Belmont Park
Belmont: Closer Looks for May 1, 2014
Race 1
| Make It Anywhere |
| Considering she was forced to steady, the grass debut was not all that bad; dam was 0 for 11; all 3 siblings won, one was a proven router, the other 2 were stakes players and banked over $275K a piece; note show horse in 2013 closer was clear; major threat. |
| Royal Roxie |
| Mirror races so far and neither was pretty; 2 for 19 dam earned over $60K, won routing once; both siblings won; one took sprint debut at 2 in only start, the other took 8 of 32, earned almost $100K, was sprint only; must find a way to turn the tables on the Hushion among others. |
| Guilty Verdict |
| Been given time since press and finale 2013 finale; fresh Lasix and would expect runner to be on the muscle since he is fresh and goes with blinks; winner of the debut took an N1X in next, then was 2nd beaten a half length in an $83K stakes; multiple Grade 1 winning dam took 5 of 9, earned over $650K and preferred to route; 2 of 3 siblings won; both won once routing; expect much better effort. |
| Mei Ling |
| Wide and forced to steady, but she came back with a solid drill locally; look for rider to be aggressive on the stretch out and note runner may the top in her first route; don't sell too short. |
| Kate Greenaway |
| She pressed and faded in the debut and may have disliked being on the rail; SW 3 for 14 dam earned nearly $100K racing across the pond; 3 of 4 siblings won including Grace Hall, who took a Grade 1, won 4 routes, earned over $1.4 million; got a feeling we have not seen the best of this one. |
| Gasparilla Inn |
| Solid debut to kick it off considering barn is patient and runner walked out of the gate; 4th finisher in bow won at this level next out with a 92 Beyer, place horse was 2nd beaten just over a length and the winner repeated in a $75K optional; G2 winning 4 for 16 dam earned over $500K, was route only; this is her first to race; rates legit look today. |
| The Right Bird |
| No kick when catching fast splits in the debut but runner responded on the inner, just hooked a daylighter; the winner of last repeated in an N1X with a 71 Beyer; 1 for 8 dam took a sprint; all 5 siblings won; 2 banked over $190K including route winner, G1 winner and near $450K earner Karlovy Vary; must display more. |
| Cape Song |
| Filly wintered in Florida after getting in during the debut; show horse in opener cashed next out in this league and then took an $80K stakes; 8 for 21 G2 winning dam took several stakes, earned over $800K, won 6 routes; 2 of 3 sibs won, one cashed routing in the minor leagues; respect everything from this barn. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 3
| Antipathy |
| Got beat vs. similar on the inner March 24, yes, but she ran big to be 2nd; hey, she got a big Beyer (95) and finished 11 1/2 lengths ahead of Miss Da Point in 3rd, and THAT gal came right back to win; worked well since and she's got the speed and versatility to be in the thick of it from the start...and likely all the way around. |
| Hot Rendezvous |
| 2 very nice wins over on the inner in February earned her a shot at an NY-brecd stakes on this track March 29 and she was a nice 2nd to La Verdad, who only came right back to win the G2 Distaff here last week; was then a well-beaten 3rd vs. similar here April 10 but she's capable of better and it's nice to see no panicky drop or layoff from Contessa after that last run. |
| Lunar Surge |
| No match for Belle Gallantey on the inner Jan. 20 when 2nd to that gal but beaten 6 1/2 lengths; in her defense, she was coming back on 4 days rest and it looks good, too, that 'Gallantey came right back to win; was then 3rd in a LRL stakes and a game winner over open N1X foes here March 29 so she's in good form; worked nicely since; question is, can she improve enough to get on terms with 'Gallantey much less deal with the rail filly, hmmmmm? |
| Belle Gallantey |
| Comes here sharp as a tack; not only looked super winning her last 2 on the inner but her last win, Feb. 17, looks even better when you note 3 she beat that day came right back to win; that being said, she hasn't been seen since and you don't normally take a gal who's peaking and put her away for 2-plus months without good reason; at least returns WITHOUT a tag attached and that last Beyer (95) makes her look pretty darn tough if she comes back with that type of performance. |
| Majestic Marquet |
