Race 1- 1 st #4 PARTY IN THE SAND 2 ND #1 LOOKBOTHWAYS 3 RD #11 J J LOVES BILLY
#4 PARTY IN THE SAND will be re-united with Joel Rosario in a race that should feature a strong early clip.
This veteran has been most effective on dry strips, so it will help her cause if the dirt dries from Saturday’s rain. Her best efforts have been with Rosario on board and she should be a square price in a competitive heat. #1
LOOKBOTHWAYS is dropping significantly in class off a dull effort against NY bred N1X competition. She
has been at her best sprinting, and the cutback should enable her to settle and make one run. Unlike the top
pick, she can be effective if there’s moisture in today’s surface. #11 J J LOVES BILLY is another taking a
massive drop in class as she was last seen against N1X competition at Parx. She is a versatile filly who can
be in range early and that’ll give her the jump on the top two picks. Her worktab also looks very sharp.
Race 2- 1 st #1 DOMESTIC SPENDING 2 ND #6 GET SMOKIN 3 RD #4 TALAKO
#1 DOMESTIC SPENDING gamely scored on debut in a productive race at Tampa Bay Downs that featured
two next out winners as well as a 3 rd place finisher who improved 14 Beyer points in his next outing. This
British-bred gelding lands in a compact field that has enough early zip to set up late run. He also showed
enough tactical speed in his debut to be dangerous in here. #6 GET SMOKIN is the one to catch as he gets
serious class relief after three solid stakes performances down at Gulfstream. He has a great deal of early zip,
and the boggy turf course Saturday afternoon favored speed. If he gets loose in here he can be a threat to
take it the distance. #4 TALAKO is another second timer who was victorious on debut and he did it despite
getting no pace setup whatsoever. That portends serious ability, and there’s often serious improvement on the
part of 2 nd timers.
Race 3- 1 st #1 MISS LOYALTY 2 ND #4 ZECHA 3 RD #9 VOLODINA
#1 MISS LOYALTY was in good form before the COVID-shutdown and fits nicely here from pace and class
perspectives. The inside draw is no bargain, but there’s enough to like, including what should be a square
price. Expect her to be a late player this afternoon. #4 ZECHA is another who’ll be moving late, as she was a
good second when last seen in March. She got a strong pace to run at that day and she has gotten back into
form following a claim from a much higher percentage outfit. That’s a positive sign. #9 VOLODINA takes a
substantial class jump having just beaten N3L competition, but this is hardly a solid 10k field. She has the
perfect style for this bunch given her tactical speed and outside post. She’s worthy of being included on a Pick
5 ticket.
Race 4- 1 st #5 SPIN YOUR PARTNER 2 ND #2 PANDAMOM 3 RD #8 BEYOND BROWN
#5 SPIN YOUR PARTNER is a second time starter who showed some life on debut. She was within range of
a strong early pace before coming up empty late. Trainer Arnaud Delacour now moves her to the weeds and
she is out of a dam who won 4 times on the grass. She also produced stakes winner Conquest Hardcandy, so
improvement is in the offing on the move to the green. #2 PANDAMOM is another second time starter, though
this daughter of Uncle Mo made her first start on the turf. She now gets Lasix in her first start off the bench,
and she figures to improve with some experience. #8 BEYOND BROWN is the horse to beat on paper as she
returns from a lengthy break. Her best turf races are likely good enough to contend for top honors here, and
her early speed is also a weapon. The underrated Dave Donk barn is off to a good start at the young meet as
well.
Race 5- 1 ST #8 MUNDACIOUS 2 ND #9 DANCERS FOR TOKEN 3 RD #2 MICROSECOND
The horses #8 MUNDACIOUS faced on debut are at a totally different level when compared to what is signed
up in this heat. He was away from the gate poorly in that event before putting forth a modest run in the middle
of the race. This distance should suit him well and the class drop is enough to make him a major player. #9
DANCERS FOR TOKEN has the best proven form of any contender in this field. He is building a resume as a
career maiden but should be moving late in a race that lacks a great deal of contenders. That’s enough to
include him in the payoff leg of the Pick 5. #2 MICROSECOND is a second time starter who ran a bang-up
race on debut for his previous trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, and now returns for Todd Pletcher. The inside post is
no bargain, but this son of Micromanage has speed and should have no issue with the one mile trip.
