Dunleavy: Belmont pick three play for Sunday, June 21
The Sunday card at Belmont is in danger of being greatly altered by the weather as heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the region Saturday night into Sunday morning.
I originally was going to play a pick four on races 6-9, but three legs of that series are on the turf, and the races could fall apart due to numerous scratches if grass racing is canceled.
Instead, I’m going to put together a pick three ticket on races 5-7.
Race 5 (3:24)
This is a $25,000 maiden-claiming race for New York-breds at six furlongs.
In order of preference, I like Chico Grande (7), New York Victory (4), and David Rocks (2).
Chico Grande will be making his first start since April 25. He has been gelded since that race, drops out of straight-maiden company, and switches to the barn of Rodrigo Ubillo. He has shown speed against tougher.
New York Victory is trained by Patricia Farro. He showed speed against straight maidens in his debut May 9 at Monmouth. Farro also has entered Norm the Giant in this eight-horse field, possibly to make the race go for New York Victory.
David Rocks is fast but still a maiden after six starts. He is quick, though, and may forget to stop one of these days. A wet track may help his cause.
A: 2-4-7
Race 6 (3:55)
This is a $100,000 division of the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. It is carded for seven furlongs on the turf but the top players also should perform well on dirt if the race is switched to the main track.
I will use two “A” horses here – Freudie Anne (9) and Dreamboat Annie (6) – and two “B” horses – The Lewis Dinner (8) and Perfect Freud (2).
Freudie Anne is extremely talented and the most likely winner regardless of surface. She was a hard-trying fourth off a layoff two starts back in a New York Stallion Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs, then won a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on turf last time out.
Dreamboat Annie is 2 for 2 on turf and in her other start was a good third in the same New York Stallion Stakes as Freudie Anne two starts ago.
The Lewis Dinner is fast. She lugged out badly to finish second – ahead of Freudie Anne and Dreamboat Annie – in a New York Stallion Stakes two races back, then disappointed and faded to sixth at 7-2 in the Bouwerie in her most recent start. She is proven over a wet track. Turf might help wake her up.
Trainer Gary Sciacca claimed Perfect Freud for $40,000 out of a third-place finish on turf two starts back, and she won her debut by 6 3/4 lengths for him going a mile in a first-level statebred allowance on dirt.
A: 6-9
B: 2-8
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Race 7 (4:26)
This race gets a little complicated depending on whether it is held on dirt or turf. I’ll put two separate tickets together.
On dirt, I have to use the two main-track-only entrants Sonora (2) and Spuntastic (6) as “A” runners. I will throw in Bourbonstateofmind (5) as a “B.”
Dirt A: 2-6
Dirt B: 5
On turf, I will use two “A’ runners – Sweetpollypurebrd (7) and Barrier to Entry (10) – and Bourbonstateofmind as a “B.”
Turf A: 7-10
Turf B: 5
Here is the complete play on dirt:
All A’s ($2 base cost): 2-4-7/6-9/2-6 - $24
Using B runners in race 6 ($1 base cost): 2-4-7/2-8/2-6 - $12
Using B runner in race 7 ($1 base cost): 2-4-7/6-9/5 - $6
Here is the complete play on turf:
All A’s ($2 base cost): 2-4-7/6-9/7-10 - $24
Using B runners in race 6 ($1 base cost): 2-4-7/2-8/7-10 - $12
Using B runner in race 7 ($1 base cost): 2-4-7/6-9/5 - $6
Total play on either surface is $42.