| Game win on the inner Dec. 20 seemed to indicate she was back on her game; trouble is, she hasn't been seen since and as with the gal to her left, who is her stablemate, it's a tad disconcerting she seemed to get back on the beam with that Dec. 20 win but has been inactive since; it's not usually the case that you take a horse who's reaching top form and put them away for this long without good reason; owns a win over this track and she has done very nicely off the bench, too. - Michael Hammersly |
Race 4
| Cuckoo House |
| The switch to the Belmont surface may help with the awakening for this grey who sheds the blinkers and whose last training track breeze was fair; he has repeatedly lost to some of these same foes but will offer decent betting value. |
| Jackson N Lorimer |
| Based strictly on pace, this gelding looks like a major contender this afternoon; chased strong fractions a month ago when trying a mile for the first time and now lands into a field which is definitely lacking in quality early zip; respect. |
| England |
| A huge disappointment at 2 to 5 in late January, the change of barns for this runner is noteworthy; his sire won a G1 and 1.5 million while the dam scored in 3 of 12 appearances notching 85K; this is her only foal to start; should upgrade vs. these. |
| Moonlite Encounter |
| He has a bit of early speed in his favor but needs a might slow pace in order to last for a share; failed twice over the course last season at big odds and he is hard to recommend as the one to key on top; this apprentice rider has been going well of late. |
| Gabriel's Flame |
| Midpack running style fits the race; he should within striking range from the opening bell and has met repeat winners in 2 of his last 4 outings; logical for the trifecta at the least but will be far less appealing odds than in recent efforts. |
| Come On Charlie |
| Ignore the maiden voyage over the turf where he was caught wide; the colt's sire won a G2 stakes and 388K overall; the dam was unraced and this is her sole foal to compete; should give a much better account with the switch to the main. |
| King Gettigan |
| Note his history of bad racing luck and perhaps this runner can upgrade with the change to these connections; the colt should be a late factor against this caliber especially if there is a pace meltdown; playable. |
| Political Farce |
| Failed as the favorite 6 times already yet he will be overbet once again; did earn his best lifetime Beyer over this surface but now may be caught up in a duel with Jackson N Lorimer; that battle, if it develops, should prove the key to the outcome. |
| Island Therapy |
| Outside slot may not matter if he can improve upon that last solid, clear-cut placing; will likely be reserved for one middle move and if he can avoid an extra-wide trip, he should be able to hit the board against this light field. - Jim Kachulis |
Race 6
| Oration |
| Makes his local debut after a couple of solid efforts at shorter sprint trips on the Gulfstream lawn over the past 5 weeks; gelding does have some speed so maybe they look to use it from this inside slot but there is other speed in here so he'll need to be alert from the bell; contender. |
| Xixixi |
| MTO is one of just 2 multiple winners in the field and he'll step up off his most recent score to try allowance runners today; barn does nice work with its fresh stock and this guy figures to find a spot up top with the pacesetters from the bell; inside starting slot could make him the one to catch if the rains come. |
| Maximus Decimus |
| MTO cuts back to sprint in his second off the freshening after an equipment issue hampered his try at Laurel; colt wasn't bad going long at the level in the winter and he did break his maiden at the trip so maybe the return to sprinting helps if he gets to meet the starter. |
| Escapist |
| Set some pretty quick splits from the fence in his gate to wire Gulfstream debut score and has been given some time to prepare for his first crack with winners; barn does boast a recent return winner; SP dam's 3 wins all came on the lawn and she dropped a pretty good one in G1 SP, G3 SW sprinter and 573K earner Clearly Now who ran second in his lone turf spin; big threat to take them all the way again today. |
| Handstand |
| Tries the lawn for the first time after failing to go on from a ground saving spot in his first crack with winners over the inner; maybe the short break helps as he did break his maiden off drills first time out and his sire gets 10% first surface winners from his offspring; dam's lone foal to try the green was off the board in both grassy tries. |
| Otoy |
