Belmont: Closer Looks for May 18, 2014

Race 1

Kevin's Kool Kat

With very little early speed to oppose her, this filly stands a chance for yet another exacta finish; she showed fair fighting spirit in her local debut when going long; runs back quickly and the cutback in distance can work in her favor.

Taylornator

Combination of blinker change and above average work tab this month makes her worth some consideration; she should be within range of what is expected to be a soft pace and she gets weight from the field to boot; respect her chances especially if there is an off track.

Sensual Nite

Exits a very slow race where she never got untracked and she has not come close to the performance level of her maiden voyage over the inner dirt; cannot be endorsed for the top spot until much closing kick is shown.

My Won Love

Attended the pace briefly in the run 2 back before fading; flashed only brief foot in her first turf assignment; the main points in her favor: the success rate of the trainer involved and the major class relief this afternoon; should fare much better.

Lucky Seven

Both starts over the Belmont surface involved legitimate excuses and perhaps she can be a surprising pace factor if a fast surface is the older of the day; any duplication of the attempt on 4/17 should put her in contention; the lukewarm selection.

Patriot's Jewel

No enthusiasm shown up to now regardless of surface or distance; failed to do any running in all prior attempts at this oval and a sudden reversal just does not seem in the cards; pass until further notice.

Gallant Lady

Her most recent breeze over the training track was definitely upbeat; she began her career at Belmont and ran into a repeat winner that day after being compromised by a slow start; can round out a share of the exotic payoff at a square price. - Jim Kachulis

Race 2

Walk Close

Overcame some trouble to take her debut over the course in impressive fashion early last fall and now she'll return to try winners; filly will get Lasix for the comebacker and this sharp outfit does do quite well off that angle; faces a tough bunch, but she certainly has a right to return running; consider.

Patsy's Holiday

Pletcher filly has run a handful of times and may not have the upside of some of these, but she's already shown that she likes the green and overcame slow clips in each of her scores over the footing; her lone crack at the level 2 back did come up short, but she has some trouble in that one and she has been breezing well for her local debut.

Miss Frost

SP turfer makes her first start of the season for a barn that boasts some recent luck with the move; filly didn't run so well over the local sod last fall, but she was in against some solid stakes turfers in those tries and maybe she fits better with these; price should be right in a tough race.

One Penny Piece (GB)

She was a popular claim in Florida and now she'll step up to the allowance ranks for her local debut; barn boasts some recent luck with newly claimed stock and this gal was pretty good considering the slow clips she got in front of her in her 2 stateside heats, but the gal who ran past her to get the score last time returns in this spot as well.

Madaket Millie

Went off tepid chalk in her Gulfstream debut and though she was allowed to set soft splits she did look strong late; top pilot sticks with her for the first crack against winners and the white hot barn boasts a big winning clip with its fresh stock; with a big number showing she won't offer any bargains, but she's a huge repeat threat.

Valseuse

Filly hasn't been a threat since taking her turf route debut in Florida this winter though she did subsequently chase a next out repeater in her initial stakes engagement; maybe it was just the wide trip that did her in off the freshening at Keeneland and she will get a top pilot for this, but her style suggests she'll need some help in front of her here; worth a look.

Whispering

Returns from some time off after failing to threaten winners in her first crack at this level in Florida; most recent drill suggests she's on her toes for the comebacker, but don't know that she fits so well with some of these stakes experienced gals; prefer to look elsewhere for the winner.

Hillhouse High

Barn's other runner in here loses her pilot to her uncoupled mate but gets a pretty sharp replacement; maybe that means they aren't as high on her, but she owns a win on the local sod and was quite good when second as the chalk to a subsequent repeater in her first start of the season; she brings some early foot to the table in a heat that doesn't contain a lot of it and an aggressive ride could help her control things from the bell; giving her the nod to beat this bunch home.

