Teach's Top-Rated, Thoroughbred Picks at Parque du Belmont

[Teach]

Be back in twenty minutes with my first-race picks.

[Teach]

Race One:



:9: Secretive.

I see this Broad Brush-bred colt as a major factor here. Third in his last at the distance. A sharp recent work. 21% trainer in second route race. 22% trainer in second grass race. Joel Rosario is in the irons for “Shug” McGaughey.



　



　



Underneath:



:3: Brickyard Kitten


was caught wide in a race he finished third at the distance in this kind of company at Saratoga in late August. John Velazquez for trainer Mike Maker.



:10: Elmutahid


was leading into the stretch in similar race. Got bumped. Re-rallied and finished second. Can be factor on best. Should not be ignored. Eddie Castro for Kiaran McLaughlin.



:11: Tubal


could be a surprise if he can get the added distance. Recent bullet works. Alan Garcia for Carla Morgan.

[Teach]

　



Race Two:



:2: Stonecoldsteamer


turned in a clunker in his last. The Wild Again-bred (he’d love an “off” track) colt appeared to get caught up in a speed duel in which the up-front fractions were more like those of a quarter-horse; the colt had nothing left in the tank for the stretch drive. But that was then - over a month ago at “The Spa” - and this is now. Prior to his last, the 3-year-old colt hit the tote in three of four tries. His morning works have been good including a “bullet” half-mile work in which the colt breezed four panels in :48.4. “El Caracas Caballero,” Senor Ramon Dominguez, rides for Rick Dutrow.



Underneath:



　



:3: Cybertron


won his last against lesser. The Mr. Greeley-bred gelding turned in a sparkling 1:09 flat in that one. Any semblance of that effort and he’s very much “a player” here. Irad Ortiz, Jr. for Phil Serpe.



:1: N.F.’s Destiny


turned in a win in MSW company in mid-to-late April at “The Big A”. In that one, the Carson City-bred gelding edged away in the stretch; he turned in a solid six-panel time of 1:10.2. He may need one after that four-month-plus layoff. Then again… Cornelio Velasquez for trainer Linda Rice.



:5: Dr. Cooper


did not run his race in his last, a state-bred allowance. The Mr. Greeley-bred gelding can make amends against similar company. John Velazquez rides for Mike Hushion.

[Teach]

Race Three:



:6: Sonnyandpalley


is three for six lifetime on the grass. The Carson City-bred colt has hit the board in three of four tries at the distance. The colt looks like “a keeper” when it comes to your exotics. Joel Rosario for Nick Zito.



　



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:3: Hope Still Springs


has hit the tote in three of five lifetime turf tries. The Pulpit-bred gelding was second in his last in a similar race. Eddie Castro rides for Bruce Brown.



　



　



　

:1: Sea To Sky


ships in from the West Coast where the Storm Cat-bred colt was facing better in MSW company. However, the colt wasn’t hitting the tote. He now tries his luck in Elmont, NY where he fits well with the company. Maybe a change of scenery will be do this horse wonders. Allan Garcia for Richard Violette, Jr.



:11: Professor Chaos


is my longshot, add-value-to-your-exotic try. The Cormorant-bred colt has competed in this kind of company without much success. Could this be a wake-up call? The colt might just surprise. Julien Leparaoux for trainer Richard Metivier.

[Teach]

Race Four:



#6 A.P. Hutchy


looks like a major player here. The A.P. Indy-bred filly has hit the tote in both her turf tries. The filly barely missed breaking her maiden at the distance at Belmont in early July. Ramon Dominguez rides for Linda Rice.



　



　



Underneath:



#9 Verde Mont

has failed as the favorite in his last three. The Mr. Prospector-bred gelding now gets a rider change to the red-hot Jose Lezcano. The 3-year-old gelding has hit the tote twice in four turf tries; he’s one for two at the distance. John Kimmel trains.



#7 Lakota Freud

has hit the tote in two of his three turf tries. The Storm Cat-bred gelding has been away from the races for nearly 50 days. Frankly, the gelding’s morning works have been nothing to write home about, but if he’s reasonably ready, he can be a factor here. Cornelio Velasquez for Linda Rice.



#11 Act Of Magic

has had one career start, that coming on the lawn at Monmouth in mid-August. The Dixieland Band-bred gelding finished second at 55-1. Admittedly, this horse is a longshot here. However, he might just add value to an exotic. Julien Leparoux for trainer Luis Farfan-Casarez.

[Teach]

Race Five:



#9 Mico Margarita

gets my nod in a MSW sprint. The City Zip-bred colt finished third (despite being bumped) in a turf sprint at “The Spa” in late August. The colt now switches to the main track. I like the turf-to-dirt angle. Trainer Steve Asmussen does well with turf-to-dirt horses. Joel Rosario is in the irons.



Underneath:



#2 Nevada

looks like the major danger. The highly-priced Pulpit-bred colt was second in his only start at five furlongs. The colt should enjoy the added distance. The colt had a sharp four-furlong work earlier in the week. John Velazquez for Todd Pletcher.



#8 Tiz For Tat

finished fourth in his only start after vying for the lead and then fading to fourth in a five and one-half furlong sprint at Saratoga in mid August. The Tiznow-bred colt can improve off that effort. Cornelio Velasquez for Ralph Nicks.



#10 Normandy Invasion

is a well-bred first-time starter. The Pulpit-bred colt does have the pedigree to be a factor at first asking. Ramon Dominguez for Chad Brown.

[Teach]

Race Six:

:9: Going Going Gone

has admittedly shown little lately. However, if you look back three races to this Tabasco Cat’s effort on July 1 at Belmont, you’ll see that she acquitted herself very well, albeit finishing third at six furlongs on the turf in a MSW. If she can run back to that race, she’ll definitely be a factor. Ramon Dominguez for Linda Rice.