| Field's most experienced turfer turns back to sprint while returning to the course over which he broke his maiden late last summer; colt should have a little extra to offer in the lane at this reduced trip and he should get some pace to run at today; consider. |
| Classic Salsa |
| MTO tries better after taking his second in as many starts; colt possesses a tracking gear that could benefit him from an outside draw as there is speed drawn inside of him today; a top pilot sticks with him as he makes his second start under the care of a barn that hits at a big clip with those seeking the repeat; he returns in just a couple of weeks, but it looks like they'll have him to beat. |
| Father Johns Pride |
| Gray looked pretty good breaking his maiden over the inner on New Year's Eve and returned to run a big one behind a next out winner (89 Beyer on the Keeneland green) when stretched out from a tough draw at Gulfstream Park; barn's numbers second back from the break suggest a move forward could be on tap and we know this guy can handle one turn racing; one to beat. |
| Ragtime |
| Makes his turf debut for a barn that's done ok with its new turfers and he'll attract Castellano for this; colt took a good step forward to break his maiden second time out on the Gulfstream main track so maybe he has more to offer with the return from the short break behind him; sire gets 12% first turf winners from his offspring and he's the first foal to race out of a dam who never tried the green. |
| Jimmy Connors |
| MTO will start from the outside slot if he draws in to make his second start of the year; he's got a right to move forward with his first start in nearly 7 months behind him and tossing out the route stake try at Churchill, he's an improving colt whose pedigree suggests he'll like it wet. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 7
| Divine Child |
| The spotty race record is a concern and note he only beat 3 runners in the last win; tough beat 2 back but some may not have cared for the off going that day; apparently not much of a work horse, but he knows all the tricks at 6 anyway; in good hands, needs very best. |
| Beeliner |
| A tiring 2nd in the only local out at a shorter distance; show horse in last took a $50K starter next out and the 4th finisher took an N1X fray; 3/2 place horse beat $40K starter foes in next and show horse 3/2 won next but only against $12.5K N2L rivals; this is a much tougher test than winning in conditioned company last time; best when sent along but note Road Agent can give up a sub :45 half if in the mood; may need softer to shine. |
| Johannesburg Smile |
| Half of his wins have come here; nice; runner has a shot to show more speed on the stretch out and note he was only beaten a half in the sprint to route run in the March stakes last year; 2/17 place horse cashed next out in an N1X with a 101 Beyer; considering the trip he had last time, would expect much better try. |
| Sky Blue Mongolia |
| Gelding pressed issue when wide in last, he was game in the win two back and note show horse was nearly 5 clear; could see him sitting a nice stalk and pounce trip; don't ignore. |
| Nevada |
| Bothered early in the SAR finale and he has not looked the same since; beaten 5 in the off going in the best local effort, would expect rider to take a little hold, try to save ground, hope they go bonkers early and the race falls apart. |
| Joan's Choice |
| Free-runner sort should appreciate the shorter trip; runner has failed in his last several return tries; with his style, things always need to break just right; another slice? |
| Road Agent |
| Can't be thrilled with the local slate but he was boosted a bit when the show horse in last beat $50K starter foes 8 days ago with an 86 Beyer; runner just has not looked the same since being put in the Grade 3 last year; wraps added in last, try to get a good look at him on the track. |
| St Moose |
| Game in the win and note place horse was well clear; just not sure he was beating anybody last time as the place horse in last return to run third as the beaten chalk losing by 7 in a $25K optional at Penn National last Friday; lean toward watching a local effort. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 8
| Hear the Footsteps |
| Aggressive placement making his 7-year-old seasonal debut in an open-stakes race after losing 3 staight pre-rest NY-bred events; the best news is his 1st race of 2013 was a winner however he was meeting a lot lesser that day; capable-long layoff trainer and the win rider returns; overall have mixed feelings. |
