One of the last "big" days in New York racing is today at Belmont Park . What used to be called “Breeder’s Cup Preview day” is now just called “Super Saturday”. Nevertheless, there are six stakes races scheduled with five grade races. The week’s column looks at these races and gives my selections for each one. The “dirt” prep races at Belmont will be important this year since the Breeder's Cup will be at Churchill Downs on a “real” dirt surface.
Race #3 is one of the last three year old restricted races in New York for the male runners (if not the last). Although, it’s highly unlikely that any of the horses will go to the “Classic” there is still a chance that this race could produce a “Cup” runner or two. Brother Bird is my top selection here with the Nick Zito entry of Our Dark Knight & Jackson Bend for second. The main stake races start in the 6th race; the Vosburgh Stakes at six furlongs which is a prep for the B.C. Sprint. The interesting runner here in #2 Girolamo and he is my top selection. Making only his second start of 2010, he was the beaten favorite in the Forego Stakes at Saratoga in his last start. I’ll use him with Monmouth Park shipper; #9 Wildcat Brief in the second spot. Throw in both; #5 Temecula Creek & #8 Riley Tucker in your superfectas and #1 Driven by Success (if he doesn’t race on Friday).
The Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes is race #7 and the first leg of the “all stakes” pick 4. Although she has never been this distance (mile & a quarter) my top selection is #7 Shared Account. She closed fast the second weekend at Saratoga in the Diana Handicap at 11-1 going slightly shorter. For second, I’ll use the improving #3 Changing Skies for Bill Mott. Superfecta runners to include are; #6 Forever Together and #9 Keertana. Even though the Beldame Stakes (8th) lost Rachel Alexandra to retirement, we get the other two runners from this year’s Personal Ensign Stakes. The pick here is #1 Life At Ten, who Rachel got the better of last time out. #4 Unrivaled Belle is the logical second place runner with 21-1 winner of the Personal Ensign Stakes; Persistently rounding out the trifecta.
The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (9th) comes up with a decent field of the usual New York turf suspects. Today we finally get to see the best three year old turf male in the country facing older horses for the first time. #9 Paddy O’Prado gets my top selection here versus older foes that are just average at best. #10 Winchester (Gio Ponti stablemate) is the “horse to beat” for second place. Add #2 Never On Sunday, #5 Al Khali and #6 Bearpath “underneath” in your exotic plays and superfectas.
The last major prep race in New York for the Breeder’s Cup Classic is race #10 – The Jockey Club Gold Cup at the distance of a mile and a quarter. Eight horses are entered with the morning line favorite being #2 Blame. The winner of the Whitney Stakes at a mile & an eighth at Saratoga , he’ll be making his first try at this distance. With his sights on the bigger prize at Churchill Downs on November 6th, I’ll put him 2nd today. My top selection will be #7 Hold Me Back, trained by Bill Mott. At 15-1 morning line odds, he’ll be trying for his first career victory on a “real” dirt surface. I’m willingly to take a chance with him in this spot at those odds. Underneath these two runners, I’ll use; #1 Fly Down, #6 Haynesfield & #8 Rail Trip, who is making his debut on a “non” polytrack surface.
No comments:
Post a Comment