Fashion Fund (GB)

Graduated in her stateside debut at Keeneland last month and now she'll try winners in her first local start; her effort over a course with give in it was pretty solid and this course figures to have some moisture in it as well but don't know that she's going to get a lot pace in front of her and she'll start from this outside slot.

Ballylee

MTO returns from the short break with some slow breezes on her worktab; she's yet to try a one turn trip which she'll tackle here and her out of conditions try with allowance runners last time wasn't much to speak of; maybe a wet track helps get her going.

Bikini Beauty

MTO is a late runner who will try dirt for the first time if this one comes off; her pedigree says the wetter the better and this field will likely be decimated if the rains do come so her late kick will be one to watch for in the lane if she goes. - Steve Grabowski

Race 4

Milkyyourway

Her most recent start is in the neighborhood of what it might take to get the job done in here, and it is worth noting that was the first time she raced over turf since being equipped with blinkers; like to see Ortiz aboard again and she should be able to sit a comfortable ground saving trip.

Coriander

She's going to need to produce her sharpest performance to date to win this event, but her overall turf form hasn't been bad, and she'll appreciate getting back over turf for her 2014 racing debut; third-place finisher from latest won next out at Aqu on 1/5 going 1m vs. 12.5k N3L claimers with a 63 Beyer.

Old Harbor

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and dam won once from three starts for 30k, and she didn't make a turf start; this filly is a 1/2 to stakes placed Shipwreckstreasure (9-46, 254k, including 2 of 16 turf starts for 63k); respect the presence of a fine turf rider in Lezcano, but she must show more in her turf debut in order to contend.

Willow U

Half-sister to stakes placed Russian Sage (3-19, 135k over turf) was much improved in her second turf attempt in her latest outing, and the runner up from that race returned to win next out at Bel on 5/14 going 1m over turf vs. MSW rivals with a 65 Beyer.

As Well

She's run well from off the pace in a number of her turf starts, and Castellano has been aboard for a couple of her better efforts; she might need to see Takeoff Your Hat and Summer Solo produce a sub par performances to get the job done, but she deserves to be listed among the contenders.

G Note

Broman-homebred took a step in the right direction while making her first start back from a layoff in her latest outing, and she didn't finish far behind a couple of today's rivals in that race; at the very least, she's worthy of consideration underneath in the exotics.

Takeoff Your Hat

Half-sister to John's Song (6-19, 101k over turf) really hasn't run a bad race through her first five starts and this has to be considered a favorable spot for her to try to secure her third career win; feel that this April foal is still plenty eligible to have more to show us.

Life's a Stage

She split a couple of today's rivals in her first start of the year in her most recent outing, and she was only three quarters of a length behind Takeoff Your Hat in that race; she has her share of appeal while meeting up with winners for the second time.

Jcs American Dream

Full sister to One Quiet Cat (2-9, 80k over turf) stepped it up nicely along the Beyer Speed Figure scale in her turf debut in her latest outing, but she was beaten by a few of today's rivals in that event.

Summer Solo

That was a rather impressive career debut for a first-time starting 2-year-old going 1 1/16m and note that today's rival Takeoff Your Hat finished third in that race; she's out of a dam who was a stakes winner racing overseas while winning 3 of 11 turf starts for 85k, including 1 of 5 North American turf starts for 41k; this miss is a 1/2 to stakes winner Adirondack Summer (2-9, 145k over turf) and stakes winner Summer Breezing (2-5, 87k over turf).

Golden Cheetah

Not willing to give her the nod for the top spot against these, but she's run races in the past that are strong enough to suggest that she might be able to sneak her way into a spot underneath in the exotics.

Porvoo

This is a mare sporting a 1-for-26 race record and she's winless in her last 18 starts going back through 2013; her recent form hasn't been anywhere near her best and looking at her as being more of an outsider.

Accomplish First

If her latest start is a sign of what's to come, this will prove be a favorable spot for her first attempt against winners; runner up from latest won next out at Aqu on 11/8 going 6f vs. 35k MCL's with a 69 Beyer and third finisher won next out at Aqu on 11/10 going 6f vs. 20k MCL's with a 43 Beyer.

