Belmont: Closer Looks for June 22, 2014

Race 1

Magsamelia

Draws the fence again after just failing to last as the chalk while going slightly longer on the drop to claimers in the local slop; filly returned to work sharply and figures to be firing from the bell while switching to the circuit's top pilot for this one; there's other speed in here, but if she's able to clear them she could prove tough to run down; contender.

Silver Union

Goes first time for a tag after tiring from the inside slot while making her local debut a few weeks back; maybe getting off the fence helps and there is a good amount of speed signed on for this so maybe she's able to mount a rally when it starts to come back to the field; potential for some value warrants her a look.

Julie Napp

Fresh filly drops in for a tag for the first time while turning back to sprint on the surface switch; she showed enough early foot to stay with the pacesetters the last time she sprinted over the inner track and she will get a switch to a solid journeyman pilot for this.

Lateen

Tasted victory over cheaper in her debut on the inner track but subsequently lost the score and will get the free ride back at the level today; 4 year old earned a big number from off the pace in that one and she looks to get a great pace setup in this spot; with a regular set of drills on her tab we'd expect she's set to offer her best first time back and that would make her dangerous in the lane, but note that each of the next 2 finishers in her first out effort remain maidens.

Letsgotovegas

Works don't offer many clues as to this newcomers ability, but the barn has had some recent luck with its debut runners; sire gets about 16% first out winners from his firsters and the SP dam took a couple of sprints prior to dropping this gal.

Blisstering Strike

Caught mud in her MSW debut run and did show some solid early foot before retreating and failing to beat a winner home; she'll get a weight break with the bug named and she'll catch a softer bunch in this spot; she'll face other lick in here, but maybe they try to speed pop her from the bell and she is kin to 6 winners including G3 SW and 271K earner Hierro so she has a right to go much better with the initial experience behind her. - Steve Grabowski

Race 2

Jolene

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and multiple stakes winning dam won 5 of 23 starts for 374k, including 5 of 20 turf starts for 364k; this filly is a 1/2 to La Billos (3-13, 61k, including 1 of 6 turf starts for 26k); this is an outfit that can have one ready for better with a move to turf.

Silverama

It was for a different barn and against maiden claiming competition but her career debut can be viewed in a positive light; her most recent workout looks improved and it's interesting to see her new connections reach out to Velazquez for this.

Killington

She finished behind today's rival Means Well in her latest start but she had every right to need a race when considering that was her first start in a year; like to see a fine turf rider in Lezcano take the call.

Knotty Pine (GB)

Like the idea of this filly getting a chance to see what she can do routing and she's out of a G1 winning dam who won 8 of 14 turf starts for $1.2 million; lightly raced 4-year-old might prove to be the dominant early speed.

Pedal Princess

She attracted wagering support for her career debut at Atlantic City and she showed late life, but she's obviously facing a much tougher test this time around; she's going to need to take a big step forward to threaten the top contenders in here.

Means Well

She's the stronger half of the Santulli/Goldberg entry and she appears to be well meant while getting a rider switch to Rosario; her lack of early speed is a concern, but she deserves to be listed among the contenders.

Tiz a Dynaformer

She's shown that she has the turf ability to be competitive in a spot like this and she was last seen in a productive race; runner up from latest won next out at Mth on 5/25 going 1 1/16m over turf vs. MSW rivals with a 78 Beyer, and third-place finisher from latest won next out at Bel on 5/22 going 1 1/16m vs. MSW rivals with a 73 Beyer.

Sea Trial

Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and multiple G1 winning dam won 7 of 14 starts for $1.9 million, and she didn't make a turf start; she showed that she has some route speed in her latest start while wearing blinkers for the first time and McGaughey sees fit to assign Castellano for her first turf start. - Brian Pochman

Race 4

Bambisfrostyracer

Tries the lawn for the initial time in her first with winners after taking a big step forward to break his maiden; his sire is winless from 24 first time turf runners and the dam never tried the green; don't know that he's going to love the new surface but the last out score was fast enough to step with these if he can transfer it to the green and he will get a switch to a solid pilot.