Underneath:

:12: Exclusive Sarah

has been a bridesmaid in recent turf tries. The Elusive Quality-bred filly should be “a player” in this race. The outside post should help her running style. Eddie Castro in the irons for Jorge Navarro.

:5: Melissa Song

has some solid turf breeding. She might surprise in her first try on the lawn. The Unbridled’s Song-bred filly had a third in her most recent race in this company on the main track. Wilmer Garcia for Rudy Rodriguez.

:1: Pegasus Diamond fits in company. Should benefit frrom the inside. Capable of improving your exotic. Carlos Montalvo for Leo O'Brien.

[Teach]

Late Pick-4


Race Seven:


#2 Sir Bond


has hit the tote in all four of his lifetime starts. Yet, the Silver Deputy-bred colt has been away from the races for several months; he was last seen breaking his maiden at Fair Grounds in February. Since then, the colt has had some mediocre morning works. If he’s ready, he make be able to take it all. Julien Leparoux for Steve Asmussen.



　



　



Underneath:



#6 Reload

stretches out a furlong after finishing second in seven-furlong allowance try. Prior to that the Danzig-bred colt finished fifth in the Curlin in the slop at Saratoga. The colt was well regarded in that one; he went off at 4-1.



The three-year-old chestnut colt now catches a field he should be able to handle. The colt has hit the tote in four out of five lifetime starts. He recently turned in a sharp five-panel work; he breezed “the five” in an impressive :59.2.



#11 Graydar

broke his maiden in impressive fashion in April at Gulfstream Park. Yet, the colt hasn’t graced the racetrack in over five months. You know what they say (whoever they are): “One robin doesn’t make a spring; nor does one swallow make a San Juan Capistrano. Is this colt the real-deal; or just “a flash in the pan”? In his favor, he has turned in some solid morning works. Edgar Prado reprises his maiden-breaking winning ride for trainer Todd Pletcher.



#9 Desert Storm

was third in his last in an optional claimer. There doesn’t appear much doubt that the Tiznow-bred colt can get the distance. The colt has finished first and second in two tries at the mile. Joel Rosario rides for Bill Cesare.



　



　



Race Eight:




In the Grade 3 Noble Damsel, I’ve casting my lot with #5 Dealbata. The four-year-old Irish-bred was a hard-charging second in the DeLaRose at Saratoga in early August. Any slight improvement and this filly ends up in the winner’s circle. The filly has hit the tote in all three of her tries at the distance. Lifetime, she’s been either first or second in six out of seven tries. Ramon Dominguez for Chad Brown.



Underneath:



#7 Julie’s Love

won the DeLaRose. Anything resembling that effort and she right there once again. It’s hard to argue with a filly that’s hit the tote in 12 out of 15 lifetime turf tries. Julien Leparoux rides for trainer Graham Motion.



#1 La Cloche

was a disappointment in her last; the Awesome Again-bred filly finished fifth in the DeLaRose. Yet prior to that, she won VooDoo Dancer at Belmont in early July. The filly’s morning works are nothing to write home about, but she is capable of surprising. Eddie Castro for James Toner.



#8 Silver Screamer

was fifth in the Grade 3 Matchmaker at Monmouth; yet prior to that the Cozzene-bred filly won the Grade 3 Eaton Township at Oceanport oval.



This filly could be “a sleeper.” She’s certainly capable of adding value to an exotic. Jose Espinoza for Rudy Rodriguez.



　



　



Race Nine:



#1 Tannery


has been racing across “The Pond” in the “Emerald Isle”. The Irish-bred has three wins in five tries on the lawn. She won her most recent start, the Grade 3 Kilboy Estate at Curragh. Jose Lezcano for Alan Goldberg.



　



　



Underneath:



#6 Karlovy Vary

looks like the major danger. She was third in her most recent effort, the NaniRose. Back in April, the Roberto-bred filly won The Ashland at Keeneland. The filly certainly fits in this company. She’s had some solid morning works leading up to this effort, Julien Leparoux for “Rusty” Arnold.



#3 Samitar

,the British-bred filly, was a closing third in the Grade 2 Lake George; that despite being bumped earlier in the race. The filly is 8 for 11 on the turf, lifetime. She has been away from the races since late July. Ramon Dominguez for trainer Chad Brown.



#4 Somali Lemonade

was third in the Lake Placid about a month ago at Saratoga. The Lemon Drop Kid-bred filly has hit the tote in five of eight turf tries. Joel Rosario for Michael Matz.



Race Ten:




#7 Da Vinci


has been facing much better. The 3-year-old Seattle Slew-bred colt has been fourth in his last two at Monmouth and Belmont, respectively. Prior to that the colt won an optional claimer; he’s two out of three lifetime at the distance. He did disappoint as the even-money choice in his last; he certainly can make amends here. Ramon Dominguez for Steve Asmussen.



Underneath:



　



#6 Boyz Night

won his last at Monmouth about a month ago against similar company. Anything resembling that effort puts this Afleet-bred gelding in the thick of things. Wilmer Garcia for Joe Orseno.



#2 Acadian Blues

has hit the tote in three of five tries at the distance. The Leah “The Preacher” Gyarmati-trained 3-year-old Storm Cat-bred gelding has hit the tote in seven of 15 lifetime tries. The gelding certainly has faced better. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides.



#12 Suspicious U

could be “the sleeper” here. The Forty Niner-bred gelding has shown little on the turf; yet there have been occasional flashes on the main track. I think the colt has a chance of enhancing an exotic. Eddie Castro for Bill Badgett, Jr.