The Frizette
- Vequist- Saez/ Reid Jr.
- Vequist ran a monster race in the Spinaway last time out. Butch Reid is a very solid trainer for those who aren’t as familiar. I believe this filly wants a 1 turn mile very much. Saez stays aboard today which is a great sign. I think she is still green, so for her to run that big of a race to earn her first win in a Grade 1, means a lot. I think she is the horse to beat here as well.
- Cantata- Rosario/ Asmussen
- Cantata ran a huge race against MSW company at Saratoga. She galloped over that field and she has a ton of ability as well. However, she wasn’t as quick as Vequist in each of their wins. She can do the distance and the connections do win often. Asmussen actually has two in here and the other entry Joy’s Rocket seems to be the fastest out of the gate in this field which could set up for a great trip for Cantata. Rosario is good with timing rides so I think he could time this trip perfectly as well. Must Use.
- Cilla- Carmouche/ Combs
- Cilla tried turf last time out and was facing stakes company for the first time and she didn’t run well. She broke her maiden in a dominant performance at Delaware Park back in August on a sloppy surface. I think she isn’t quite good enough to make an impact here so I will be looking elsewhere today.
- Joy’s Rocket- Ortiz/ Asmussen
- Joy’s Rocket should be the filly controlling the pace early on. However, I do not think she can get the distance by any means. Jose will set good enough fractions in order to win in my opinion but I don’t know if she is built to go the distance. She can win on any surface but she has only won going no longer than 6F. I will be using her underneath but not on horizontal tickets.
- Dayoutoftheoffice- Alvarado/ Hamm
- Dayoutoftheoffice is looking to stay undefeated in her 2yo season. She ran a huge race in a Grade 3 last time out. Alvarado can get the job done still at this stage of his career and actually has been doing very well this year in New York. She has been working really well in Ohio leading up to this which is odd for a horse of this caliber. She should be able to get the distance and seems to be a 1 turn horse as well. Will be used on all tickets.
- Get On The Bus- Lezcano/ O’Neill
- Get on the Bus is a maiden facing Grade 1 company. I really don’t see this horse winning at all today. She has only faced a graded company so far in her career and has held her own but nothing impressive enough to show me that she can still compete at this level. I think she is a stakes horse but not a graded stakes horse. I will be looking elsewhere.
- Fifth Risk- Velazquez/ Pletcher
- Pletcher and Velazquez hook up today for a Grade 1 event which is typical in New York racing. She only has 1 race under her belt and it was a win at Saratoga. This is the typical Pletcher move with his young horses. Once they win at a young age, especially 2yos, he tries them against the best. Usually it doesn’t work but sometimes he has a real special horse and they show up. I think this is one of them that has a shot to show up but I am not that confident to put it in my top 3. I will be using her on horizontal tickets though.
TOP PICKS:
#1 Vequist
#5 Dayoutoftheoffice
#2 Cantata
The Flower Bowl
- Cambier Parc- Velazquez/ Brown
- Cambier Parc is one of 3 Chad Brown entries here out of 7 total entries in the race. Obviously Chad Brown has the advantage here to win this race but I don’t know if this is the best one of the bunch. Both of the Ortiz brothers ride the other Chad Brown entries. Cambier Parc is a multiple grade 1 winner but those came in her 3yo season. This is only her 2nd start as a 4yo and the first start was a solid 2nd at Woodbine. She prefers to be mid pack and make one run but she has won on the lead as well. If Velazquez can make her comfortable, she would have a very strong chance in here.
- My Sister Nat- Ortiz/ Brown
- My Sister Nat is the 2nd entry for Brown in this race and gets Jose Ortiz in the saddle again. My Sister Nat just missed last time out to Civil Union in a Grade 2 at Saratoga this summer. However, that result is an usual result for her, as she never can figure out how to win. She has 8 seconds or thirds in 13 career starts. She has yet to win at Belmont in 3 starts and frankly I think she will finish top 3 but I can’t see her winning.
- Civil Union- Rosario/ McGaughey
- Civil Union has beaten My Sister Nat and Beau Belle a couple times already and is also looking for her 4th straight win. Rosario gave this horse a perfect trip last time out and earned that victory. I think he can do the same aboard Civil Union again today. If any horse is beating the Chad Brown trio it’s this one.
- La Signare- Franco/ Walsh
- La Signare is very average to me but capable in graded stakes company. I don’t think he has a shot in here to upset the 3 Chads or Civil Union but Franco could most certainly get this horse up for a piece of the pie. She should benefit from the added distance but would need a complete pace collapse in order for her to win.
- Beau Belle- Saez/ Albertrani
- Beau Belle is an interesting filly in here. She just got caught late a Grade 2 last time out and was run down by Civil Union and My Sister Nat. Saez might send hard early which could make or break this horses’ trip. She just seems to not be better than a couple in here so I will look elsewhere.
- Nay Lady Nay- Ortiz Jr./ Brown
- Nay Lady Nay is probably my favorite Chad Brown horse out of his 3 today. Chad ran this horse in a small stake at Laurel and she dominated. They return her to the graded company and put on Irad Ortiz Jr which gives her a huge advantage. This will be the toughest field she has ever faced but I think she can sit right off the pace setters and go by them easily. Top pick in this race.
- Lovely Lucky- Lezcano/ Albertrani
- Lovely Lucky is just slightly below this bunch even with the ability of this horse. She just seems to have run into a tough field like she did last time out. Jose Ortiz chose My Sister Nat last time and chose her again today which is not a good sign. Lezcano stays on here and could be the key factor for her today. However, I think she will be tough here and I don’t see her finishing better than 4th against this group.
TOP PICKS:
#6 Nay Lady Nay
#1 Cambier Parc
#3 Civil Union