| Non Stop |
| Finally gets back on turf noting his October win at today's distance on the BEL Widener grass course; picked up a dirt win in 2014 but clearly has been waiting for the green and a repeat of that BEL score would make him a major player here; contender. |
| Nine O Wonderful |
| 3-back career-best Beyer was in a BEL-7F Widener Turf event; have mixed reviews when racing off previous freshenings; the 1-for-23 trainer since 2013 with 61-180-day starters does not help the confidence level; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 97 in a next-out GP-optional-claiming win while the 7th-10th and 12th-place finishers from last all won next out in TAM-OPC, GP-starter alw. and KEE-50K-claiming wins (95-87-87 Beyers). |
| The Brothers War |
| The 2nd-USA start being a Beyer regression does not help the confidence level much for his return to New York; the show finisher from last Beyered 87 in a next-out GP-OPC win; rallied at shorter at SAR while the only 7F-distance test of his career was an 11th-place finish; would be a complete shocker. |
| Summer Breezing |
| 1 of 2 Clement-trained runners here; would have to assume based on the jockey assignments that this one is the better of the 2 with Lezcano here winning 23% for the trainer since 2013; a stakes winner on BEL turf at today's distance he sat out the winter GP meet and even more interesting is that he is a NY-bred; scary if ready. |
| Black Onyx |
| Clement has two in here uncoupled and this one goes 1st time for the trainer a 26%-win angle since 2013; won his last 2 starts before behing shelved; the 2-back victory looks better since the show runner Beyered 85 in a next-out TP-75K stakes win; late runner is cutting back to his shortest-distance test ever which does not help the confidence level. |
| Bio Pro |
| SA invader cuts back in distance noting his last race traveling this short was the January, 2013, maiden breaker on dirt vs. much lesser; wanted no parts of 1 Mile and a quarter in last while his stalking-Mile runner-up finish 2-back is a career-best Beyer; the 3-back runner-up and show finishers Beyered 105-102 in next-out SA-GP-Grade 2 stakes wins. |
| Havelock |
| 2011-WO-G3 stakes winner at 7F on turf; toss out last as the KEE-turf was favoring speed where he burned betting money unable to defend his Shakertown title; while many of these cut back in distance he stretches out to his longest test since May, 2013, which helps the cause on the pick. |
| Plainview |
| 8 straight stats and 14 of his last 15 racing 1st at the 1st call; try to catch me; he is 0-for-7 in races shorter than 1 Mile but is cutting back to his shortest-distance test since May, 2012, when finishing 2nd in a BEL-Inner Turf 25K claimer at 6F; defeated the 2-back show finisher who Beyered 96 in a next-out AQU-OPC win. |
| Slim Shadey (GB) |
| Last win was on the lead; he figures to be an early presence hoping to outkick Plainview from the gate then hold off the closers; has not raced this short of a distance since finshing 4th October, 2010, in a 606K-ENG stakes; broke his maiden at 6.5F; he is 1-of 4 runners for trainer Jacobson entered here (3 on MTO list) and being new in the barn a 26%-win angle since 2013. |
| Emkanaat (GB) |
| 1st-time Lasix for his 1st start on turf since August; the 1-for-14 grass record is not very appealing considering we have an accomplished field set to face him; the 3-back winner repeated in an 18K event; will be taking a wait and see approach. |
| Integrity |
| Exits a best-last-race Beyer; 3-for-4 during career when he races 1st at the 1st call; catch me if you can hoping Plainview isn't here to contest the pace; Main Track Only entry is listed to reunite with 2-time win pilot Castellano the hottest rider in America; his career-best Beyer was posted traveling on BEL mud. |
| Cease |
| Has certainly raced well enough off previous freshenings to make him a major player if in; is 1 of 3 Jacobson-trained MTO runners; a-7F-BEL-dirt winner in October while his career-best Beyers were posted on wet footing; like the other MTO runners going here he prefers the off going. |
| Candyman E |
| MTO's 2-back 104 Beyer is a field-best number; gate-to-wire winner over the track in October; defeated much lesser when claimed but went on to win a Grade 3 two back beating Dads Caps who took the G1 Carter two starts later (103 Beyer); defeated the 7th-place finisher in last who Beyered 96 in a next-out AQU-OPC win. |
| Tenango |
