It's Belmont Stakes Day in New York, and to complement the third leg of The Triple Crown the good people at NYRA have once again put together a monster card that is comparable to those usually reserved for The Breeders' Cup. Along with all the great races on the program there's a plethora of wagering options available Saturday from which to choose. As for me, I'll be focusing in on the best of the best, if you will, as I take a run at The All Grade 1 Pick Four ending with The Test of Champions at beautiful Belmont Park.
RACE 8 - (F) The Just A Game (Grade 1) - Eight Furlongs Widener Turf
A's
# 1 Dickinson (Morning Line 5-2)
# 2 Roca Rojo (Ire) (ML 9-5)
B's
None
C's
# 7 Antonoe (ML 8-1)
Dickinson enters this contest having won five of her last six contests, including the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley last time out. Roca Roja (Ire), winner of the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile last time out, is two-for-two lifetime over this turf course (plus another Win in one try on the inner turf course). Antone could be the one running best late.
RACE 9 - The Metropolitan Handicap (Grade 1) - Eight Furlongs Dirt
A's
# 5 Sharp Azteca (ML 7-2)
B's
# 9 Mor Spirit (ML 5-2)
C's
# 2 Rally Cry (ML 5-1)
# 12 Awesome Slew (ML 6-1)
Sharp Azteca looks to me to be much the best here. The only question I have is will Sharp Azteca be struck by the "Dubai Bounce" that hits so many runners upon their return from the UAE.
Mor Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, appears to be in top form. Rally Cry steps up in class after a fine performance over this main track last time out. Awesome Slew was just a head behind Limousine Liberal at the wire in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs last time out, and could be the one running best late.
RACE 10 - The Manhattan (Grade 1) - Ten Furlongs Inner Turf
A's
# 3 World Approval (ML 3-1)
# 4 Time Test (GB) (ML 5-1)
B's
# 1 Beach Patrol (ML 4-1)
# 2 Wake Forest (Ger) (ML 8-1)
# 6 Potemkin (Ger) (ML 8-1)
# 7 Divisidero (ML 4-1)
# 9 Sadler's Joy (ML 6-1)
C's
None
World Approval, winner of the Grade 2 Dixie last time out, should do well with the stretchout in distance. Time Test (GB) was just a nose behind Smooth Daddy at the wire in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy last time out, and could improve with a firmer sod.
Beach Patrol seems to settle for too many minor awards; but his ability must be respected. Wake Forest (Ger) seemed to take a step backwards last time out; but I think the yielding turf was to blame for that poor effort. Potemkin (Ger) is a multiple Group Stakes winner in Europe, and appears to thrive at today's distance.
Divisidero crossed under the wire a half length in front of Beach Patrol in the Grade 1 Turf Classic last time out. Sadler's Joy took the Show in the Grade 1 Man o'War last time out, and is another in this field that can be expected to improve with a firmer footing.
RACE 11 - The Belmont (Grade 1) - Twelve Furlongs Dirt
A's
# 3 Gormley (ML 8-1)
# 7 Irish War Cry (ML 7-2)
B's
# 2 Tapwrit (ML 6-1)
# 4 J Boys Echo (ML 15-1)
# 6 Lookin At Lee (ML 5-1)
# 8 Senior Investment (ML 12-1)
# 12 Patch (ML 12-1)
C's
None
Scratch # 11 Epicharis (Jpn) (ML 4-1)
Just draw a line through the Kentucky Derby for Gormley, Irish War Cry, Tapwrit, J Boys Echo, and Patch. Senior Investment has improved over his prior effort in just about all of his career starts, and closed well enough in the Preakness to suggest that he can take yet another step forward here.
Unlike those I listed above, Lookin at Lee had a dream trip in the Kentucky Derby, where he rode a golden rail late to take the Place. But Lookin at Lee had a less than dream trip in the Preakness, and yet still held his form. Perhaps Lookin at Lee can run well enough late today to upset this field.
OK, that's the analysis. Yeah, we're over budget; but I feel that it's justified on a big race day like today. So with that, playing our tickets in Crist fashion, we get:
All A Entries
$1.00 P4: 1,2 with 5 with 3,4 with 3,7 $8.00
All A Entries with All B Entries
$0.50 P4: 1,2 with 5,9 with 1,2,3,4,6,7,9 with 2,3,4,6,7,8,12 $98.00
A's with One C
$0.50 P4: 7 with 5 with 3,4 with 3,7 $2.00
$0.50 P4: 1,2 with 2,12 with 3,4 with 3,7 $8.00
Total: $116.00
Post Time for Race 8 is 3:58 EDT / 12:58 PDT. Good luck to all.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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