Belmont: Sun., September 9

[Teach]

Race One:



Executive Office: Veteran jock, Joe Bravo (could this be his "red-letter" day?). Top-notch trainer, Christophe Clement (good with debut claimers); Dehere-bred gelding; Recent sharp “bullet” works.



Coviello “drilled” three furlongs from the gate a few weeks ago. Trainer Rick Violette, Jr. is very good with maiden-claiming debuts.



From The Point gets a “mulligan” for his poor showing on a sloppy track at “The Spa”. Drops into “selling” ranks. Adds blinkers. Luis Saez for Alan Goldberg.



Valar Dohaeris: Bustin Stones-bred gelding. The aforementioned sire produces several “winners-at-first-asking“. Trainer Bruce Levine is good with maiden claimers.



Captain Toews: The “Sleeper”; Recent five-furlong, breezing from the gate in 1:00.3. Solid! If he breaks alertly, should benefit from his outside post. Apprentice Manuel Franco’s an up-and-comer.



　



　



　



Race Two:



Rebranded is a highly-priced, well-bred colt who drew inside last time; now moves toward mid-pack. In his first start, he was hard to load. I would assume, in the interim, that Todd Pletcher has worked with him on his gate manners. The colt had a tough trip from his rail slot in his last as he found himself behind a wall of horses. John Velazquez couldn’t find a seam and eventually angled the colt to the outside, but, by then…it was too late. The added distance. A better trip. Voila! Pedigree suggests he can handle stretch-out. John Velazquez reprises his ride.



Mosler should enjoy the added distance of ground. The colt comes off a closing fourth in a 5 ½ furlong race. The added two and one-half panels should do wonders. The Danzig-bred colt adds blinkers. The colt had a recent “bullet”. Junior Alvarado for the HOF trainer, Bill Mott.



Master Lightning is a likely long-shot. Yet, the colt’s solid pedigree; the fact that he’s trained by Todd Pletcher, and that his Dam, Maragold Princess, had four winners from five starters (one stakes winner) speaks volumes. I would suggest watching the board and post parade.



Survival is a first-timer for the Phipps Stable and trainer “Shug” McGaughey. Solid lineage that suggest a turf bent; he’s capable of being part of matters here. The Dam, Matlacha Pass, had five winners from six starters (two were stakes winners). Javier Castellano is the pilot.



Tony B is another horse adding blinkers. In his only pari-mutual start, this Unbridled’s Song-bred colt was out and going for the lead when the gates opened. Yet, he got caught up in a five-horse early-speed breakaway and fadded from his outside post. A better trip might land him a place on the tote board.



　



Race Three:



Kitty Panda did not run her race in her only start on the opening weekend at “The Spa”. The Pulpit-bred filly vied for the early lead but got caught on the outside. In the stretch, she appeared to be in the 8-path and was eased before the wire. In the interim, trainer Christophe Clement has given the filly a 50-day breather. She can make amends as the beaten fave (she was favored in a prior race and finished third). Joe Bravo is in the irons.



Sweet Maxine has hit the tote in all four of her most recent races. She just got caught in her last at Saratoga as a 12-1 longshot. John Velazquez rides for trainer Mike Gorham.



Sweet Hot Toddy ships down from Finger Lakes where she’s acquitted herself very well. The Artex-bred mare has hit the tote in nearly 2/3rds of her lifetime starts. She’s been competitive in all her recent races. Mike Luzzi rides for Charlton Baker.



Ascended Fever has hit the tote twice in three tries at Belmont. The Storm Cat-bred filly was fourth in her last at Saratoga. The filly appears capable of garnering a minor award.



Race Four:



Revealing Moment just missed in her last against better. Oddsmaker Eric Donovan has installed this Storm Cat-bred filly as an even-money shot. Jockey Javier Castellano will need to ration out this filly’s speed if she’s to proceed to the winner’s circle for her new trainer, Chris Englehart.



Crafty Push finished fourth in her last at seven furlongs. The filly now cuts back a panel; that should help. John Velazquez for Carl Domino (he’s good with claimers



Colorme Kitten switches from turf to dirt; a category that trainer Gary Gullo excels at. The filly has hit the tote in seven of her last eight races. Jose Ortiz is in the irons.