Maxana

She's the only one in here with three wins next to her name and she'll command respect as a contender if this race has to be taken off the turf, especially with Castellano in the pedals. - Brian Pochman

Race 5

Giant's Passion

Adds blinkers for the 1st time; projected as the one to catch here; likely to have Boss Man chasing early but the others will sit back and hope he comes back to the field; only one runner has traveled at least this far so they all have the same stamina dilemma.

Point Hope

The trainer does his best with fresh runners so the layoff is a plus; was troubled in the pre-rest-1st-Lasix and blinkers race; he deserves another chance with a clean trip; the 2-back show finisher Beyered 81 in his next-out BEL-MSW win then went on to win the Grade 3 Lexington (90).

Strueves Star

Late-running style suggests a mile and a quarter is right up his alley; has never had a clean trip so plenty of upside here if he can get find clear sailing; the trainer is 1-for-13 with dirt-to-runners since 2013; improving Beyers and the longer they go the more he's improved; contender.

Sheldon

Exits his 2nd lowest Beyer ever for a 12%-winning fresh trainer; last-out GP runners have been superb at this BEL meet but he would have to avenge latest loss to Hines in a key race; the runner-up and 12th-place finishers from last Beyered 80-70 in next-out BEL-MSW and KEE-30K-maiden-claiming wins.

Special Agent

Sire is 31-for-293 with 1st-turf starters; Grade 1-stakes-winning dam (8-for-19, 1M) did not race on grass; 3 foals to race on turf are 0-for-7 combined; the barn is 3-for-9 since 2013 with synthetic-to-turf runners; the show finisher from last Beyered 71 in a next-out WO-MSW win; the 2-back winner repeated with a 95 Beyer taking the Grade 2 TAM Derby.

Telic

Sire is 25-for-233 with 1st-turf starters; is the 1st foal from the dam who went 0-for-2 on the grass; long layoff for a 13%-winning fresh trainer since 2013; 1st time Lasix is a 26% win move from the trainer.

Boss Man

Projects to stalk Giant's Passion then get 1st run on the closers; has the conditioning edge on these; he Is the only runner who has traveled at least one mile and a quarter; the 4th and 8th-place finishers from last Beyered 72-63 in next-out CD-KEE 50K-maiden-claiming wins; his field-best Beyer was at 9F on BEL Inner Turf last fall.

Identity Crisis

1st turf start was a massive-wakeup call and will add an extra quarter mile for this; was no match for Strong Stipulation or the 2-back winner who is now 2-for-2 repeating with a 77 Beyer; is on the improve and hopes 1 Mile and a quater is within his scope.

This Guy Is Blue

11%-winning fresh trainer yields 10% going blinkers off; was no match for similar rivals in last as the runner-up and 12th-place finishers from last Beyered 80-70 in next-out BEL-MSW and KEE-30K-maiden-claiming wins; new rider is his 5th different jockey in as many races which is not a good win angle.

Hines

Was screaming out for more distance in last when a troubled favorite on KEE green and gets it here; nosed by the 2-back runner-up finisher who Beyereed 80 graduating in a BEL-MSW event next out; seems set for a biggie for a 26%-winning 2nd off-the-bench barn.

Rare Eagle

Sire is 4-for-106 with 1st-turf starters; is out of a 4-0-0-1 grass dam (4K); 3 foals to race on turf are 0-for-4 combined; exits a best-last-race Beyer speed figure on wet dirt so would not mind this rained off grass onto the main track.

Strong Stipulation

Sire is 53-for-458 with 1st-turf starters; is out of a 2-for-11 grass dam (89K); 1 of 2 foals to race on turf is a grass winner (2-for-8 turfer stakes-placed Leda's Swan 57K grass); blinkers on has been a high-percentage win angle for his trainer.

Dividend

Just 2 starts on his resume so has plenty of upside still; strong-2nd-time improvement which was expected for a trainer who rarely wins with 1sters so excuse his debut; his Mile rally in last suggests today's added yardage would be a plus.

