Fornatale: How I'll play Belmont for Sunday, Sept. 23

On Sunday's card at Belmont I’m going to play a double linking the seventh and eighth races.

In the seventh, a N.Y.-bred turf stake, I’ll go with #9 FIFTY FIVE. I think there will be plenty of pace to set up her late run and she looks the best of these in terms of figures and class.

In the eighth, the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, I’ll go with two runners, this time electing to fade the powerhouse Chad Brown barn. #1 STILL THERE ran a big one in the Ballerina and still might be improving. I’m envisioning a stalk-and-pounce trip today. I really want to like #6 UNION STRIKE. She was wide last time on a track where I thought ground loss mattered and was against the flow of the race as well. This may be too slow again, but she’ll be on my tickets as well.

THE BETS

R7,8:
$25 double 9-1
$10 double 9-6