A Marked Man

First part of the coupling is a maiden trying winners here after holding second money when shades were added in the off the turfer last month; he ran ok in a slow paced turf route in his surface debut across town 2 starts back and his dam was a SP, turf winner who banked 24K so maybe he moves forward quickly.

Social Rebellion

Colt hasn't been a threat to the winner in quite a long time but he has been trying the dirt; he broke his maiden over the course last fall at this trip and maybe the return to the green helps perk him up in this moderate field; price should certainly be right as he goes for a low percentage outfit that boasts a strong ROI on the surface switch.

Captain Toews

MTO ran well when in against older in his first start of the season and he'll look to stretch out a panel in this one if the rains come; colt showed a nice turn of foot in his first crack with older and he does have a right to move forward with his first start of the year behind him; a top pilot sticks with him, but the barn has had a rough meeting.

Sol the Freud

Speedy colt showed solid early foot in his first crack on the lawn while returning from 4 months on the shelf; colt didn't have enough to go on late at a shorter trip in his first with older but he was engaged from the bell in that one and should have things more to his liking on the front end in this one; he's kin to a couple of turf winners including his full sister, G1 SW sprinter and 686K earner Franny Freud; his pilot goes elsewhere but it looks like they'll have to catch him.

Mark My Way

Other half of the entry certainly appears to like the lawn and he should have some bottom for the turn back after just missing from a wide spot at 9 panels over the course last month; gelding goes for a barn that moves them forward second back from the break and their top pilot sticks with him; could prove to be the one to hold off.

Let's Discuss

Makes his turf debut while cutting back to sprint off a weak local effort against older; he was ok 2 back at the level on the main track but his sire gets just 7% winners from his initial grass runners and the unraced dam's lone foal to try the footing was 0 for 2 over it.

Gridley Here

Makes his first start of the season while getting the services of a new pilot in his return to the course of his maiden score; colt wasn't beaten all that much in the stakes heat across town back in the fall and he's been breezing well of late for the comebacker; against this field he's one to consider.

Free Mugatu

He's another making his first start of the year while stepping on the green for the initial time as well; colt goes for a sharp return outfit and he did step against some decent statebreds as a juvenile; his sire is just 3 for 77 with his initial surface starters and the dam never tried the green but she did drop a surface winner from 2 other foals to race; could prove a dangerous foe on the surface switch. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Sabouli

This mare shows up for a sharp turf outfit, but she's going to need to show more in order to threaten the top contenders in this spot; third-place finisher from latest won next out at Del on 6/16 going 1m over turf vs. 30-25k N3L claimers with a 72 Beyer.

This Is Nice (IRE)

She finished behind today's rival Sabouli in her latest outing and that rival doesn't appear to be her biggest concern in this spot; looking at this as being a tough group of N1X rivals for her to be meeting up with.

Cat's Claw

Stone-cold closer is meeting up with winners for the first time but this lightly raced 4-year-old is eligible to still have more to show us with only five starts behind her; leaning toward others for the top spot, but a minor award might not be out of the question.

Silky (IRE)

She may very well prove to be the one to deny in this spot, and judging from the distances she raced at in her two starts in Ireland, the 1 1/16m distance in her first start in America was too short for her; third-place finisher from latest won next out at Aqu on 12/1 going 1 1/16m over turf vs. N1X alw. rivals with an 88 Beyer.

Swakopmund

Her recent starts over turf haven't been bad performances, and she shows up for a barn that is having a fine meeting, but she looks like another in here who is going to have a tough time keeping up with the top contenders.

Glorious Chant

Her most recent race was one of the sharper performances of her career, but a slow early pace had a lot to do with that third-place finish; with Princess Mara signed on, she isn't likely to see such a soft early pace.

Princess Mara

She has some respectable turf form on her card to consider and this mare is going to appreciate the drop in class for this; if Silky doesn't prove to be up to the task, this looks like the one most likely to take advantage.

