BELMONT PARK

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: MSW, 3+, 7f (P5, P3, DD)

Encrypt, Bombs Away and One More Round all eligible for laurels, but $485k Centennial/Jerkens Arch colt Preservationist enters first start with huge buzz off preparation that has observers cooing..

Best Value: #2 Preservationist 5-1 2nd
Next Best: #4 Encrypt 7-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #7 Bombs Away 3-1 WON ($6.90)
Super Add: #1 One More Round Late SCR (Gate)

2nd: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 9f-IT (P4, P3, DD)

None would surprise in this superb group of F&M’s that aren’t easy to separate. Pace is murky..

Most Likely: #5 All in Fun 4-1 WON ($18.00)
Best Value: #6 Daring Duchess 8-1 7th
Next Best: #2 Pine Needles 7-2 6th
Exotics Use: #4 Real Smart 4-1 3rd

3rd: 1st Rags to Riches, F&M-4+, 12f (P3, DD)

Mei Ling sure looks to waltz on the front end..

Most Likely: #2 Mei Ling 2-1 2nd
Next Best: #6 Theogony 5-2 WON ($4.80)
Best Value: #3 Stroke Play 15-1 6th
Exotics Use: #1 Sweetgrass 5-1 3rd

4th: 119th Tremont, 2yo, 5.5f (P3, DD)

SCR #5 Is Everybody Happy

Most Likely: #3 Lady Stardust Late SCR (Gate)
Best Value: #1 Saratoga Two Step 15-1 4th
Next Best: #2 Hey Mike 3-1 2nd

5th: 3rd Jersey Girl, 3yo-F, 6f (P3, DD)

SCR #7 Off the Tracks

Worthy fave Kareena draws outside the other speeds giving Irad Ortiz best view. She may need to rate a bit here or risk a three prong tussle. Meanwhile, Blip n’ Th Bye will be enjoying a suck along inside trip and One True Kiss will be clunking up behind..

Most Likely: #6 Kareena 2-1 WON ($2.60)
Best Value: #5 One True Kiss 8-1 3rd
Next Best: #2 Appealing Maggie 10-1 2nd

P5 Grid:

1: 2 (A), 4 (B), 1/SCR-5-7 (C)
2: 5-6 (A), 2-3-4 (B), 7 (C)
3: 2-6 (A), – (B), 1-3 (C)
4: 1-2-3/SCR (A), 4-6 (B), – (C)
5: 6 (A), – (B), 2-5 (C)

Simple: 2x5x2x5x1 = 100 x .50 = $50

P4 Grid:

2: 5-6 (A), 2-3-4 (B), 7 (C)
3: 2 (A), 6 (B), 1-3 (C)
4: 1-2-3/SCR (A), 4-6 (B), – (C)
5: 6 (A), 5 (B), 2 (C)

Simple: 5x2x5x2 = 100 x .50 = $50

$0.50 Pick-4 (5/6/4/1,6,7) Paid $89.62

6th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 8.5f-T (P6, P3, DD)

Quirky group coming from wacky points on the condition book compass including Fisher hurdler Signature Look, 2 first off the claim (Friedman & Ja. Servis) and Ward’s Ferocious Tiger making seasonal debut. Eye-crossing event..

Most Likely: #9 Good Response 3-1 3rd
Best Value: #8 Datamining 10-1 8th
Exotics Use: #10 Ferocious Tiger 5-1 7th

7th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 6.5f (G/S, P3, DD)

Adulator yet another emergent face out of frighteningly stacked Jimmy Jerkens barn. Five drills since big fig maidenbreaker and has advantage of being outside speed and not needing front..

Most Likely: #7 Adulator 9-5 4th
Best Value: #8 Dreamsdocometrue 12-1 2nd
Next Best: #3 Ekhlaas 5-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #1 R Limo Joe 6-1 5th

8th: 38th True North (G2), 4+, 6f (P4, P3, True North-Met Mile Double, DD)

SCR #3 Private Zone

As discussed on ATR, the fact that the New York State Gaming Commission couldn’t see their way clear to a better solution with Brian Lynch is bad enough, but the fact that someone fingered him to the authority as a target for ‘random testing of backstretch employees’ is beyond reprehensible. Everyone involved, except Lynch, should be ashamed of their role in this bizarre episode..

Most Likely: #5 Catalina Red 2-1 4th
Next Best: #6 Always Sunshine 7-2 5th
Exotics Use: #2 Joking 20-1 WON ($21.80)

True North-Met Mile Double:

TN: 5-6
MM: 3-5-6-8-11-12

2×6 = $12 ($24 for $2; $60 for $5, etc.)

9th: 73rd New York H. (G2), F&M-4+, 10f-IT (P3, DD)

It’s All Chad, all the time in event like this. Dacita may have tactical edge over her stablemates, but it’s hard to separate the trio. And note that Photo Call is no doorknob..

Best Value: #7 Guapaza 6-1 3rd
Next Best: #1 Sea Calisi 2-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #5 Photo Call 4-1 6th
Super Add: #2 Dacita 3-1 WON ($11.80)

10th: 3rd Belmont Gold Cup, 4+, 16f-T (Gold Cup-Belmont Double, DD)

Now an annual curiosity, my approach in this is to side with best riders for assignment and with conditioners that know what it takes to have a horse ready for 2 miles..

Most Likely: #13 Now We Can 5-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 Da Big Hoss 3-1 WON ($6.40)
Best Value: #8 Silver Lime 30-1 6th
Exotics Use: #3 Closing Bell 8-1 4th

Gold Cup-Belmont Double:

GC: 5-13
BS: 1-2-4-5-10-11-12

Main: 2×7 = $14 ($28 for $2; $70 for $5, etc.)

GC: 3-8
BS: 1-2-4-5-10-11-12

2×6 = $14

11th: MCLM/$40k, 3+, 8.5f-IT

Most Likely: #7 Street Fightin Man 7-2 3rd
Best Value: #1 Heavenly Sun 10-1 2nd
Next Best: #9 Rooftop View 6-1 WON ($12.40)
Exotics Use: #8 Move Forward 4-1 6th

P4 Grid:

8: 5-6 (A), 1-2-4 (B), – (C)
9: 1-7 (A), 2-5 (B), – (C)
10: 5-13 (A), 3-8-12 (B), 4-7-9 (C)
11: 7 (A), – (B), 1-3-8-9 (C)

Simple: 5x4x5x1 = 100 x .50 = $50