Race 1: Richie’slilwildcat (#2)
Earned a series of competitive TimeformUS Speed Figures when in Larry Rivelli’s barn.
Has had excuses in her last two starts (fast pace and wrong surface).
Gary Contessa has been enjoying a fantastic Belmont fall meet.
9-2 on ML

One of the more attractive wagering options to this horseplayer on Sunday at Santa Anita comes in the fourth race. There, Rapid Red offers form appeal, while the win struggles of some of his leading rivals make him shine even more.

Racing first time off the claim for trainer Doug O’Neill on Oct. 5, Rapid Red was much more prominent last out with blinkers, pressing the pace and holding second in a $32,000 claiming race. That effort earned him an 84 Beyer Speed Figure, a number marginally higher than the last-race figures of his opposition on Sunday.

Race 4: A Thread of Blue (#5)

Ran very well in his turf debut two back, where he finished behind a next-out stakes winner.

Has proven that he handles some give in the ground.

The Pace Projector is predicting that he will get a fast pace to close into.

5-2 on ML

:: Get TimeformUS PPs for these races at Belmont

Race 8: Golden Brown (#8)

Belmont Park | Race 3 | Post Time 2:34 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Last week’s Pick Avocado ran like guacamole and that’s all we’ll say about that. On the other hand, 13 other BreezeFigs maidens won during the week in another fine showing for the crowd. The wins came at Belmont (two), Gulfstream (three), Indiana, Keeneland, Mountaineer, Parx, Penn (BreezeFigs trifecta) and Santa Anita (three, including a BreezeFigs exacta).

Race 3: Hot Diggity (#2)

Closed gamely in his debut in a race that did not feature a particularly fast pace.

Horses have returned out of that Sep. 7 race to run much better in subsequent starts.

Jeremiah Englehart gets a 97 TimeformUS Trainer Rating with horses moving up from maiden claiming to maiden special weight company.

6-1 on ML

Race 5: Bourbon N Rye (#7)

The horse that he outdueled for the lead in his debut came back to win in a runaway next time out.

Belmont Park | Race 9 | Post Time 5:43 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs 

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With a week to go until the Breeders’ Cup, it’s no surprise that Saturday’s stakes schedule is light. Keeneland offers the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette, while Belmont has the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap, supported by the English Channel and Awad stakes, worth $100,000 each. And Santa Anita’s feature is the Grade 3, $100,000 Autumn Miss.

Fayette Stakes

Despite a field of only seven – it seems like every other mobile male router pre-entered the Breeders’ Cup Classic – this is still an interesting race.

Race 2: Flat Calm (#5)

Ran well last time to beat a solid field in her first start off the layoff.

Won routing to break her maiden and is certainly bred to appreciate this stretch-out in distance.

DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past 5 years, Linda Rice is 8 for 17 (47 percent, $4.34 ROI) when she removes blinkers.

4-1 on ML

Belmont Park | Race 5 | Post Time 3:38 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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