BELMONT PARK – 10/21/21
RACE 1: 2-7-4-3
#2 REGAL QUALITY goes first off a claim by Mertkan Kantarmaci following a win against slightly lesser competition last time out. He has good tactical speed and should be within range from the start. If he simply duplicates his last effort, he’ll prove very tough to beat.
RACE 2: 8-7-11-1
#8 SHUTTERS showed little on debut during a stretch of time amid the Saratoga meet where Chad Brown’s barn struggled mightily. He was too far back of a slow pace and the addition of blinkers today should help his cause. Brown is 23% on the Belmont turf when using jockey Manny Franco ($2.56 ROI).
RACE 3: 7-6-1-5
#7 SCOCCIATORE switches surfaces for Chris Englehart after a solid effort against N1X foes last time out on the lawn. He was a romping winner two starts back against a weak field in a race that had been taken off the turf at the Spa, and now gets a major upgrade at pilot. The outside post will facilitate a stalk and pounce trip.
RACE 4: 2-8-9-5
The trip endured by #2 BEE BIT last time out was too much to overcome, and she is a candidate for top honors second off the claim today. She was in traffic much of the way while in range of a pace that fell apart late, then had to be taken in hand in the final 100 yards. A cleaner trip will undoubtedly help her chances.
RACE 5: 2-3-7-10
After breaking slowly and rushing up to contest the pace on debut, #2 DORSODURO is a candidate for improvement here. This is a restricted event that likely compares favorably to the event he debuted in, and he’s getting an upgrade at pilot. A cleaner break should make him a major player from start to finish.
RACE 6: 1-3-4-2
Given a surprisingly aggressive ride last time out, #1 FLOP SHOT ended up tiring late. He should be the one to catch today with a similar trip and the same early speed. This Irish-bred was bet down to 9/5 last time out mainly because of his positive recent training, and he ended up running a blinder even to be second.
RACE 7: 2-6-5-7
#2 VODKA MARDINI is by stakes winner Hot City Girl and has yet to live up to his rich pedigree. He showed speed last time out before tiring, and spent the majority of that race along the inside. There’s reason to believe he can establish command here at what should be a good price.
RACE 8: 9-1/1A-3-8
#9 DOSWELL returns off a layoff for trainer Barclay Tagg and has the speed to stay within range from the outset. He began his stint with Tagg with a couple of solid efforts and that earned him favoritism in a Grade III stake down at Gulfstream. Those efforts make him a major player from start to finish.
RACE 9: 1-9-12-5
While she is hardly appealing, #1 MARVELOUS MAUDE is the one to beat. She drew favorably on the rail and should get some pace to run at going a trip that is often tilted towards frontrunners. This filly still has upside given the improvement shown in her 2nd turf outing and she represents the country’s hottest barn at the moment.
BELMONT FALL STATS: 189-43-32-22 $341.20
