Unbridled Juan sharp but hard to trust at short price
With the first of four scheduled twilight racing cards during Belmont Park’s spring/summer meet set for Friday, the featured eighth race won’t be run until approximately 6:49 p.m. Eastern. It may be worth the wait.
The field of six in the second-level optional $80,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles is led by Unbridled Juan. Last seen running away from second-level allowance foes in the slop en route to a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure, Unbridled Juan enters in top form for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
Unbridled Juan has never finished off the board in his 10-race career, but he has proven to be a vulnerable favorite since winning his maiden in his second start. Following that win, he has been sent off at odds of 2-1 or less in eight straight starts and has lost six of those races.
Toledo Eddie switches back to dirt following a failed attempt on turf here last month for trainer David Jacobson. He has won five straight starts on the main track, including a front-running score over Unbridled Juan in April at Aqueduct, earning a 102 Beyer.
Dontbetwithbruno has run the three fastest races of his career since being claimed by trainer Rudy Rodriguez at the end of last year. In his most recent start, which came over this course and distance, he finished gamely to get second over last Saturday’s Grade 2 Brooklyn winner, Shaman Ghost.
Close behind Dontbetwithbruno that day was J S Bach, who is also in this field. One of two entered by Todd Pletcher, J S Bach had a four-race winning streak stopped in the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland in April but rebounded to earn a career-best Beyer in that close call with Dontbetwithbruno last month.
Pletcher’s other runner, Savoy Stomp, is 2 for 2 over the Belmont main track and is dropping out of a pair of graded stakes.
Race 8
Key Contenders
Unbridled Juan, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 102-101-97
◗ Has earned 100-plus Beyers for each of his last two starts. Perfectly drawn on the outside of this short field and has tactical speed.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Unbridled Juan. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is 22-7-3-1 with a $4.90 ROI over the past two years in dirt routes on the NYRA circuit with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Toledo Eddie, by Ministers Wild Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 52-102-99
◗ Has won five straight starts on dirt in wire-to-wire fashion.
◗ Earned the best Beyer in this field (106) one start prior to arriving in New York and looks like the main speed once again.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Toledo Eddie. Trainer David Jacobson is 28-4-3-4 with a $0.95 ROI over the past year going turf to dirt on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Dontbetwithbruno, by Tiz Wonderful
Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-97
◗ Stakes-placed as a 3-year-old, he has improved in four starts since being claimed by these connections. He gave away too much early position behind a front-running winner last time but can be kept closer to the early pace if necessary.