BELMONT PARK – 6/30/23
RACE 1: 1-9-4-2
#1 SISTER SERENDIPITY is a firster from the barn of Niall Seville who’s shipping this daughter of Collected in from his mid-Atlantic base. The dam here was a 6x grass winner and the lone sibling to race scored 4x on the weeds. The inside draw is no bargain, but there’s reason to believe this one will be ready at a price.
RACE 2: 3-4-2-6
#3 PLAYINGWITHMATCHES has run some credible races against better in the past and looks like a pace threat here. There’s little speed signed up outside #4 PRESSURE, and it just may boil down to those two from start to finish. This is the right class level for ‘Matches, who also switches surfaces.
RACE 3: 4-1A-5-6
If pace makes the race, then #4 HEAVEN STREET should be awfully tough to handle. He comes in off a 2nd place finish in a similar N3X where he moved off the turn and was simply beaten by a better horse. There’s no speed in here and it stands to reason that Flavien Prat will look to take advantage of that and get the early lead.
RACE 4: 4-7-1-6
#4 APRIL ANTICS has the best recent form of any runner in here and should be in a good spot just off the pace. She enters off a clear runner-up finish behind a handy winner and she showed increased early foot that afternoon. There’s a dearth of speed signed up in here and that only helps this daughter of Emcee.
RACE 5: 4-6-7-1
#4 HEADLINE NEWS had a good trip in his debut stalking the pace before coming up short late. It is the final furlong of his debut that you have to watch, though, as he absolutely exploded late and was rolling at the finish. More distance and some experience will pay dividends for him and his trainer has quietly had a phenomenal run so far in 2023.
RACE 6: 6-5-2-7
The clearest conclusion you can draw here is that #6 OUR COUNTRY is likely better than his rivals. He enters off a poor effort against 50k starter allowance foes and is in for a tag since the time he was claimed by this outfit last year. He should be moving late and this has long appeared to be an ideal trip for him.
RACE 7: 2-4-6-3
#2 CONSTITUTIONLAWYER enters off a game win against weaker in a race taken off the turf but is a good fit here from a class perspective. He has tactical speed and his dirt races are more than good enough, especially on fast tracks. Trainer Ray Handal continues to roll at this meet and you’ll get a square price here to boot.
RACE 8: 6-2-9-1
The layoff is the only real concern with #6 RHOMBIQUE, who was ineffective last time out on dirt. She has a good late kick and should get some pace help this afternoon. If she can run back to her final few turf starts of 2022, she is the one to beat and you’re sure to get a fair price here as well.
RACE 9: 9-4-5-2
Trainer Michelle Nevin takes over the conditioning of #9 WHISKEY LULLABY, who is coming back from a layoff after three starts off a claim by Jose Camejo. She has speed and can use it from this outside draw to procure a forward position. Her form in MSW events makes her formidable class-wise.