Concealed may be the “surprise” that completes a super or possibly a tri. The Bertrando-bred filly has hit the tote in five of her nine lifetime starts. Angel Arroyo for Luis Miranda.



Race Five:



Downgoesfrazier was second in his last in this company. Now stretches out a half-panel. John Velazquez for Carl Domino.



Sunnysider just missed at this distance as the favorite at “The Spa” in his last. Junior Alvarado for “The Chief”.



A Better Tomorrow finished sixth as the favorite on opening day at “The Spa”. A chance to make amends. Should not be overlooked. Javier Castellano for Mike Maker.



Mister Dooley was closing in his last. A cleaner trip would put this Citidancer-bred gelding in the thick of things. Luis Saez for Jim Bond.



Race Six:



Metro bobbled at the break in his last. Then got caught three wide. A more alert start would put this Afleet Alex-brede gelding in contention. Junior Alvarado for John Terranova, II.



McIlroy could do little in the slop in a race taken off the turf at Gulfstream last February. The Danzig-bred gelding now switches back to the turf where he has three thirds in four tries.

St. Sincere was second as a 2-1 shot in his last. Should be near the lead. Stretches out a bit. Cornelio Velasquez will need to ration out his speed.


Pentagram tried the turf for the first time at “The Spa” and fin ished fourth. Any slight improvement would make him a player in this field. Joe Bravo for Tom Albertrani.



　



　



Race Seven:



Ichiban Warrior has solid turf pedigree. May be able to win at first asking in this maiden-special turf sprint. Solid, steady work-tab leading up to initial start. John Velazquez for Todd Pletcher.



Theros has solid turf pedigree and an equally solid morning work-tab. Kiaran McLaughlin is good with turf starts. Jose Ortiz in the irons.



Hadrian is another well-bred turfster who can be a factor at first asking. The red-hot Javier Castellano for trainer Richard Mettee.



Sheldon is a long-shot try with pedigree promise. I’m not trying to hand you a line or a shpiel, but this Purim-bred colt might surprise.



Race Eight:



Red Vine won his last at DelMar. The highly-priced Ride the Rails-bred colt is capable of repeating. The Christophe Clement trainee has hit the tote in all three of his turf tries. Joe Bravo (could this be his “red-letter” day) is in the irons.



Yellow Mountain was second in his last. Fits well in this company. Solid turf breeding. Can be part on best effort.



Lead Singer cuts back a panel; that should help. Had two straight “bullet” works to recommend.



Happy Fella is my long-shot try. In his last, the Northern Afleet-bred gelding bobbled at the start and lost much of a chance of hitting the tote. A cleaner trip would enhance his chances.



Race Nine:



Gifty Gie is my long-shot try of the day. Call it a hunch, a gambler’s throw. I like Javier Castellano in the irons. Barclay Tagg is a solid trainer. The A.P. Indy-bred filly won her last, admittedly against lesser company. Yet, she can surprise. Morning works are decent.



Sustained draws the hedge and cuts back a panel. Has hit the tote in every single turf try. Appears to be the horse to beat.



Yes It’s Pink is another horse that should receive a lot of attention. The Yes It’s True-bred filly has hit the board in seven of eight turf tries.



Queen of Mambo has hit the tote in both turf tries. Certainly capable of doing it once again. Luis Saez for John Terranova, II.



Race Ten:



With Exultation is a very well bred turf gelding who’s been away from the races for over two months. The gelding recently “bulleted” four furlongs to signal he’s ready. The gelding has hit the tote in two of three turf tries. Joe Bravo for Christophe Clement.



Mr. Algebra reinforces the old age that you don’t have to be able to solve quadratic equations to pick horses. I don’t see the correlation. Anyway, this Rudy Rodriguez trainee has hit the tote in his last three. Javier Castellano is the pilot.



Orino led start to finish in a state-bred stakes at Saratoga in his last (he was disqualified and placed second). The Cormorant-bred gelding is very much a factor here. Will need to stretch out a half-panel off last effort.



Prime Devil won his last against weaker. Yet, on his best effort, this Prime Timber-bred gelding can be part.