Race 1- 1 st #2 CLASSIC COLORS 2 ND #6 SHESADIRTYDANCER 3 RD #5 INFRINGEMENT
The dam of #2 CLASSIC COLORS is kin to stake winner Lady Melesi, who was also the dam of multiple black-
type winners. She has drawn poorly for her debut, but trainer Christophe Clament is among the circuit’s best
with first timers. #6 SHESADIRTYDANCER is one of only two with experience, and she ran a credible race on
debut. She gets blinkers and retains the weight break with Romero Maragh on board, and both work in her
favor. #5 INFRINGEMENT is by 10% debut sire Temple City and is out of a dam who has dropped two
winners. The June 23 work shows some life in this filly’s legs and she should be a square price today.
Race 2- 1 st #6 MO FLASH 2 ND #7 SOLITARY GEM 3 RD #2 RADIANTRITHYM
#6 MO FLASH is nothing more than a tepid selection given her recent poor effort against tougher foes. She
spent a considerable portion of that race on slower inside paths and wound up coming up empty late. A
cleaner, forwardly-placed trip today could lead to a turnaround. #7 SOLITARY GEM is a late runner changing
barns and cutting back in distance for Linda Rice. This daughter of Gemologist improved for trainer Peter
Walder in Florida during the COVID-induced shutdown in NY and is a great fit class-wise. The issue for her
will be the expected slow pace. #2 RADIANTRITHYM exits an improved effort for 16k where she stalked the
pace and narrowly missed. She can move up to this level without issue, but her wins are getting fewer and
farther between and you’ll get no value here.
Race 3- 1 st #9 MORE THAN STRIKING 2 ND #10 PASSCODE 3 RD #1 WAYNE’S FOOTSTEPS
#9 MORE THAN STRIKING has landed in a field with a great deal of speed, but he is interesting cutting back
in distance for trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci. This gelding was never going to touch the eventual winner last
time out, but he forced the issue a bit early before weakening. He now gets a notable rider change and should
be more relaxed early on the cutback. #10 PASSCODE is the one to beat as he takes a major class drop off
the layoff. He has faced considerably better throughout his career and is priced where he can be competitive
today. The fact that he has some speed should prompt Dylan Davis to put him in the mix early as well. #1
WAYNE’S FOOTSTEPS may have been better off with this surface retaining a great deal of moisture.
Nonetheless, he is a threat from a cozy inside draw for a barn that is 21% with dirt sprinters first off of claims
($2.77 ROI).
Race 4- 1 st #5 MONOMOY GIRL 2 ND #3 VEXATIOUS 3 RD #2 MOTHER MOTHER
#5 MONOMOY GIRL is back in graded stake company after a handy win in her 2020 debut last time out at
Churchill. She will have to improve in order to compete with the best of her division later this year, but the
bunch she faces today is hardly tough. The outside draw should give Florent Geroux the opportunity to stalk
and pounce and make her virtually impossible to beat as a heavy favorite. #3 VEXARIOUS has yet to run
back to her big effort in last summer’s Summer Colony when she took eventual BC Distaff champ Blue Prize
right to the wire. She switches surfaces today for the underrated Jack Sisterson barn, who is 3-12 with routers
going turf to dirt over the last couple of years with a $2.32 ROI. #2 MOTHER MOTHER will likely try to get
control of this race from the outset and see if she can outlast the top pick. She was dull last time out on a wet
track, but being outside chasing was hardly ideal and a slow break hurt her cause.
Race 5- 1 ST #12 DURESS 2 ND #10 HONEY WON’T 3 RD #2 YES AND YES
#12 DURESS made a big move from well off the pace to win at 6 furlongs last time out at Aqueduct and now
returns from a lengthy break. He should get some pace to run at courtesy of #2 YES AND YES as well as #11
QUARKY. The inside paths when Duress ran were best and he scored despite racing into the teeth of the
bias. The 2-3 finishers from that race, incidentally, have both won on the weeds at this meet. #10 HONEY
WON’T surged late to narrowly miss last time out against a tougher group of 32k sellers. Many of those older,
hard-knocking types would be favored here and this colt is likely better at today’s 7 furlong distance. The
aforementioned Yes and Yes is the main pace player as he exits a handy score where he set a fast pace and
stayed on well. How these turf courses will play after significant rain on Friday remains to be seen, but yielding
strips often play kindly to speed.