Adriatic Dream

Wild Desert has been a poor influence as a turf sire but this stakes placed gelding has shown enough racing over turf to suggest that he can get himself into the mix against these; a minor award appears to be the ceiling. - Brian Pochman

Race 7

Cody's Notes

A long set of five-eighths workouts to consider; his sire won multiple G2 stakes and 450K overall; offspring of Read the Footnotes have won 10 percent of their debuts; the dam went zero for 12; winning siblings include 182K earner Cody Samora.

Four Directions

Strikingly similar efforts in all 4 starts despite the variance in distance and surface; scheduled to add blinkers which may help him get into gear sooner; the trainer is enjoying another banner meet and the gelding should prove a major threat against this group.

Curious Cal

Beaten favorite lands into a field with a soft pace profile and should benefit; he broke alertly in the last showing as compared to the first two efforts which featured slow getaways; seems more than capable of handling the distance extension.

Vagarious

Flashed an improved first gear when negotiating the turf for the first time a month ago; has value experience at the straightaway mile and, as mentioned above, should be part of the easy tempo that is projected in this event; has legitimate money chances.

Warrior's Hero

Toss the first effort where he did not have a smooth beginning; his sire won the G1 Hopeful and 239K in total; the dam won 6 of 24 attempts and 151K; among the winning siblings is 111K earner Beau de Beaupre.

Do It for Dennis

No factor in all starts this year and he has flashed only a modicum of speed in the past; makes the demanding leap to the special weight class and although the latest training track breeze was fair, it hardly seems enough to trigger a sudden upgrade.

Greg's Fourwheeler

Respectable maiden voyage 2 weeks ago when a wide fourth; his sire was a G1 victor who banked 633K while the dam won 1 of 9 and 25K; among the winning siblings is 52K earner Katmanstu; worth some follow-up.

Majestic Guy

Caught wide in his first test, he never got involved; see Warrior's Hero, above, for information about the same sire; the dam never raced and this is her sole foal to compete; latest breeze was decent. - Jim Kachulis

Race 8

Missy Bay

Wasn't beaten much in her first start of the year earlier in the month and the runner up from that heat has already returned to score; filly ran big in both of her starts over the local sod last fall and is certainly eligible to move forward with her last behind her; for a barn that's going well at the stand she's one to consider.

Storied Lady

Earned a solid number while getting up for second money behind a front running winner in the stakes try at this trip a few weeks back and now she'll try the green; her dam won over the footing and dropped 2 surface winners including SP, 254K earner Barrel of Love who won 6 times on the weeds; sire gets 8% first time surface winners from his offspring.

Selenite

Faced older in both of her turf starts this year and ran pretty well each time; cut back to this trip should help and she did break her maiden over the course last year; Donk barn is going well here and she doesn't look to face much proven turf form in this spot.

Henry's Gal

Took the worst of it at the break at this trip last time and was unable to offer her customary early foot which led to the first off the board finish of her career; quick filly will move to the lawn for a sharp outfit whose numbers with this type are rather dismal; sire gets 9% first time surface winners from his offspring and neither of the dam's foals to try the green won over it; don't know that this will be her game but she does figure to flaunt her lick and that could take her a long way.

Miss Narcissist

She's another trying the lawn for the first time but she's been working well over the footing of late; idle since being defeated by several of these in her first start of the season, she may be set to move forward while switching to a top pilot and she showed 2 back that she's capable of firing from a tracking spot; her sire gets 13% winners from his first time turfers and the dam never tried the green prior to dropping foals who were a combined 0 for 5 over the footing.

Bella the Bandit

Tired to finish behind some of these gals on the main track across town a couple of months back and now she'll return for her turf debut; sire is 0 for 8 with his new turfers, the dam was 0 for 1 on the green and her foals to try the stuff were a combined 0 for 4 over it.

Traipse in Utopia

Maiden ran her best yet when moved to the green last month and now she'll tackle stakes runners in her second crack over the stuff; her sibs in the states are a combined 0 for 5 on this footing so don't know that it's reasonable to expect her to take the big move forward she'd need to contend second time over it; siding with others for the money slots.

