Race 1- 1 st #1 AFTER PROM PARTY 2 ND #10 OUR TROUBADOUR 3 RD #12 NO SENSE
#1 AFTER PROM PARTY is the one to catch from the inside as he returns from a layoff. This son of Desert
Party showed improvement in his turf debut, contesting a hot pace before being collared late. The inside post
gives him only one option and that makes him a threat to go the distance. #10 OUR TROUBADOUR is the
meet’s first two-time participant as he was last seen here on opening day checking in second at 42-1. He
returns to turf, a surface over which he fared well twice last year and his strong run last week makes him a
major player here. #12 NO SENSE is a firster by Street Sense, whose progeny win on debut at a 12% clip.
This gelding is out of the mare Blush, who was a turf winner and she dropped turf winners William’s Kitten and
Derby Kitten, so there’s plenty of reason to believe he’ll handle turf.
Race 2- 1 st #1 CATCH A CAB 2 nd #7 ARMAMENT 3 RD #12 GHOST HUNTER
#1 CATCH A CAB bids to become the third winner for Mike Maker that previously raced for the disgraced and
hopefully soon to be imprisoned Jason Servis. This son of Proud Citizen returns from a layoff at the same
level he raced at two back when 2 nd as a 5/2 favorite. He’s versatile and can be close early if the pace is
moderate in here. #7 ARMAMENT has run well enough on turf to be considered a threat in here and is
capable of taking control of this race from the start. His best races have come when he’s shown speed, so
expect him to be involved early as a live price player. #12 GHOST HUNTER ships in for Jamie Ness, who is
now 0-15 in NY over the last 5 years with just 2 runners finishing in the money. This son of Ghostzapper has
competed well against much tougher of late and is a standout class-wise, but this trainer has to be handled
with care until he registers a win.
Race 3- 1 st #1 PRIMACY 2 ND #2 BACK CHANNEL 3 RD #3 CAPRAIA’S DESTINY
#1 PRIMACY looms a handy winner as a very heavy favorite. She was last seen losing at 11-10 in April at
Gulfstream and now shortens up in distance at 3 rd asking. This distance seems like a better fit for her and her
competition today is very weak. #2 BACK CHANNEL is a firster by Liam’s Map, whose progeny win on debut
at a rate of 12%. This filly is out of a mare who was stakes-placed as a 2YO. She’s the first foal to race, but
her sharp owner shelled out 400k back in September 2018, so she should be good looking at the least. #3
CAPRAIA’S DESTINY was bet down to 9-1 on debut despite breaking from the rail. She showed some
interest early while racing greenly and wound up making a couple of modest moves. The addition of blinkers
will greatly help her cause as she attempts to live up to the potential she showed before that outing.
Race 4- 1 st #9 GO RUDY GO 2 ND #4 FLUENT IN SARCASM 3 RD #1 DISCIPLANARIAN
#9 GO RUDY GO returns to the weeds for his namesake as he’s another making his 2 nd start of the young
meet. This son of Warrior’s Reward has run two underrated races on the turf as he’s taken the worst of it
pace-wise in each of those outings. With an outside stalking trip he becomes a threat here at a square price.
#4 FLUENT IN SARCASM makes his NY bred debut off a trainer change to Mike Maker. This son of
Kantharos showed affinity for the turf in his 2 nd career start out west at Del Mar and takes a major class drop
today. He’s priced for success and should be prominent from the outset. #1 DISCIPLANARIAN is a late
runner who returns to the lawn in here. His prior turf races win this thing handily and he figures to get a decent
pace to run at late. Just another you have to use in the Pick 5.
Race 5- 1 ST #9 FLEET IRISH 2 ND #8 PLAYWRIGHT 3 RD #7 TWISTED TOM
In what is simply a pace play, #9 FLEET IRISH looks to be in line to capitalize on a fast early clip today. He
has been plenty effective around one turn at Belmont with 2 wins and 2 runner-up finishes from 6 tries, and this
gelding gets a major upgrade at pilot. Look for him late if the pace develops. #8 PLAYWRIGHT is the horse to
beat on paper off of consecutive wins against NY breds. He is another who does his best running late, so a
quick early clip would only help his cause. He’s one you must use to close out your Pick 5. #7 TWISTED TOM
turned heads with a game off the pace win in December at 14-1. He cleared this condition two back and is
eligible due to being in for the tag again. This is the 3 rd closer in this bunch, so roll the dice and hope for a fast
pace.
