Illman: How I'll play Belmont Park on Saturday, June 22, 2019

We're FAST and GOOD at Belmont this afternoon. Here are some horses I'll be following on the card.

RACE 9 – WILD APPLAUSE STAKES

Chad Brown has three fillies entered in this race, but I was really taken by the seasonal debut of Seek and Destroy (1), who rallied from well off the pace to upset the Grade 3 Soaring Softly. This filly is very tactical and even has the speed to make the front in this relatively paceless race. Plus, she could very well be the best price of the Brown trio. Feel Glorious (5) was buried down inside while Seek and Destroy had the clear run in the Soaring Softly and is certainly capable of turning the tables. I prefer Seek and Destroy but will also use Feel Glorious in multiple-race wagers.
For detailed video analysis of the Wild Applause and many of the other major stakes races this weekend, please visit video.drf.com.

RACE 7

Perhaps Xanthique (10) has turned the corner on turf, but she was 39-1 in her recent maiden win and will be a mere fraction of that price in her first start against winners. I prefer Clockstrikestwelve (6), who ships in sharp from Monmouth for a very capable barn. She has won two of her last three in New Jersey, including a dusting of a $30,000 beaten claimer last time out. She defeated a next-out winner in that race and seems well spotted in this starter allowance. I'll also use Tizaprincessa (1) and The Nine O (9), two horses who can be close to the expected moderate pace.

RACE 4

A few first-time starters caught my eye in this baby race. Kings Big Road (4) only sold for $20,000 as a yearling, but she is a half to four juvenile winners, including the dam of Grade 1-winning juvenile filly Dream Tree. Rudy Rodriguez can pop with a firster at a price, and I want to use this horse at nice odds here. Fierce Lady (1) and Gotta Go Mo (3) show nice workouts in preparation for their debuts. I'll use both, but I prefer the former at a slightly better price. Fierce Lady's first-crop sire, Competitive Edge, has already had a few precocious winners this year.

RACE 1

If fans go overboard on Preternatural (1), why not stand against her with Remstin (2), who finished a scant quarter-length behind Preternatural last time out? This will be Remstin's third start following a layoff of almost two years, and his Beyer Speed Figures are very competitive with those of the favorite. If Remstin can ever recall his 3-year-old form, then he would be especially tough.

Good luck today!