BELMONT PARK – 10/2/21
RACE 1: 1-6-3-8
#1 DOUBLEPOUR is a late runner who has been in decent form at Parx facing considerably tougher competition. This barn has had limited success from a small sample of runners, but the last two Beyer figures he’s earned make him a major player. A quick pace would undoubtedly help his cause.
RACE 2: 9-4-2-7
While it’s hard to have confidence in the pilot on #9 DANCE FOR GOLD, she is interesting given the speed she showed on debut for Jorge Abreu. She wound up tiring late over a heavy course and now figures to be able to settle and make one run going 7 panels. Cutbacks going this trip at Belmont are intriguing.
RACE 3: 4-7-3-8
#4 AIR CAVALRY just might be the main speed in this field. She drops in class after showing some early foot and fading late in her last outing and now returns to the site of her maiden win in June. The big question is the stretchout to a mile, but she did also successfully rate just off the pace in a narrow miss two back.
RACE 4: 6-2-4-3
All signs point to #6 MCKULICK being a heavy favorite and likely winner for Chad Brown. She was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga and the runner-up from that affair has since returned to win. She will have to deal with a moderate pace in here, but should be in position turning for home.
RACE 5: 5-7-3-6
#5 VINDICTIVE is going through the allowance conditions step-by-step and should be tough to beat in search of his third straight win. He followed up a game score to clear the maiden ranks with another solid outing and he has the pace to stay within range from the start.
RACE 6: 7-3-4-6
It’s hard to have a firm opinion in here, but #7 LONGRIDGE FELL is a firster by Ribchester, who has one debut and turf winner in this country. The dam side is solid, and Chad Brown has obviously had a ton of success with internationally bred runners. The worktab here appears to be very solid as well.
RACE 7: 7-5-4-1
#7 ALBIE is interesting given that he can show enough speed to stay within range early. He was a late player last time out against NY bred allowance foes when wrangled back early, but is capable of staying closer early. This high percentage barn is heating up of late as well.
RACE 8: 3-2-1-5
There’s no doubt that #3 JACK CHRISTOPHER was the most impressive debut winner of the Saratoga meet, as he basically wired a MSW field on Travers day. He sat just off a hot pace that day and powered clear late, showing that extra ground should be no issue. Chad Brown is a 2x winner of the Champagne and this one will give him a major shot to add another trophy.
RACE 9: 5-2-8-3-7
#5 THERAPIST has always wanted to sprint and now gets the opportunity to do so for Christophe Clement. He was out of position in his lone turf sprint stake try last fall at Aqueduct and got no pace setup that day whatsoever. The pace does not appear as if it’ll be fast in here, but he should be a bit closer early before unleashing a late bid.
RACE 10: 6-2-5-3
There are legitimate excuses for #6 FORZA DI ORO, as he was stuck inside dictating terms last time out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup while facing Grade I company for the first time. His failure shouldn’t be held against him and you’re now going to get 5-6x the price in a race where he’s drawn favorably with a clear early target. There’s no doubt that #2 MAXFIELD is the one to beat and should be a major factor late.
RACE 11: 9-11-10-8
#9 SANDOR CLEGANE set a solid pace before tiring in his lone turf try and now finally gets back to the weeds after being rained off three straight times. There’s also very little speed in this field and jockey Jalon Samuel has shown he’s perfectly capable of getting a runner to the lead in the opening stages.
BELMONT FALL STATS: 94-24-15-13 $222.40 ($2.37)