Gu Gu Beans

She's another maiden but she boasts some ugly running lines and has already been on he green a few times; tough to imagine she'll have much to offer against this bunch for a low percentage outfit; looms a very long price again today.

Hey Kiddo

Speedy filly tired from her pace efforts while tackling older in her return from the break at Parx last month and now she'll try the lawn; sire is winless from 39 offspring making their initial start on the green and the dam never tried the stuff prior to dropping 2 foals who were each 0 for 1 over it.

Old Harbor

Ran pretty well when cut back in her second turf start, finishing just a half length off a gal who returned to score here last weekend; maybe the hood removal helps her settle and she did return to breeze well in Jersey for this; looks to have a big shot while moving in to face her peers in this spot.

Lady Kreesa

Made everyone's watch list with her eventful debut run here last month and returned with a better start from the fence in breaking her maiden at odds on; she'll try tougher here, but she's kin to a couple of SWs including G1 SP, SW and 657K earner King Kreesa who was rather good on this circuit so don't think she'll have much of a problem improving with racing; looms a big threat right back.

Funky Munky Fever

Tries winners for the first time after the drop to claimers got her a maiden win in the off the turfer earlier in the month; maybe the score gave her some confidence, but the filly didn't do much on the green in her 2 tries over it so don't think she'll prove a threat in here.

Champagne Ruby

Tracked the pace for a while in her second start of the year but didn't have enough to go on with the winner late and now she'll give the green a shot; filly does figure to have a shot to sit a tracking trip from this outside slot, but she'll probably also lose ground into the turn in this big field; her sire is just 3 for 77 with his first time turfers and the dam was winless from 3 grassy starts prior to dropping foals who were a combined 0 for 8 over the stuff. - Steve Grabowski

Race 9

Countknickerbocker

He finished behind a couple of today's rivals in his latest start, but that was his first start back from a long layoff, and like the idea of this gelding being able to jump out on top of this field right from the bell; he has the look of a legitimate gate-to-finish threat.

Saltine Warrior

Wild Desert has been a poor influence as a turf sire but this gelding does have some respectable turf form on his card to consider; that said, he can't afford to take even a small step backward while meeting up with winners for the first time.

Pegasus Red

It's safe to say that he outran his odds in his turf debut in his latest start and he finished right behind today's rival Sun Worshipper in that event; not putting him at the top of the list, but maybe a spot underneath in the exotics is within reach.

Thnxtomyuncle

It looks like horses like Swell and Soul House will be the ones to look toward if this race has to be moved to the main track, and this is a gelding who hasn't been shy about settling for runner-up finishes along the way; he's tough to back for the top spot, but a minor award is a real possibility.

Cincinnati Kid

There was a time when he would have merited consideration in a spot like this, but it's difficult to have confidence in him when seeing what he's done in his last two starts after needing a lot of time off.

Hooked Forever

Hook and Ladder has been a poor influence as a turf sire but but this gelding has shown the ability to dial up a performance that is strong enough to make him competitive at this level of competition; he's been at his best over this turf course and he's eligible to be ready to give a good account of himself while making his second start back from a layoff.

Swell

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and multiple stakes placed dam won 5 of 23 starts for 208k, including 0-for-1 over turf; his dirt form has been solid and this has to be considered a reasonable spot for his first turf test.

Soul House

He was kind of disappointing in his latest start after a layoff, but if it was just a case of him needing a race, he can be ready for better this time around; he's flashed some ability along the way and he merits some respect against these.

Nelson Avenue

He has just one win after 32 career starts and that alone is a reason to look in another direction for the top spot; he won't mind getting back over turf, but his best effort just isn't up to the level of the top contenders in here.

Sun Worshipper

He's been in good form since being returned from a layoff two starts back, but the lack of early speed he's been showing is a bit of a concern; regardless, he's proven that he can compete at this level and he has the look of a contender.

Ganador

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and dam was winless from one start, and it wasn't a turf start; turf and distance are concerns and he must take a strong step forward in his turf debut if he's to contend. - Brian Pochman