Today is NYRA's Super Saturday, six graded stakes worth 3.4 million dollars make up the Belmont card in races 5th through 10th. We have sprinters, milers, distaff runners, older handicap foes and two route races on the weeds. These races will play an important role leading up to this year's Breeder's Cup at Santa Anita Park on November 2nd & 3rd. Today's card might be this biggest of the year at any NYRA racetrack.
We start in race #5 - the Beldame Invitational Handicap for filly & mare distaffers going a mile and a eighth. It's a rematch between Royal Delta and It's Tricky from the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, when both horses were defeated by Love and Pride. It comes down between the two favorites once again and I'm leaning toward Royal Delta slightly over It's Tricky. Go Unbridled & Cash for Clunkers are my exotic and multi-race plays. Numbers for the 5th race; 3/6 with 1/4/2.
The Kelso Stakes (6th) is a one turn mile on the dirt (formally contested on grass). Horses in this race will mostly likely be pointed for the Breeder's Cup Mile or possibly the Classic. Again, it comes down between the two favorites in the race; To Honor and Serve & Shackleford. My slight edge goes to To Honor and Serve coming off his Woodward Stakes victory. Shackleford will HOPEFULLY rebound off his dull effort in AG Vanderbilt going 6 furlongs in the mud at Saratoga. Horses to use underneath; Jersey Town & Tapizar. Numbers for race 6th : 5/6 with 3/4/8.
Sprinters go next in race #7 - the Vosburgh Invitational at six furlongs. In this wide open event, my top selection returns off a slight layoff and turns back in distance. The Lumber Guy was last seen in early May prepping for the Belmont Stakes in the Peter Pan Stakes here going a mile & an eighth. Today he returns to the races, turns back in distance and faces older foes for the first time. For second; Sean Avery is as a consistent sprinter as they come; even though he's had racing gaps throughout his career. Underneath these two runners, I'll be using; Royal Currier & Caixa Electronia. Numbers for race #7 : 1 with 7/8/5.
The first of two stake races on the weeds is for the ladies in the Flower Bowl Invitational (8th) a mile and a quarter on the inner turf course. Going with a runner that has some European flavor and a recent winner here stateside. I'm a Dreamer shipped in to Arlington and won the Beverly D. Handicap last time out and handles soft or yielding turf expected today. Zagora is my second selection and is a hard hitting mare that should have no problem with this marathon distance. Exotic & multi-race runners to include are; Hit It Rich & Hessonite. Numbers for race #8 : 4/7 with 3/2/1.
It's the boys turn on the weeds and going a quarter of the mile longer in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (9th). The Shug McGaughey runner; Point of Entry is my top pick & BEST BET in today's six stake races. Winner of four straight races (three stakes) he loves these marathon distances and the ONLY question here is whether he'll take to the "off" turf going. For second and the "horse to beat" is the speed of the race; Little Mike. Last time out in the Arlington Mile, for the first time in his career he won beyond the mile & an eighth distance: today he tries a mile and a half. A longshot to use with my two top picks; Finnegan's Wake, numbers for race #9 : 2/4 with 6.
The main event of today's race card is the Jockey Club Gold Cup (10th) at a mile and a quarter, a prep for the Breeder's Cup Classic. My top selection goes from the rail and gets the mile and a quarter distance he won at in the Santa Anita Handicap. Ron the Greek came from far back in the Whitney Handicap to gain 2nd, today he goes further and tries to win off a second place finish, which is a pattern he has done three times before (2nd then 1st). For second; Fast Falcon has been rallying in three out of four last races, including a fast closing 3rd at 32-1 in the Travers. Maybe today, he'll get victory for the "cold" Nick Zito barn! Underneath my top two picks will be; Hymn Book & Atigun. The numbers for 10th : 1/7 with 4/6/5.
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