Upper East Side

Tough beat in latest when his 2nd start-1st turf race was a 24-point Beyer improvement; Castellano listed here is a plus yielding 31% winners for the trainer since 2013; will need another speed figure improvement to graduate; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 95 in a next-out BEL-MSW win.

First Dibs

Main Track Only entry's sire is 77-for-636 with 1st-time starters; is out of a stakes-winning dam (3-for-7, 146K) who only raced on grass winning her 3rd start; she produced 3 winners from 3 other foals to race including full SP-Congenial (4-for-20, 160K) who won his 8th start. - Art Gropper

Race 6

Red Minx

Wildcat Heir has hit with about 14% with first-time turfers in a 169-horse sample; dam's lone win was a dirt sprint; both siblings won twice in the minor leagues, neither tried grass; miss has been given time since running into the traffic jam; probably from a bit off the pace if at all.

Sweet Acclaim (IRE)

Who was she facing across the pond?; the 9/27 winner ran poorly to kick off 2014, but won a Group 1 on May 4 at Newmarket; check out to huge middle move to get within a neck of the lead before reality set in last time; all systems go.

Richies Party Girl

The synthetic debut was not horrible and this miss can give you a :43 and change half if in the mood; the trip should be no problem and the blood is there for her to have a nice career as kin to Grade 3 winner and over $350K earner Strategic Partner; respect.

Lemon Point

Once switched to turf, the light went on; she has some semblance of speed but not sure she can clear here; show horse in last took a Grade 3, place horse beat N1X foes next out and the winner took a G2; could see her sitting a nice stalk and rally trip; don't ignore.

Macaroon

Connections took a shot in the stakes but this is her surface; note she graduated in the second off the layoff run; don't be shocked if she rebounds in a big way. - Brian Mulligan

Race 8

How

She's made it look very easy in her two most recent races, and if this race has to be taken off the turf, she'll have to be labled a top contender; this barn has been going very well lately and Velasquez has won with 14 of 43 (33%) mounts for this barn in 2014.

Corporate Culture

She's going to need to show up with a performance that earns her a career best Beyer Speed Figure to prove to be the one in this spot, but the way that this barn is going right now, that possibility can't be eliminated; Lezcano is a go-to rider for this outfit.

My Place

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and dam won 2 of 7 starts for 62k, including 0-for-1 over turf; this filly is a 1/2 to Gorgelicious (2-20, 41k, including 1 of 11 turf starts for 19k); third-place finisher from latest won next out at Aqu on 2/28 going 6f vs. 50k OPC's with a 74 Beyer.

Good So Far

She was a sharp winner over the synthetic surface at Keeneland in her first start in America in her latest outing and it certainly looks like she did some nice work racing over turf in France prior to that; going to respect her as a top contender with Rosario at the controls.

Spun Silky

The 85 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for her latest performance represents the best last race figure in this field, but this stakes placed mare might be better off at distances shorter than today's seven-furlong assignment; have to list her among the contenders, but the stretch out in distance is a concern.

My Jopia

Like what she did racing over turf during the second half of her 4-year-old season, and it's encouraging to see that she has run well when fresh in the past; stakes winning mare benefits from the services of Velazquez; third-place finisher from latest won next out at Aqu on 12/19 going 6f vs. 35k OPC's with an 84 Beyer.

Damsah

Import shows up for the Pletcher barn and the presence of Castellano is worth noting as he's won with 43 of 126 (34%) mounts for this outfit in 2014; this is the first foal from a dam who was multiple group stakes placed racing overseas while winning 4 of 18 starts for 305k.

Quay

She has some solid turf form on her card to consider and like to see what she did in her one start over the Belmont Park turf; third-place finisher from latest won next out at GP on 3/22 going 1 1/16m over turf vs. 62k OPC's with a 90 Beyer.