Race 6- 1 st #4 JEN’S BATTLE 2 ND #8 MO CITY 3 RD #3 LITTLE RED FLAG
#4 JEN’S BATTLE was claimed out of a blowout win back in November and now returns off the bench. This is
a massive barn change and this daughter of Declaration of War has previously shown enough speed to get in
the mix from the start today. The best turf sprint rider in the country is aboard today to boot. #8 MO CITY
mvoes to the turf for Mike Stidham, whose barn is off to a very slow start at this meet. This filly takes a sizable
drop in class off a dull effort at Churchill, and the surface switch should do her some good. Her dam never
raced on turf but her 3 foals to try it are all winners. #3 LITTLE RED FLAG has tried turf only once and hardly
embarrassed herself in doing so. She gets blinkers added today and can be a player from start to finish under
Jorge Vargas, Jr. An aggressive ride would greatly help her cause.
Race 7- 1 st #7 SOUTHERN BRIGADE 2 ND #8 GRADED ON A CURVE 3 RD #9 POINT HIM OUT
#7 SOUTHERN BRIGADE returns off the bench for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and is a pace player in a race
devoid of early foot. This son of Big Brown has been effective at this class level and the rider change to Joel
Rosario is notable. His best turf races are unquestionably good enough to win here. #8 GRADED ON A
CURVE is an underachieving son of Noble Mission who has dropped three straight against N1X company, with
the last two coming at odds of 2-1. Many of his issues arise because of his lack of speed, as he has to find a
way to work out trips and overcome pace issues. The lack of zip in here will hurt, and he won’t offer much
value at the windows. #9 POINT HIM OUT is a second timer who scored on debut for trainer Mike Stidham at
Tampa Bay Downs. That win came against open company and he now faces NY breds, which is a great move
class-wise. He’ll have to improve off his debut, but is a horse who can be positioned more forwardly early and
that is a positive.
Race 8- 1 st #4 SUMMER BOURBON 2 ND #5 ZOOMER 3 RD #1A MR. DOUGIE FRESH
#4 SUMMER BOURBON seems obvious in that he’s a winner of two straight since joining the barn of Rudy
Rodriguez. He is back in against open company following the two scores against NY breds, but this is hardly
the toughest 40k claimer you’ll find on this circuit. His versatility is a plus and Rodriguez is off to a good start at
this young meet. #5 ZOOMER is a late runner who changes barns off a couple of recent wins of his own. He
has capitalized on big pace setups in his last two, so his form is a tad dressed up. However, it is tough to
argue with horses in good form at this level. #1A MR. DOUGHIE FRESH would be far more interesting if not
coupled with #1 PREAMBLE as this son of Ghostzapper drops in class. He was on the wrong part of the
racetrack when a well-beaten fourth in the Tom Fool, so there’s reason to believe he can improve here for a
high percentage barn.
Race 9- 1 st #1 FLAVIUS 2 ND #4 DELAWARE 3 RD #10 VICI
#1 FLAVIUS got a terrible ride last time out at Gulfstream and now returns off a 5-month layoff. He was
victorious on debut in Ireland when sprinting and should benefit from the cutback in distance today. The inside
post will help him save ground and he shouldn’t have an issue with boggy turf. #4 DELAWARE is another
Chad Brown trainee in this field, and all Brown did on Saturday was go 1-2-3-4 in the Intercontinental. This colt
is dropping significantly in class as he makes his North American debut. He is not slated to race with Lasix, so
there’s no reason to believe he had issues with bleeding overseas. If he can get back to his best efforts from
France then he’ll win today. #10 VICI is the one to catch given that #3 JAKARTA will scratch after racing on
Saturday. This son of War Front is likely better going a little shorter, but he has been competitive at 7 panels in
the past. His price will be very attractive today and speed is a weapon.
Race 10- 1 st #12 OSAGE TREATY 2 ND #10 HENNI PENNY 3 RD #8 RESTRAINT OF TRADE
#12 OSAGE TREATY is a firster by Declaration of War, whose progeny win their turf debuts at a rate of 14%.
This filly is out of a winless dam who produced multiple turf winner Siding Spring, so there’s enough pedigree
here to give her an extra look. The outside post shouldn’t be much of a problem and this is a weaker than par
MSW for these parts. #10 HENNI PENNY was the recipient of a woeful ride two back as Eric Cancel dragged
her back after breaking sharply. She wound up with too much to do and lost momentum in the stretch when
sharply angled in around the eighth pole. She gets an upgrade at pilot and will be in line to benefit if the pace
is strong today. #8 RESTRAINT OF TRADE is another firster, this one by City Zip. She has trained well but
has no turf pedigree on her dam side. Trainer Chad Brown is generally better with distance types, but it would
hardly surprise if this filly is ready to win at first asking.
BELMONT MEET STATS: 40-10-3-8 $67.80