Race 6- 1 st #11 BROVIA 2 ND #5 LUCKY LATKES 3 RD #3 AFLEETING GLANCE
#11 BROVIA has a poor outside post in the event she can draw into the field, but she is a must-bet given the
trip endured last time out. Clearly in position turning for home, she was jammed up inside with no place to go
for most of the stretch drive. A bit more racing luck would greatly help her cause here. #5 LUCKY LATKES
narrowly missed on debut and will likely be a heavy favorite today. Trainer Christophe Clement does very well
with first timers and clearly had this gal ready to roll at first asking. With a similar effort she’ll be tough to beat.
#3 AFLEETING GLANCE faced much tougher last time out and now drops in for a tag. She likely needed that
debut run and should improve with it behind her.
Race 7- 1 st #3 WAILIN JOSIE 2 ND #1 GOOD CREDENCE 3 RD #5 FAIR LASSIE
#3 WAILIN JOSIE gets the nod off an effort where she was unlucky to finish third. She was stuck in behind
the pace and encountered brief traffic trouble before angling out. While the same rider is aboard today, she is
likely to get a cleaner run and that would make her very dangerous. #1 GOOD CREDENCE is a pace player
from the inside as there is a lack of speed signed up in here. She was ridden passively last time out when
drawn outside in the same race the top pick exits. The rail should force jockey Junior Alvarado’s hand and a
forwardly placed trip will help this daughter of Jimmy Creed. #5 FAIR LASSIE is the other pace player as she
exits a wire-to-wire score against weaker. This is a class test given she has failed miserably in the NY bred
N1X ranks twice in the past but her best efforts make her competitive today.
Race 8- 1 st #8 AMERICAN LINCOLN 2 ND #2 FAMILY BIZ 3 RD #6 SUPER DUDE
#8 AMERICAN LINCOLN ran in spots last time out and spent a good portion of that event on the inside.
There’s an argument to be made that wasn’t the best place to be, and he now draws an outside post in a race
loaded with speed. If things heat up on the front end, he will be in position to benefit. #2 FAMILY BIZ is
another who’s dangerous if the pace is strong today. He has improved since being claimed by the underrated
Dave Duggan barn, and his recent win was earned in impressive fashion. Look for him in the latter stages of a
race that’s crying out for a price horse. #6 SUPER DUDE ran better than #7 HEAVY ROLLER when they met
in late May at Churchill Downs as the former did more dirty work being close to the pace. The latter picked up
pieces late despite getting a huge pace to run at and ‘Dude figures to be a better price today.
Race 9- 1 st #10 FLY FLY AWAY 2 ND #4 UNCLE GEORGE 3 RD #5 BIG WONDER
#10 FLY FLY AWAY returns from a lengthy layoff for trainer Christophe Clement after faring poorly against
open company stakes foes twice last year. Clement is 27% with turf sprinters off 180+ day breaks ($2.07 ROI)
and this son of First Samurai gets Lasix for the first time today. His main competition hails from the same
stable, as #4 UNCLE GEORGE looms a heavy favorite based on his debut win against open company.
Clement does tremendously well with 2 nd time starters on turf that broke their maidens at first asking (32%,
$3.39 ROI). The only negative here is this son of Uncle Mo got a huge pace to run at that afternoon and that
setup should not exist today. #5 BIG WONDER is the main speed in this bulky field as he caps a busy
Belmont meet for trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul. He is dangerous when left to his own devices on the front end
and the pace he stalked last time out was robust. Look for him to try and get control from the start.
Race 10- 1 ST #11 WARDENOFTHENORTH 2 ND #9 BANK GALA 3 RD #10 AFTER PROM PARTY
#11 WARDENOFTHENORTH is a second timer who was claimed from his debut by trainer Linda Rice. This
barn is 43% with maidens on dirt going first off of claims ($2.40 ROI) and this gelding showed enough life on
debut to be given an extra look today. #9 BANK GALA drops back in for a tag and will appreciate the return to
a fast track today. He chased a fast pace last time out before tiring late and should be set for an improved run
3 rd off a layoff. #10 AFTER PROM PARTY returns as a new gelding and should be the main speed in this
affair. Trainer Chris Englehart entered him twice before for 40k so it’s a bit of a negative that he’s in for 25k
today but this barn knows how to spot horses where they can be effective.
BELMONT MEET STATS: 209-54-34-25 $317.40
