- Dream Friend- Lezcano/ Terranova II
- Dream Friend seems to be the speed here but will have to outrun Got Stormy early on in order to get that lead. He is coming into this race off of some hang jobs in OC races throughout the NY circuit over the past 2 years. This is only his 2nd start this year and 2nd off of a long long layoff dating back to November. Lezcano stays aboard and looks to improve today on the front end. I don’t know if he has what it takes to win as I think he wants shorter in distance but he will be in the mix.
- Valid Point- Castellano/ Brown
- One of two Chad Browns here and this one is a classy colt. He was really good in his 3yo season but hasn’t raced since the Shadwell Turf Mile back in October in which he did not fire. He did with the Secretariat in August which is a Grade 1 but he needs to be fresh in order to beat this group. I think he ill be fresh as I trust Chad Brown to have his horses ready for big races no matter the length of layoff. I think the pace can be strong enough for him to close into and if it isn’t, Valid Point can sit closer as well. I like him a lot today.
- Hawkish- Franco/ Toner
- Hawkish is an interesting gelding. He has run everywhere and in all type of stakes races and distances. I think Toner is still figuring out what exact distance or track Hawkish prefers. I think Franco coming back to ride this horse today like he did in the Penn Mile and Belmont Derby back when Hawkish was a 3yo is a huge positive. He will need the right set up for him to win and he seems to not like the Belmont Turf which has me worried. Will look elsewhere but he has a shot if he get the set up.
- Seismic Wave- Rosario/Mott
- Seismic Wave will be the huge closer in this field with Rosario getting the mount today. Rosario comes back to ride this horse in which he rode him back in his 3yo season. Rosario never found the winners circle with him but gave some good rides aboard him in the past. He needs a pace meltdown in order to win and that could happen today if Got Stormy and Dream Friend hook up and duel early.
- Social Paranoia- Ortiz/ Pletcher
- Social Paranoia has yet to win at Belmont on the turf and seems to like a two turn mile rather than a 1 mile turf race. Jose Ortiz has been riding lights out this week and seems to have found his groove again. I think this race is a little tougher than his previous and that might be the deciding factor today.
- Eons- Carmouche/ Delacour
- Eons is definitely outclassed here but seems to have a good runstyle for this race but seems to be just a lot slower than the bunch in this race. Kendrick should be aggressive on him but I think this race is definitely a little over his head. Will look elsewhere.
- Got Stormy- Velazquez/ Casse
- Got Stormy is going to be hard to pass today if she gets the lead today. She is a filly against the boys and gets Hall of Famer John Velazquez today. She doesn’t necessarily need the lead to win but she would be tough to pass. I think she will sit off today and take one run and she should be ready to fire 2nd off of the layoff. Must USE.
- MTO
- Value Proposition- Ortiz Jr./ Brown
- Value Proposition will be the favorite today I believe. Irad is the best rider in the country in my opinion and Brown is the best turf trainer. This horse just came off of an impressive OC win at Belmont as a prep for this race off the layoff. He earned a 100 beyer in that victory and is coming off of a bullet work back on the 29th. Top Pick here.
TOP PICK:
#9 Value Proposition
#7 Got Stormy
#1 Dream Friend