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Wednesday, June 4 review

NOOOBODY PICKED SIX

Although three favorites, a second choice and a third choice were in the mix, most of the fresh $180,435 going after a $29,573 pick six carryover was dead after the first leg, when King Dix C (4th, $109) tested all the bulbs on the tote board.

Making his first start in two months, his first away from Gulfstream Park, and first for new trainer Gary Gullo, King Dix C rallied wide from the back of the pack into the stretch under Angel Arroyo, and rolled past All Over Me and Rontos New York to win the New York-bred maiden-claiming route, which had been moved from the inner to the Widener turf.

Over the past two months, Arroyo has brought in several other longshot winners, including This Hard Land ($151) and Willow U ($57) for Rodrigo Ubillo at Aqueduct’s spring meet, and Pretty Nauty ($30.60) for Midwest Thoroughbreds and Laura Perillo here last Sunday.

The main track was still quite fast as Belmont Stakes Week got underway. Five dirt races checked in at around eight ticks faster than par. All but one winner had the lead at the pace call, the exception being Ghost Hunter (3rd, $3.10), a dropdown winner from Bill Mott who was claimed by Perillo and Midwest Thoroughbreds.

Both winners on the Widener turf made up deficits of five lengths or more, while two inner-course routes were split between pace-prompting winner Giant Jo (2nd, $6.90) and last-to-first Precious Metal (6th, $9).

ROCK FALL ROLLS

Rock Fall, who rocketed to a second-out maiden win with a 101 Beyer Figure earlier at the meet, made it two straight for Stonestreet Stables and Todd Pletcher, taking a preliminary allowance while geared down late.

Rock Fall, a 3-year-old colt by Speightstown, sped six furlongs in 1:09.16, and was taken in hand through the final 70 yards by Javier Castellano.

HORSES TO WATCH

AMERICAN PROGRESS
Trainer: Leo O’Brien
Last race: June 4, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 8
Beyer: 73

Lightly raced colt hit the side of the gate at the start, raced four wide around the turn, and finished evenly behind odds-on Rock Fall in his first start against winners and first since a mid-winter maiden win.