SLY BEAUTY
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: April 20, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 3 1/4
Beyer: 81
In her return to the Tapeta, over which she won a stakes last spring, she was carried wide on the turn en route to finishing second in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes.
PICCADILLY BEAU
Trainer: James Smith
Last race: April 28, 4th
Finish: 5th by 1 ¾
Belmont Park | Race 9 | Post Time 5:51 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
Race 1 – Violette Szabo (6) drops from statebred stakes to statebred maiden and should be gone as most probable winner on the card. Her full sibling S Y Sky won her fourth stakes Saturday at Golden Gate, her eighth win overall. Violette Szabo is listed at 8-5.
Race 2 – Five-horse field, $16k claiming mile, led by Pioneeerof the West (4). Ho hum.
Below are four horses to consider if you’re looking to play Sunday’s late pick four at Belmont Park.
Race 7
You’re supposed to throw out the debut for PRESTO (5), as he was away slowly from the inside draw at Gulfstream on March 16 before slamming on the brakes while trying to improve his position shortly thereafter. Presto sports blinkers this afternoon in his second lifetime start, and while it looks like there’s some potential in this field on Sunday, one would have to expect an improved effort from this Pletcher trainee.
It’s a different vibe at Santa Anita, which reopened March 29 after racing was suspended for nearly a month. Since reopening, Santa Anita trimmed its schedule to three days per week, field size declined to 7.59 starters per race, hillside racing has been suspended, favorites won 42 percent of all races and the main track is playing slower than ever.
Closing day at Santa Anita is June 23. Los Alamitos opens June 27 for a three-week all-dirt meet, Del Mar opens July 27. Meantime, here's a preview of Saturday's card at Santa Anita.
Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 5:18 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
Race 4: Financial System (#1)
Chad Brown has outstanding statistics with horses coming off layoffs in turf routes.
Progressed nicely through his conditions last year, proving his class against stablemate Prognostication at Saratoga.
May have the edge if this race turns into a sprint to the wire.
8-5 on ML
Race 8: Value Proposition (#4)
Chad Brown has done well with horses purchased at the 2017 Tattersalls sale.
Is by top sire Dansili and is a half-brother to Group 1 turf winner Speedy Boarding.
Has been working well at Palm Meadows, outworking older rival Call Provision and matching strides with stakes winner Digital Age.
8-5 on ML
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 5:18 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
