Race 4: Maedean (#6)
Was wide against a significant rail bias in her debut.
Good sign that John Velazquez keeps the mount in a race where he certainly had other options.
Is bred to relish this distance as a daughter of Tapit out of a classy turf routing family.
3-1 on ML
:: Get TimeformUS PPs for these races at Belmont
Race 5: Final Frontier (#3)
Okay, I’ll bite. There might actually be something behind all the hype surrounding the next Todd Pletcher “freak” on deck, Gouverneur Morris, so I’ll build an all-graded-stakes pick-four ticket around him Saturday at Keeneland.
The subject races are all Win and You’re In events toward the Breeders’ Cup next month at Santa Anita, so there’s a lot on the line for everyone involved.
Here’s the layout:
Belmont | Race 6 | Post Time 4:05 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Our “definitely a gimmick play” Aziza plodded up in time behind the two hot favorites to complete a $101 trifecta for a buck so it wasn’t a total loss unless you didn’t go deep with her. On the other hand, on the same day at Belmont Park, two other BreezeFigs maidens won, including Captain Bombastic who led off a BreezeFigs super. In addition, the Pilgrim Stakes that day was swept by BreezeFigs horses with the winner, Structor, being a previous Pick.
Race 5: Go Poke the Bear (#7)
It was a good sign that Brad Cox claimed this horse back at Saratoga after losing him once before.
Ran deceptively well last time when hindered by a slow pace.
Kendrick Carmouche figures to have this sluggish runner placed a bit closer to the pace than usual.
3-1 on ML
East Coast, West Coast, Middle Coast, the racing action comes hot and furious on the first Saturday in October.
Not only is it absurd just saying Middle Coast, but the city of Lexington, Ky., is organized around no body of water whatsoever. Still, it’s landlocked Keeneland that’s the heart of North American racing Saturday.
Belmont | Race 7 | Post Time 4:40 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Race 4: Noble Jewel (#5)
Won her debut going this six-furlong distance on the turf.
Encountered trouble when attempting to mount a rally at Saratoga last time.
Should appreciate the drop in class after finding allowance foes a bit too tough in recent starts.
9-2 on ML
Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 5:11 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Augusta Moon and Keota faced off in a race at this level three weeks ago. Augusta Moon put away Keota in the stretch, but both were run down in the late stages. That race was contested over 1 1/16 miles, a distance that both have handled. Yet, whereas Augusta Moon (#1) has yet to sprint on turf, Keota has shown more versatility.
CONVINCINGLY
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Last race: Sept. 27, 2nd
Finish: 3rd by 3/4
Beyer: 59
Maiden filly improved a bunch second out in turf mile. Trouble early, blocked late, good finish. Declaration of War juvenile produced by sibling to 2000 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Kalanisi is ready for diploma.
EXPRESS TRAIN
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Last race: Sept. 27, 8th