Belmont (G1) Day Selections

By Jude T. Feld

The Woodford Reserve Manhattan is not just a horserace on Belmont Day, it is one heckuva cocktail!
Woodford Reserve Photo

Race #3) Three good races in three lifetime starts coupled with a distinct advantage in age and strength gives CHEYENNE NATION the edge here. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado should have the Chad Brown trainee ready to pounce on the leaders turning for home. DEVON ROCK tries the turf after a very nice debut going a one-turn mile on the dirt five weeks ago. Hot-riding Javier Castellano takes the call with Prado riding the top choice. If the son of Rock Hard Ten can handle the turf – watch out! MR. RYDER, a son of Giant’s Causeway, makes his racing debut for top turf trainer Christophe Clement. The $800,000 Keeneland yearling seems primed and ready for a big effort. Smart jockey Rajiv Maragh only enhances his chances.

Race #5) MANHATTAN FOX has been improving in every start since moving here from Great Britain. He owns a solid closing kick and a mile seems to be his best distance. Jockey Garret Gomez got acquainted with him last time out and the duo should be hard to deny is this slightly easier spot. CHEROKEE SPEED has been the victim of two tough beats in both of his 2010 starts. He missed by a neck after running against the bias on the Keeneland green and then had a ton of traffic trouble before almost running down Kindergarden Kid over this course. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who was aboard for his maiden breaker last summer at Belmont, takes the reins for this one. XODO is racing in good form this year after a dismal late summer and early fall campaign in 2009. His turf figures are very competitive in this spot.

Race #6) D’FUNNYBONE is the best three-year-old sprinter in the United States. Since the Woody Stephens (G2) is a sprint for three-year-olds, his selection is obvious. His price will be short.

Race #7) Three wins, at three different racetracks, rated yielding, good and firm, while improving her speed figures in each start, PHOLA looks like the filly to beat in the Just A Game (G1). Her main competition should come from PROVISO. The ultra-talented Juddmonte mare has posted two bullet works leading up to this race indicating her sharpness. She runs best on firm turf, so if it rains much (50% chance at this writing) she could be vulnerable. Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard saddles FANTASIA. The daughter of sensational turf sire Sadler’s Wells has had a bit of trouble adjusting to American racing, but there is no doubt about her ability. Jockey Rajiv Maragh rill ride her for the first time here and that might make a difference to her.

Race #8) CUSTOM FOR CARLOS has been red-hot since last October. The son of More Than Ready has been posting super speed figures and is within a neck and a nose of winning five in-a-row. He has excellent tactical speed and will be tough to beat. CHECKLIST blitzed an allowance field in his last start at Gulfstream and earned a 108 Brisnet speed figure in the process. If the son of Gone West repeats that performance, he will have a major say in the outcome. BRIBON hasn’t sprinted in a while. He ran a good second in the prestigious Sandy Lane Gold Cup (G1-Bar) at Garrison Savannah but his Westchester (G3) effort when he returned to the U.S. was just so-so. He could be the beneficiary of a pace duel however and his :46 3/5 workout on May 21 at Belmont was the best of 50 on the day.

Race #9) Regular readers of racehorsereport.com know that I am a Phipps Stable groupie. For me, it is hard not to like horses bred out of families developed with such care and then given the best conditions to blossom. STREAKER is just one of those. The daughter of Forest Wildcat has gone through her conditions with ease and now steps into Grade 1 company. Although she will need her best effort to win, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey wouldn’t have her entered if he didn’t think she was up to the task. BUCKLEUPBUTTERCUP was visually impressive winning the Eight Belles (G3) on Kentucky Derby Day. She is best around one turn and there is plenty of pace to set up her closing charge. Obviously, a mile and an eighth is too far for AMEN HALLELUJAH to run in top company. She is another who excels around one turn and a return to form here can be expected.

Race #10) GIO PONTI is one of the best grass horses in the world. He has been running on a mix of synthetics and turf with some excellent results if you don’t include winning. Mile and a quarter turf races are his forte and the Woodford Reserve Manhattan (G1) is just one of those. (It is also a magnificent cocktail. Try one some time.) The son of Tale of the Cat should “get back on track” here. TAKE THE POINTS always gives his best. He runs best fresh and trainer Todd Pletcher has given him plenty of time since his trip to Dubai. With his excellent tactical speed, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado should have him in the perfect spot turning into the stretch. JUST AS WELL is a blue-collar worker who also relishes the classic distance. He needs a perfectly timed ride and could get it today from Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Race #11) ICE BOX had a horrible trip in the Kentucky Derby. At one point he was 24 lengths off the lead, only to finish second, two and a half from the wire. Both of his grandsires won the Belmont (G1), so the distance is no problem and his Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has won the Belmont (G1) twice. FIRST DUDE looks like the lone front runner. He ran a corker in the Preakness (G1), his best race ever, and that makes him subject to a “bounce.” If he repeats that race or improves a little, he could be tough to run by. All the New York sharp guys like FLY DOWN. Zito is the King of New York. The six-length victory in the Dwyer (G2) over the track really exited the local crowd as did his bullet work on May 30. What’s not to like? UPTOWN CHARLIEBROWN has a few good things going for him – Rajiv Maragh, one of the most talented jockeys to come along in a while, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, an excellent replacement for the late Alan Seewald and a nice finishing kick. He should be in the mix. MAKE MUSIC FOR ME is a bit of a puzzlement. His Derby run was decent and his form seems to be improving. On the other hand, his trainer, Alexis Barba, has had a difficult time pleasing him and keeping his focus at Belmont Park. I can relate. GAME ON DUDE doesn’t give the impression of a marathon horse but his Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, is no stranger to the Belmont (G1) winners’ circle. He’s put some stiff drills into his charge, who may be worth a couple of dollars, “out of respect for the trainer,” as the late, great Charlie Whittingham would say. STAY PUT is a little light in the speed figure department but he is a willing type. He as enough stamina in his pedigree to get the distance and that is half the battle. INTERACIF has let his classmates pass him by. He has a nice pedigree for the Belmont (G1) but will need to improve his speed figures by many lengths to be competitive here. STATELY VICTOR is so inconsistent that it is hard to take him seriously despite his facile Toyota Bluegrass (G1) victory. DROSSELMEYER has had some sore feet and has been training in bar shoes. They are supposed to come off for the Belmont (G1) but the old adage, “No foot, no horse,” is sage indeed. I really liked SPANGLED STAR, but the word in the press box is that Garrett Gomez doesn’t give him a shot and actually picked some other horses when asked who he thought would win. I trained Thoroughbreds for too many years to know that without confidence, victory never comes. DAVE IN DIXIE has virtually no chance.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 7:21 am and is filed under Selections. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.