| MTO is doing the rain dance although several in here move up on a wet track; BEL dirt May, 2013, winner at 1 Mile in an OPC; just doesn't ever seem to run a bad race; the layoff and lacking stamina in some of his BEL-dirt defeats are the major issues. - Art Gropper |
Race 9
| Sunnyinseabrook |
| Late running gelding has yet to run a race that is strong enough to suggest that he can threaten the top contenders in here, and from five turf starts prior to this, he hasn't even posted a 1-2-3 finish; he looks like more of an outsider. |
| Charity Reins |
| A number of his turf starts have been solid performances and he certainly made it look easy when surprising 10 rivals when last seen; he has at least mild appeal while making his first start as a 4-year-old. |
| Elroi |
| He ran some nice races over turf as a 3-year-old and like to see the way that he broke out of the maiden ranks with a sharp winning performance in his first start as a 4-year-old; he is meeting winners for the first time, but he does appear to be on the improve. |
| Mark Twain |
| The move to turf seemed to agree with him in his latest outing but he's going to need to take a noticeable step forward if he's to get the better of this field while meeting up with winners for the first time; looking toward others. |
| Storm |
| Like the idea of this half-brother to Thunderestimate (4-7, 183k over turf) getting back on grass, and he ran well in his only turf start in his career debut as a 2-year-old going a mile; he is meeting older rivals for the first time, but he certainly has his share of appeal; Castellano has won with 41 of 113 (36%) mounts for this barn in 2012. |
| Campogiovanni |
| His turf form as a 3-year-old was strong enough to give him a competitive look in this field and he shares the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here with Noosh's Tale; it looks like he's be working right along since mid-March in preparation for his 2014 racing debut. |
| Mister Dooley |
| One of two signed on in here for the Bond barn and perhaps this relatively lightly raced 5-year-old is using this race as a conditioner for the next time around; Saez has ridden him in four of five starts and pilots Campogiovanni in this one. |
| Here Comes Tommy |
| Tough to back him for the top spot when seeing his 1-for-18 race record, with seven runner-up finishes, but he's clearly capable of rallying himself into the mix and landing a minor award; it is a plus to see what he's done in his four starts over the Belmont Park turf. |
| Rocket Hero |
| Sire wins with approximately 10% of his turf starters and dam won 8 of 37 starts for 337k, and she didn't make a turf start; runner up from latest won next out at Aqu on 4/18 going 1m vs. N1X rivals with a 78 Beyer. |
| Noosh's Tale |
| He's light on winning form after 16 starts, and his total lack of early speed is always a concern, but he is a good fit at this level of competition; he shares the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here with Campogiovanni and not going to be surprised if he proves to be a tough one to keep out of the mix. |
| Escape to the Moon |
| This colt shows up for a barn and rider that team up with success and he's capable of getting himself involved in the running right from the bell and staying in the hunt throughout; have to respect his chances if he gets to go. |
| Summer Place to Be |
| He'll have the look of a top contender if this race has to be taken off the turf and he's eligible to be ready to give a strong account of himself while making his second start back from a layoff; obvious threat. |
| Saturday Appeal |
| He looks like he's going better than ever at the moment and he's another in here with enough early speed to make his presence felt right from the break; a repeat of his latest performance places him squarely in the mix. |
| Privatize |
| He needed 13 starts to get to his first win and this looks like it can prove to be a tough spot for him to meet up with winners for the first time; third-place finisher from latest won next out at Aqu on 4/24 going 1m vs. 16k MCL's with a 40 Beyer. |
| Wise Guide |
| He ran well in his first start for these connections in his latest outing after being claimed for 12.5k two starts ago, and not only did he earn a career best Beyer Speed Figure, but he contested a sharp early pace in doing it. |
| Here He Fitz |
| His two most recent races have been a couple of his better performances but he's probably going to need to improve in the neighborhood of 10 points along the Beyer Speed Figure scale in order to threaten the top contenders in here. - Brian Pochman |