BELMONT – 6/18/2021
RACE 1: 5-7-6
#5 LOKOYA ROAD switches surfaces making his 2nd start off a layoff after showing little most recently on the turf. Trainer Rob Atras’ barn has been red-hot of late, and is 21% over the last five years with routers moving turf-to-dirt ($5.18 ROI). He has the tactical speed to stay within range early to boot.
RACE 2: 7-5-6
#7 CHAMPAGNE CAMIE blitzed a quarter in :20 and 3/5 at the OBS March sale and now debuts for Vladimir Cerin. This filly is training forwardly and figures to have speed based on the sale workout and recent worktab. The dam was winless in one turf try, but the way she handled the synthetic surface in Ocala is a good sign.
RACE 3: 2-6-4-9
#2 ALBA’S STAR is the one to catch in a race largely devoid of pace. She was last seen beating lesser at Sam Houston Race Park, where the thoroughbred product has improved in recent years by leaps and bounds. She withstood a hot pace to win that day and is a major threat once again in here.
RACE 4: 2-8-7-3
#2 SHESAWILDJOKER is by Practical Joke, a freshman sire who has two debut winners already. This filly is out of a dam who was a 2x winner that earned Beyer figures in excess of 80. The second dam was a Grade II winner and the worktab here indicates she has some early foot.
RACE 5: 6-10-7-4
There’s no doubt that #6 WARFRONT FIGHTER has no will to win. He has been second in 5 of his last 6 outings, and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a number of those. Trainer Wayne Potts took him for 20k last time out and he is 24% with dirt sprinters first off of claims over the last 5 years ($2.46 ROI).
RACE 6: 12-10-3-7
Trainer Tim Hills has had limited starters on turf off 100-200 day breaks, but has a $3.21 ROI in that category. #12 RUSE fits it in this spot as he returns from a lengthy break and moves back to his preferred surface. The turf race he ran just before Thanksgiving last year was quite strong and a duplication of it would make him very tough to beat here.
RACE 7: 6-1-3-8
Things will have to really blow up for #6 VIENNA CODE to have a chance in here, but she is cutting back in distance in a race loaded with speed. She was a good 3rd in the off-the-turf Mount Vernon and is on the upswing for a small time barn.
RACE 8: 1-9-4-2
#1 SCUTTLEBUZZ ran much better than it looks on paper last time out as he rallied stoutly into a glacial pace to snag the place dough in his first start off a claim. He should get more pace to run at in here and held his strong form that includes a near 4 month layoff.
RACE 9: 10-4-5-6
#10 BRAZILLIONAIRE becomes the top pick by virtue of the scratch of #12 KID BOURBON who is re-entered on Sunday. This Linda Rice trainee followed up a bang-up performance going long with a good effort sprinting and now looks to be a one-run closer in a race loaded with speed.
