Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: An improved Stillwater Cove should be tough to catch in the Soaring Softly

Belmont Park | Race 11 | Post Time 5:26 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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The two fillies likely to vie for favoritism in this Soaring Softly Stakes are Feel Glorious and Stillwater Cove. Feel Glorious tries a graded stakes race for the first time after going undefeated in her first two starts in this country. Feel Glorious (#2) won the Memories of Silver last time over a couple of Chad Brown fillies, but I thought she was somewhat fortunate to win that race. While the pace was not particularly favorable, her main rival, Blowout, had an uncomfortable trip, and Feel Glorious was able to get the jump on her as they sprinted through the lane. The turnback to seven furlongs should not pose a problem given her solid sprint form in Europe, but I feel that she’s facing a tougher task this time.

I prefer STILLWATER COVE (#3), who ships back to New York for Wesley Ward. This filly’s turf form is pretty strong, and she’s met tougher fields than many of her rivals. She beat highly regarded stablemate Chelsea Cloisters at Saratoga last summer and then couldn’t quite get a mile after stalking a fast pace in the Natalma. She returned in the Limestone Turf Sprint at Keeneland last time, and I thought she put forth a fantastic effort. She stalked fast opening fractions and put away her short-priced pace rivals. She then battled on gamely when challenged late by eventual winner Ginger Nut, pulling more than three lengths clear of third-place finisher Chelsea Cloisters. She must handle the seven furlongs this time, but I believe she’s capable if she runs as well as she did in her Keeneland return. In my opinion, she’s the horse to beat and deserves to be the favorite.

The other filly that I want to use prominently is Entirely (#7) as she returns for Jonathan Thomas. She ran on well to be third in the Matron after racing too close to the pace while 2 to 3 wide against a rail bias. I was impressed by her prior scores at Gulfstream and she would be dangerous here if she’s improved during the time away.

THE PLAY

Win: 3

Exacta key box: 3 with 1, 2, 7

Trifecta: 3 with 2, 7 with 1, 2, 4, 6, 7