Jude Feld’s Friday Belmont Park Stakes Analysis
June 6th, 2013
Quick Casablanca should be set to return to his best form.
With 3-5″ of rain in Thursday evening’s forecast, Friday’s turf racing is no doubt in jeopardy. I am posting this analysis in the event a miracle happens and Hurricane Andrea stays away from New York City and the surrounding areas. Please check weather and track conditions before wagering your hard-earned cash.
BEL 6 – $100,000 MARIENSKY STAKES 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
PEACE PRESERVER has run two solid races in 2013, including a second-place effort to local favorite Hessonite in the Beaugay (G3) last time out. The daughter of War Front has shown a fondness for the Belmont Park lawn and can handle any type of ground. She is rounding to her best form for trainer Todd Pletcher and gets the services of Hall of Fame rider Johnny Velazquez – a tough combo to beat. NAPLES BAY no doubt needed her last race when 5th behind the top pick. The Christophe Clement trainee owns competitive turf figures and won the Noble Damsel (G3) over the course last September. Jose Lezcano, aboard for that victory, returns to the saddle here after three races away. TEAM, a daughter of sensational sire Empire Maker, is Clement’s second entrant. She is always there or thereabouts and attracts jockey Joel Rosario. She has yet to taste success in stakes, but could certainly get some black type with a good trip.
BEL 9 – $150,000 JAIPUR (G3) 7 Furlongs (Turf)
Horses with tons of ability who lack competitiveness are extremely frustrating. MR. COMMONS has lived up to his name in his 19-race career. He is a magnificent-looking horse and runs solid figures with regularity, but he is very complacent in the shadow of the wire. This odd seven-furlong distance on the turf should suit him perfectly, as should a field that lacks Horse of the Year Wise Dan and multiple graded stakes winner Obviously. BEAU CHOIX is the exact opposite of his chief rival. The son of Elusive Quality is not the most talented horse in the world, but he makes up for that with the desire to excel. He won the Rob N Gin Stakes at this distance, on this course, last fall and jockey Cornelio Velasquez should suit his closing style perfectly. It would not be shocking to see the Barclay Tagg-trained charge in the winners’ circle. NIGHT OFFICER is two-for-two over the course. He has been racing at shorter distances like he would appreciate the extra furlong of this event. Jockey Joel Rosario tries his hand with the Bruce Brown trainee for the first time.
BEL 10 – $200,000 BROOKLYN HANDICAP (G2) 1 ½ Miles
One of the top horses in his native Chile, QUICK CASABLANCA made his U.S. debut in the Good Reward Stakes on May 15. Third on the turf that day, the Christophe Clement trainee returns to the main track, where he won the 1 5/16 mile Asociacion Latinoamericana (G1) at Palermo in Argentina. The five-year-old son of Until Sundown has posted two nice workouts while preparing for this race and jockey Joel Rosario sees fit to ride him back. As the late, great, Southern California handicapper Ernie Mason would say, “Conditions about ideal.†BIRDRUN is another entrant who has done well in marathon races. He won the Brooklyn (G2) in 2011 but has not seen the charmed circle since, including a very troubled trip in last year’s event. His last race, the Albert the Great Stakes, showed a marked improvement in his form and he has worked well since. CALIDOSCOPIO won the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G2) and that makes him an automatic contender here. There are not a lot of spots for the 10-year-old son of Luhuk to show his stuff, so it is up to trainer Mike Puype to have him ready for his best when they come up. Jockey Aaron Gryder will fly in to ride him.