Ceci N Red

This looks like a tough group of 62k OPC's for her to be meeting up with, but she's shown the ability to dial up a pretty sharp performance on her best day, and she might find herself sitting an ideal trip outside of the early speed of My Jopia. - Brian Pochman

Race 9

Roundnroundwego

She did improve a tad last time; stakes placed 2 for 14 dam banked over $100K, was never on turf; several multiple race winners in the family, one cashed once on grass; top siblings Banker's Buy took a stakes, earned nearly $300K; may like it here.

Quinciana

Dixie Union about 12% with first-timers in a 571-runner sample, has hit with about 8% with first-time turfers in a 318-horse sample; sire was precocious enough to win debut at 2, took 7 of 12 including multiple G1s, earned over $1.2 million, never turfed; dam's lone win came on grass; the sibling that won took 2 sprints, lost only turf try; she looks fit enough.

Royalty

Hooked a freak in the debut, then saw all the heels; dam was 0 for 9; 5 of 7 siblings won; several tried grass to no avail; the star of the family is Summer Bird, who took Belmont, other G1s, banked over $2.3 million; may need a race.

Southbound Swinger

Distorted Humor has hit with about 9% with first-time turfers in a 487-horse sample; sire did not race at 2, earned over $750K, never turfed; dam took 2 sprints, never turfed; lone half bro Private Tutor took a stakes, won twice on turf, earned over $100K; homebred has to hustle.

D' Kennesaw Cat

Wildcat Heir about 17% with first-timers in a 326-runner sample, has hit with about 14% with first-time turfers in a 169-horse sample; sire took debut at 2, went on to bank over $400K, never turfed; dam was unraced; this is her first to race; show horse in last took a $40K maiden fray, and the winner repeated in an N1X at Philly by over 10; may need softer to shine.

Sylvia T

Curlin 11 for 68 with first-time turfers; sire didn't race at 2, won a ton Grade 1s as a Horse of the Year, banked over $10 million, was 2nd in only turf out; SP 4 for 16 dam earned over $200K, won twice on grass; several multiple race winners in the tree including grass winner and over $250K earner Medal Count; probably a late factor if at all.

Benny's Bullet

Fresh and dangerous; 6th finisher in last took a MSW next out, and the winner repeated in a $75K optional at GP; 10/13 show horse graduated next out in a GP MSW with an 85 Beyer; dam's lone win was a dirt sprint; several multiple race winners in the tree including a near $75K earner; none tried grass; could get brave with a lonely lead.

Orient Harbor

She lost best chance when jostled in last; Grade 3 winning 6 for 13 dam earned nearly $275K, was turf only; this is her first to race; timing will be everything for this bug.

J. Quirk

Unbridled's Song about 13% of his first-time turf runners in a 513-horse study; sire graduated in debut at 2, won the 1995 BC Juvenile, the Florida Derby and Wood the next year, was 5 for 12 overall, earned $1.3 million, was never on turf; dam just one for 8; both sibs won, both tried grass to no avail; place horse in last took a MSW, 12th finisher took a maiden $50K claimer and the winner repeated in a $75K optional; don't ignore.

Player to Be Named

Put it Back about 13% with debuters in a 424-runner sample, has hit with about 10% with first-time turfers in a 220-horse sample; sire could run, never turfed, earned over $200K; 4 for 12 dam was third in best turf moment; this is her first to race; bullets in the holster.

Gratitude

Beyer are going in the right direction and she has solid speed; 4th, 8th and 10th finishers won at this level next out; Grade 2 winning 2 for 4 dam banked over $100K, never turfed; the sibling that won, Dragon Falls, did cash on grass; original rider aloft.

Magsamelia

Bet like a good thing on the drop, just could not hold on; dam won debut at 2, lost other start; both siblings won, both won just under $50K; back in 9 days.

Street Trick

At least she has the 2 races under the belt; she has a shot to mature with grace as kin to over $330K earner Cherokee Triangle; a slice may be the ceiling. - Brian Mulligan