Illman's Belmont preview for Wednesday, Sept. 17

Wednesday, Sept. 17, preview

Steppingstone to stakes?

Although she placed in three group events in France, Kenzadargent left her native country earlier this year with a mediocre record of 12-1-7-1.

Enter Chad Brown.

For Kenzadargent's North American debut, Brown resisted the temptation to try stakes company and instead opted for an entry-level optional claimer at Saratoga on Aug. 20. Although Kenzadargent didn't run very fast that day – an 82 Beyer Speed Figure with a final quarter-mile in 23.92 seconds – she prevailed in workmanlike fashion over a field of questionable quality.

Perhaps that victory gave Kenzadargent the confidence to become a more prolific winner. In Wednesday's opener, a one-mile “N2X” optional claimer over the Widener grass course, Kenzadargent finds another group she should handle at a short price. There appears to be enough speed to aid Kenzadargent's late flurry, and the turf may have retained some moisture from Tuesday’s precipitation. Some of the gray filly's better races overseas came over courses with a little give in them.

Brown also will send out first-time turf performer Rubindy, a Bernardini half-sister to stakes-winning turf router Bella Castani. Another contender is Image of Anna, a stakes-placed dirt router who didn't have an easy trip in her turf debut, the restricted Tenski Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 11.

If Kenzadargent gets through this successfully, as expected, look for her to return to stakes competition in the near future.

New York-breds in sprint

An evenly matched field of New York-bred sophomore fillies will line up for the seventh race, an entry-level allowance at six furlongs. Three horses (Penella, Daddy's Lil Saint, and The Lost Tigress) exit career-best Beyer performances, but those efforts came over wet tracks. Was the Beyer improvement due to maturation, or can we simply point fingers at the surface? I'll take the latter position.

Very Accomplished looks to be rounding back into form for trainer Charlton Baker and seems like an interesting play. She got the better of several pace challengers in her most recent outing at Saratoga and fought it out gamely all the way to the wire. Perhaps Dylan Davis can get her to sit just off the early speed in this spot. Unfortunately, her price could be hurt by her coupled entry-mate, The Lost Tigress.

My Girl Madison is the morning-line favorite following a solid runner-up effort against open company at Monmouth. That start was her first since March, and the lightly raced filly projects for improvement. Expect her on or near the early lead under the aggressive C.C. Lopez.

Blithely is another contender. She couldn't go late with odds-on Girlabouttown when finishing ahead of Very Accomplished at the Spa, and that race was her first in almost a year. She looms a strong late threat.

Trip horses back in action

The eighth race features a full field of New York-breds at one mile on turf. Blue Pigeon, Iced Over, and Balderdash finished 2-3-4 in a similar spot at Saratoga on Aug. 23, and all had degrees of trouble during the running.

Blue Pigeon was probably compromised the most. He seemed to be moving sweetly along the inside entering the final turn but was mired in traffic until midstretch. Once clear, Blue Pigeon split horses and finished well. Stakes-placed last year, Blue Pigeon appears headed for a forward move in his third start of the season for Christophe Clement.

Iced Over stumbled at the start and followed Blue Pigeon with three furlongs remaining. He was in between rivals before altering course to the far outside in the stretch. Iced Over passed some tired ones in the final furlong and should be respected here.

While Blue Pigeon and Iced Over mostly saved ground, Balderdash uncorked a premature four-wide bid on the turn. He moved sharply to the leaders before understandably tiring in the final furlong. Balderdash removes blinkers for this assignment and offers the best price of the three.

Although Charity Reins finished behind the aforementioned runners, he also had traffic trouble and should be used in exotic wagers as well.

Horse to Watch

ANNECDOTE
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Last race: Sept. 13, 7th
Finish: 1st by 2 3/4
Beyer: 96
European Group 3 winner steamrolled a decent field in the Grade 3, $150,000 Noble Damsel Stakes, her North American debut. After breaking slowly, Annecdote was reserved at the back of the pack before swinging widest turning for home. She then overwhelmed her rivals with a 22.84-second final quarter while under mere hands-and-heels urging. She's definitely one to follow in the Grade 3 Athenia on Oct. 12.