Race 6- 1 st #4 CELEBRATION 2 ND #6 HONEY WON’T 3 RD #9 PAGLIACCI
If #4 CELEBRATION is able to get to the front in here he may forget to quit. Back in the care of Tres Abbott,
this son of Equiano figures to be loose under aggressive pilot Kendrick Carmouche. The last time they
combined it ended in victory last fall at Aqueduct, and you’ll get a similar square price today. #6 HONEY
WON’T cuts back in distance for trainer Bill Mott, who stands one win away from 5,000. This son of Soldat
chased a slow pace before weakening last time out and now returns to a trip that suits him well. Mott is 16%
with turfers at Belmont cutting back from routes to sprints ($2.78 ROI) and this colt is cut out perfectly to sprint.
#9 PAGLIACCI returns off a layoff for trainer Linda Rice afer ending his 2019 campaign against much tougher.
Rice is just 7% with turf sprinters off 180+ day breaks ($0.29 ROI) and is 0-15 in that category with runners at 6
furlongs.
Race 7- 1 st #5 COST BENEFIT 2 nd #3 WINDFALL PROFIT 3 RD #10 TOO SEXY
#5 COST BENEFIT is by 18% debut sire Dansili and has 3 winning siblings overseas. This filly came out of
the sale that has yielded Newspaperofrecord, Demarchelier, Digital Age and Domestic Spending, among
others, for these connections. She appears to be training forwardly and meets a weaker than par group for this
condition. #3 WINDFALL PROFIT is a beautifully-bred daughter of Malibu Moon who exits a narrow miss
where she moved prematurely. This gal’s rider had little choice last time out when he wound up moving early,
and she nearly withstood the tough trip to register a win. While she’ll have to improve to win here, her last
shows there was development from 2 to 3. #10 TOO SEXY narrowly missed last time when she benefited
from a great trip racing along the inside the whole way under Tyler Gaffalione. She can be up close from the
start and that will work in her favor today.
Race 8- 1 st #6 WAILIN JOSIE 2 ND #7 OFFICER HUTCHY 3 RD #9 BEHIND THE COUCH
#6 WAILIN JOSIE scored consecutive wins at 29-1 and 30-1 over this strip in 2019 and returns to Belmont off
of one of her best efforts to date in mid-March. She is a late runner who’ll need some pace help and she
figures to get a spirited early gallop to run at late in here. While her double bug jockey inspires no confidence,
he has actually ridden this filly well in the past. #7 OFFICER HUTCHY is the horse to beat in many ways as
she returns from a break for Linda Rice. This barn is 27% with a break-even ROI when it comes to dirt
sprinters off wins ($2.00 ROI) and this gal is another who’ll benefit a great deal if the pace is fast. #9 BEHIND
THE COUCH hails from the barn of Jeremiah Englehart, who actually won a race here Friday afternoon. That
broke a 3-79 stretch in NY for a barn that generally scores at or around 25%. This filly has the best proven
form of any runner in here and figures to be in an ideal spot to stalk and pounce from the outside.
Race 9- 1 st #2 POINT OF HONOR 2 ND #5 OLLIE’S CANDY 3 RD #6 GOLDEN AWARD
There re some signs that the Apple Blossom may have taken a major toll on the frontrunning types in there, so
#2 POINT OF HONOR is the logical alternative to #5 OLLIE’S CANDY. The former is a late runner who’ll be
re-united with Javier Castellano as she looks to make noise in the lane. She should move forward 3 rd off a
layoff in here and will offer some value in the multi-race pools. ‘Ollie nearly took advantage of an inside post
last time when she set a blistering pace at Oaklawn Park before being collared late. She’s been at her best
when able to make the lead, and she may end up stalking the pace today with #4 BLAMED signed up. Either
way, this daughter of Candy Ride is the one to beat. #6 GOLDEN AWARD is a graded stake winner herself as
she returns from a break having been beaten by the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Cookie Dough last time out.
This gal has tactical speed and should be just off the pace ready to pounce if the favorite falters.
Race 10- 1 st #5 HURRICANE BREEZE 2 ND #2 BEAN COUNTER 3 RD #8 GLORIOUSLY
#5 HURRICANE BREEZE had a great trip last time out when she narrowly missed as the 9/5 favorite. This
field is somewhat tougher than what she met that day, but this daughter of Summer Front has potential and
should continue to move forward off the claim. Her rider being able to take her back more willingly early will
help her cause. #2 BEAN COUNTER set a slow pace last time out before being collared late and must be a
horse who’s more comfortable off the pace at this stage of her career. She has the tactical speed to stay
forwardly placed throughout, but her last is tough to overlook. #8 GLORIOUSLY broker her maiden
impressively last timeout, stalking a hot pace before going clear late as the 6/5 favorite. She has a seemingly
bottomless pedigree and the mile trip should pose no problem. She’s another with tactical speed who figures
to be forward from the outset.
BELMONT MEET STATS: 50-12-4-9 $78.50
