BELMONT PARK – 9/25/21
RACE 1: 1-5-6-4
#1 DOVER DREAMS started to get going a tad late on debut and wound up passing some tired runners to round out the trifecta. The winner of that race came back to run poorly in last Saturday’s Pocahontas, but this filly still has upside. Progeny of Arrogate seemingly need some time to get to their best.
RACE 2: 11-8-1A-12
#11 F F ROCKET faces drastically weaker foes than he did in his first start off a claim for Rob Atras. He will appreciate the added ground as well and should be moving in the late stages of this affair.
RACE 3: 4-5-2-3
#4 QUICK RETURN goes first off a claim by Fausto Gutierrez, who is becoming a household name as the trainer of Letruska. This gelding was taken for 25k and immediately moves up in class, which is a positive move. He has the speed to get the jump on the other main players and Gutierrez has had success in NY outside of his superstar mare.
RACE 4: 2-4-3
It seems easy to like the chances of #2 LIFE IS GOOD, who figures to be as loose early in this race as jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. so chooses. He has reportedly continued to train well after his first defeat in the Allen Jerkens and will be a prohibitive favorite in here.
RACE 5: 10-4-8-6
The ride #10 GOTTA GO MO received last time out left plenty to be desired. She was never really ridden with any urgency and that left her in a ¼ mile sprint with no advantage on the late runners. Her speed is a weapon and she needs to be ridden accordingly, especially the way this race shapes up on paper.
RACE 6: 9-8-4-3
#9 ASYMMETRIC is a firster by Upstart, whose progeny hit on debut at a 14% clip. This colt is out of a dam who was a winner on turf and dirt, and she has dropped multiple dirt winners. The outside post is ideal, and his worktab looks solid.
RACE 7: 5-7-2-10
#5 OPRY has shown increased speed in recent starts and now looms a pace threat going shorter. He ran a bang-up race when 3rd last time out going 12 panels and will be very dangerous if put on the lead by the generally aggressive Jose Lezcano. He has oodles of back class to boot.
RACE 8: 8-9-5-7
#8 IN A HURRY ran far better in her last start than it looks on paper. She was in proximity of a hot early pace before making a bid off the turn. Though she was outfinished late, she was clearly best and should move forward 2nd off a layoff in a race with a modest amount of early zip.
RACE 9: 4-6-5-7
The red-hot barn of Tom Morley starts #4 IRON LION IN ZION, who is a firster by 7% debut sire Bellamy Road. He’s training forwardly and has 4 winning siblings on the dam side. If he has even a modest amount of ability, he’ll be a major threat in this spot.
RACE 10: 4-5-2
#4 POCKET SQUARE should have gotten her confidence back with a handy win last time out when she endured few anxious moments. She is 2-2 against allowance company and 0-2 against stakes company since coming to America. Her versatility will enable jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to keep her within range early.
RACE 11: 12-10-13
#12 LIVE IN FIVE figures to improve off a claim by a high percentage outfit. She showed life on debut when 2nd at 7/2 against similar NY bred and now draws favorably for Rob Falcone, Jr.
BELMONT FALL STATS: 55-12-7-8 $141.10
