Belmont @ Aqueduct: Friday, September 22

[Teach]

Race One:

UNION LIGHTS gets my tepid nod in today's Belmont @ The "Big A" opener, a 14k, n3L, claiming route. This 4-year-old Dixie Union-bred is back in with the kind with which he can be competitive. In his last, a 25k claimer, this Malibu Moon-bred got off to a slow start and never fully got into the race’s flow. This By The Light-bred gets a new pilot in the person of Dylan Davis. Davis has gotten off to a slow start in the late-summer, early-fall Belmont @ Aqueduct meet; yet “ DD" is more than capable of guiding this 4-year-old to victory, and thus, a visit to the "Big A’s" winner’s circle. The main rationale, as cited, for picking this horse is the reduced company this bay is facing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him out-and-going when the gates unlatch. The Garden State native (He grew up "a stone’s throw" from Monmouth Park), Jim Ryerson, trains this Union Rags-bred. Ryerson is taking the blinkers off. Others: , ,

[Teach]

Race Two:

In this 6 furlongs, 25k, n3L, I’m picking JESTER’S SONG. This Distorted Humor-bred 4-year-old finally draws outside after two-straight inside starting-posts. On this matter, I believe this Maclean’s Music-bred's running-style is better suited to outside starts. "El Panameno,” Jose Lezcano (I recall when Lezcano was a "bug” at Boston’s Suffolk Downs; he showed promise then), has the call. Further, this Flatter-bred has faced so much better in recent tries. Today’s race is a sharp drop from the company this Victoria-bred has been keeping. Linda Rice, one of the premier NYRA trainers (She won the Belmont spring-summer training title and finished tied for the title at the Saratoga meet), is this horse's conditioner. Finally, a sharp morning-work bolsters confidence: Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Three:

In this 6-furlongs, starter-allowance, turf-sprint, I’m planning on wagering “a bob or two” on SOSUA SUMMER (Sosua, by the way, is on the Dominican Republic’s North Coast). This 4-year-old bay colt’s pilot is the San Francisco de Macoris-native, Joel Rosario. This Summer Front-bred has won 2-straight. This colt’s trainer is “The Mount Rushmore State,” South Dakota-native, Bill Mott. Mott, the Hall-of-Fame trainer, does very well with horses that were winners of their last race. This colt’s broodmare, Honey Badger, has produced 3 Winners and 1 Turf-winner from 4 Starters. Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Four:

In this 7 furlongs, 14k claimer, n3L, I’ve selected ROJA LIGERA, (Light Red). This 3-year-old bay filly has been competing against better. She should appreciate “the drop.” Speaking of “drops,” this Quality Road-bred’s trainer, Gustavo Rodriguez, does very well with horses "dropping off a claim," albeit from a limited sampling. In addition, I like this filly’s surface-switching "turf-to-dirt" angle. This Union Rags-bred was recently claimed out of a Tom Amoss barn. The aforementioned Gustavo Rodriguez de Guadalajara does reasonably well with horses making their first start under his tutelage. Jose Gomez is in the irons. If there’s one note of caution, this Redbud-bred has been away from the races for nearly 50 days. Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Five:

In this 6 and 1/2 furlongs, state-bred, 30k maiden-claimer, I’ve landed on WOODSIDE WARRIOR. This 3-year-old just missed “breaking his maiden” in his last start. In that one, up at “The Spa,” in this company, this Speightstown-bred got off to a slow start; she also lacked room. This Freud-bred ended up finishing 2nd a-head. This Weekend Hideaway-bred should benefit from that last start. Dylan Davis is in the irons for trainer Mitch Friedman. Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Six:

In this one-mile and 3/16ths turf-allowance route, n1x, I’m picking BILOXI BLUES. In making this choice, you don’t need to be Neil Simon to appreciate this grey Speightstown-bred’s chances. This Tapit (Pulpit)-bred “broke her maiden” in her last at Colonial in mid-August, a one mile and one-eighth, 60k, MSW. She’s proven that she “can get the distance.” The Hall-of-Famer from Carolina, Puerto Rico, Johnny V., is in the irons for “Shug” McGaughey III. The Lexington, KY native and Hall-of-Fame inductee, McGaughey does very well with horses that were maiden-winners in their last race. Finally a sharp morning-work bodes well for this Accepting-bred’s chances of gracing the Aqueduct winner’s circle. Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Seven:

In this one-mile, 50k Allowance, I’ve landed on JOLLY MISS JILL. In her last, this Michelle Giangiulio-trainee was just out-finished against similar. This filly’s jockey, Kendrick Carmouche, has been hotter than Cajun Buffalo Chicken Wings (I’ll have another glass of water!). Carmouche should have this filly out-and-going when he “hears the sound” and the gates unlatch; he should be “on the engine.” Finally, a couple recent-decent morning-works auger well for this Scat Daddy-bred’s chances of getting her picture taken. Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Eight:

In the 125k John Hettinger Stakes, state-bred, one-mile and one-eighth turf-route, I’m casting my lot for NEW GINYA. This Tonalidst (Tapit)-bred won her last up at “The Spa," The Yaddo. I see no reason why this Successful Appeal-bred can’t repeat. The most capable conditioner, Christophe Clement, is this filly’s trainer. Monsieur Clement does very well with horses entered in non-graded stakes. Dylan Davis has the call. Others: , , .

[Teach]

Race Nine:

In the finale, a 90k MSW turf-sprint, I’m picking FELTRINELLI. This Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie)-bred didn’t show much in his only race, one that was taken off the turf and run on the main up at Saratoga in late-August. This Harlan’s Holiday-bred was competitive in that only race, yet after leading, he faded to 3rd. This 2-year-old bay colt now "shortens up" two furlongs. That might just be a prescription for a trip to the “Big A’s” winner’s circle. I might mention that this colt’s broodmare, Fantastic Style, could “motor.” She was a stakes-winner who has produced 1 Turf-winner from 2 Starters. “El Venezolano,” the Maracaibo, VZ native and Hall-of-Famer, Javier Castellano, has the call for trainer George Weaver. Weaver, it should be cited, does well with horses making their first grass start. Others: , , .