Illman: Belmont Park pick three for Saturday, June 11
Let’s take a look at the $250,000-guaranteed pick three on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
The sequence begins with the Grade 1 Acorn, featuring a small but select field of sophomore fillies. CATHRYN SOPHIA (5) and GO MAGGIE GO (6) are the big names, but I’m very interested in CARINA MIA (4), especially if she goes off as the third choice in the wagering.
Carina Mia showed immense promise as a 2-year-old, wasn’t embarrassed off the layoff when two lengths behind Cathryn Sophia in the Grade 1 Ashland, and came right back to dominate sprinters in the Eight Belles Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.
It was very nice to see Carina Mia rate and finish after being bumped at the start last time as she preferred to be forwardly placed in all of her other races. It looks like she improved with Lasix and has matured into a versatile performer.
In the pick three, I’ll lean on Carina Mia, with Cathryn Sophia, the horse to beat, as my sole backup. I am concerned about Go Maggie Go but think she enjoyed an easy pace against weaker in the Black-Eyed Susan.
The Brooklyn at 12 furlongs is next. KID CRUZ (7) is probably the most talented horse in the race, and I’m not concerned about the layoff since the Brooklyn was the plan right after he grabbed the 1 1/4-mile Excelsior in early April. He is a very lazy horse, however, and needs to be motivated from start to finish. Perhaps he’s not the most trustworthy sort, but I can’t deny his ability.
I’ll use Kid Cruz as an “A” on my TicketMaker play along with SHAMAN GHOST (4), who received a stiff prep last month, chasing a gate-to-wire winner over a speed-favoring track. Shaman Ghost was good enough to win the Queen’s Plate last year at 10 furlongs and can move forward with the recent race under his belt.
As backups, I’ll play DOYOUKNOWSOMETHING (9) and SECURITIZ (10). The former has some speed and is exiting a solid effort at Santa Anita, while Securitiz boasts upside and seems to be in career form for Jimmy Jerkens.
The Ogden Phipps concludes the sequence. It’s a fantastic race, but I’ve been a CURALINA (5) fan for a long time and was wowed by her seasonal debut at Churchill Downs. She’ll have to bring her “A” game to beat this star-studded field, but she could have a very good season for Todd Pletcher.
If she stubs her toe, I’ll have FOREVER UNBRIDLED (6) as a backup. The beautifully bred filly seeks her fourth straight win and might get a solid pace to attack.