1-for-2 on Friday, with HEADLINE REPORT winning at $2.60. WILD FOR WYCLIFF went off @ 8/1 but was outpaced early and never threatened.
Belmont – Race 1
#4 MAHAAMEL (5/2 ml)
$700k yearling purchase for Pletcher has been keeping some very nice company in the mornings, beginning her series by working with JORDAN’S LEO, who won her debut by 7 lengths @ Gulfstream last weekend. Next up was a drill with GREAT WORKOUT, who won a state-bred race @ Aqueduct a few weeks ago as the 4/5 favorite (with today’s rider Irad aboard). Following that, she worked with HYPERFOCUS, who had previously won a Gulfstream allowance on Feb 12, then emerged from her drill with MAHAAMEL to run a very close 5th in the Cutler Bay Stakes, finishing just about a length behind the unbeaten multiple stakes winner ANNEX. More recently, MAHAAMEL worked with the 4yo filly PRAIRIE WINGS, who was last seen running second in a Keeneland allowance last October. Looks set to roll here with Irad in the irons.
Belmont – Race 6
#6 NEWSWORTHY (4/1 ml)
We were on this guy last time (write-up available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/47808099 ), and he nearly pulled the big upset for us @ 13/1 odds, beaten less than a length by the odds-on Chad Brown favorite KURAMATA (for a juicy exacta that paid 16/1). KURAMATA flattered that effort when he returned to win an Aqueduct allowance by open lengths a few weeks ago. Since that race, NEWSWORTHY came back to work with the 4yo stakes filly NEW YORK GIRL, just as he had prior to his big Tampa effort. Figures to run well once again.
Maiden Focus record:
Win record: 33-for-133 (25% winners)
Total mutuels: $267.40 ($8.10 average win price)
patreon.com/MaidenFocus
