anything other than an underneath horse on exotics.
Post 3: Another Broad – 4 year old trained by Todd Pletcher and the jockey today is Javier Castellano.
Last time we saw Another Broad she finished 19 length back of Elate in the Delaware Handicap who Midnight Bisou beat next time out. She pretty much has been running the same race all year and has not improved which is concerning. Pletcher is having a very good Belmont meet which is nice to see after a disastrous Saratoga one, but I think it is a stretch to see this one finding the winners circle. Another horse that maybe you can use for underneath in exotics if you are playing them.
Post 4: Crimson Frost: 5 year old trained by Michelle Nevin and today’s jockey is Manny Frano.
I give the connections credit for taking a shot here with this one, but no. She has never run a race in her career that makes her competitive with this bunch and like Another Broad and Spring In the Wind should only be used as underneath on exotic wagers. Her best career race did come here at Belmont though but was a 2nd place effort in a 3 horse field so not saying much there.
Post 5: Vexatious – 5 year old trained by Jack Sisterson and the jockey today is Joel Rosario.
Vexatious just missed last time out against Blue Prize who is likely running in the G1 Spinster next weekend at Keeneland and I am a fan of this one. Now I don’t recommend trying to beat Midnight Bisou here but if you were this is the horse I would use. She should be 3rd choice by the time the race starts and she has proven she can handle the distance. Now is she good enough to beat Midnight Bisou? Probably not, but I think she is better than the rest in here and I will keep her as my 2nd choice and play the straight exacta.
Post 6: Wow Cat (Chi) – 5 year old trained by Chad Brown and the jockey today is Jose Ortiz.
The defending champion of this race is up against it today. Wow Cat has not won since winning the Beldame last year (Which was a G1 at the time) and today has to run against Midnight Bisou again for the 2nd race in a row as she finished 10 length behind Bisou in Elate in the Person Ensign G1 last time out. It is her 3rd start off the layoff though and this is an obvious prep for the Breeders Cup Distaff for Wow Cat so while I expect some improvement today, I am not expecting a winning effort. Chad Brown has been prepping her all year to have her best race in the Breeders Cup Distaff so unless she is much the best today I don’t see her winning.
Top Pick: Midnight Bisou
2nd Choice: Vexatious
3rd Choice: Wow Cat (Chi)