Stars & Stripes Festival ....... with a little European flavor!

The future of thoroughbred racing is trending toward big race days with multiple stake races carded. With the advent of the Breeder's Cup and special days with prep races grouped together, we now have holiday racing with several stake races included. This is the future of getting more people to the sport, attracting them to these type days and seeing the finest thoroughbreds in the country. We had one such day at Belmont a month ago, now we return this 4th of July weekend with such another super day of racing.

The Stars and Stripes Festival showcases five stake races with two of them now becoming invitational races. Not only are the finest North America horses here, but several European runners have come stateside to race in these stakes. NYRA has reorganized their stakes racing schedule to create these days where top thoroughbreds race and gather points for the Breeder's Cup this Fall. For many years this weekend has been light on major race action, until now. There are three stake races exclusively for the sophomore runners, plus two stakes for older runners sprinting and going the classic route distance.

The Belmont (4th) the mile and a sixteenth - Dwyer Stakes is a possible prep for our Travers Stakes prep ; the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. My top selection here is the winner of the Easy Goer Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard at the same distance; Kid Cruz (#1). He came off the pace to victory and has improved the most of any three year old colt this spring. For second, I'll go with Churchill Downs shipper; Ulanbator (#3) who rallied for 2nd last time out in his graded stakes debut going this distance also. Selections for the (4th) : 1-3-4

The Belmont (6th) the seven furlong - Belmont Sprint Championship (formally know as James Marvin Stakes) has nine evenly matched runners entered. Central Banker (#2) who was supposed to race in the grade I - Metropolitan Mile on the Belmont Stakes undercard, but had to scratch because of a medication violation is my top pick here. The "horse to beat" is my 2nd choice; Palace (#9) who has been razor sharp since claimed last summer. Selections for the (6th) : 2-9-3-7

The Belmont (7th) is the first of two new invitational races, this one for the boys - The Belmont Derby (formally know as the Jamaica Handicap) at a mile and a quarter on the turf. European flavor is the way here and I'm going against the prohibited favorite; Bobby's Kitten. Adelaide (#4) ships in for Aidan O'Brien and gets lasix for his debut, he is my top selection here. Gailo Chop (#7) rides a four race win streak coming in from France and gets my runner-up spot. Selections for the (7th) : 4-7-3-9

The Belmont (8th) the traditional 4th of July feature race - the Suburban Handicap returns this year to the classic distance of a mile and a quarter. Last Gunfighter (#5) who was second in this race a year ago, gets the call today. His only two blemishes the past year in half, were in grade I races and no worst than 2nd in any others. Romansh (#6) rallied in the Met Mile last time out at 19-1 and should enjoy this addition distance. Selections for the (8th) : 5-6-4-10

The Belmont (9th) it's the fillies turn on the weeds in the Belmont Oaks (formally the Garden City Stakes) in a wide open event. I'm taking a shot with the rail horse, Goldy Espony (#1) who runs first time for Chad Brown coming stateside and gets lasix. Xcellence (#7) ships in from France after running 3rd in her last two races in group I company, she's my second pick. Selections for the (9th) : 1-7-11-5