Sotoro – Belmont– Race 5 – 6/4/2021 – 80K Allowance Optional Claimer (8 furlongs on turf) – 3-year-old colt by Toronado out of Sotunza, formerly trained by Edouard Monfort. A winner of one race from four starts, scoring on his debut at Deauville. This colt has steadily come to the boil this season, turning in a moderate effort on bad ground on his seasonal debut but stepping up on that twice subsequently with a solid run in an Allowance-equivalent contest on his penultimate start, and a placed effort in Listed company most recently. That wasn’t a strong race for the grade but it at least confirmed Sotoro is still improving and he might be capable of better yet. His worst run so far was on turf – his three other runs have been on synthetic – but I wouldn’t worry about that and I think he should be fine on the green stuff. Sotoro stretches out to a mile here having run over 6.5 furlongs lost time but he has a lot of stamina in his pedigree and should find the distance to his liking. Works are unspectacular but has a chance of hitting the board on his best form.
Science – Belmont– Race 5 – 6/4/2021 – 80K Allowance Optional Claimer (8 furlongs on turf) – 3-year-old colt by No Nay Never out of Princess Desire, formerly trained by Archie Watson. Expensive colt who has won one of his three starts. Well-backed for trainer renowned for sharp and fast 2-year-olds on his debut but was just outgunned by a capable opponent. Felt good enough to run at Royal Ascot in a Group 2 next time but cut little ice at big odds. Took a big class drop and got off the mark on her third, and most recent, start, wining a weak race at Catterick by a wide margin at odds-on. Those runs came in the space of six weeks last summer and he hasn’t been seen since that victory, so returns here off a break of nearly a year. Science has plenty of speed, including a pacey pedigree, and is not certain to see out a galloping mile such as this, particularly if the going is testing. Proven on good ground and synthetics, it is interesting that his high-profile owners have kept the faith with him. Should be capable of winning races but probably one for further down the line given his works, unless market speaks in his favour.
Thundering Nights – Belmont– Race 9 – 6/4/2021 – Grade 2 New York Stakes (9 furlongs on turf) – 4-year-old filly by Night Of Thunder out of Cape Castle, trained by Joseph O’Brien. A winner of three of her nine starts. Career of steady progress so far, breaking her duck on her third start and graduating to Pattern company with a win at Group 3 level last August, before placing at Group 2 level. Outclassed in a Group 1 on her final start last year but made an encouraging return to action when runner-up in a Group 3 at the Curragh behind a good horse in Broome, with Helvic Dream back in fourth. Helvic Dream and Broome finished 1st and 2nd in a Group 1 next time out, so the form is looking pretty strong. Thundering Nights was seen to good effect there, close up off a slow pace, but the speedfigure was good. She is well suited to soft ground and a galloping track and should give a good account of herself here, although this looks a strong race on paper.
Baron Samedi – Belmont– Race 10 – 6/4/2021 – Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (16 furlongs on turf) – 4-year-old gelding by Harbour Watch out of Dame Shirley, trained by Joseph O’Brien. A winner of six of his eleven starts. A remarkable horse. Beaten on his first five starts, including in low-level handicaps off a mark of just 65. Gelded after his fifth start, he is unbeaten since, graduating from handicaps with a win in a Group 2 on his final start last season. Looked better than even when giving weight and a beating to some very talented staying horses on his seasonal debut in April That was his most recent start and he looks to have been targeted at this race ever since. Well suited by a galloping track and soft ground, this looks like a shrewd bit of placement from his trainer, with these long-distance US races notoriously weak compared to their European equivalents. Baron Samedi hasn’t actually won over this distance but he should stay it well and he should be extremely competitive in this spot.
