BELMONT PARK – 5/27/23
RACE 1: 3-1-5-4
#6 TALKIN PHAROAH was claimed out of a tougher event at Keeneland last time out and looks to be the main speed for new trainer Linda Rice. He doesn’t have to improve much speed figure wise off his last to contend and will be a square price in a competitive heat.
RACE 2: 2-4-1A-5
The inside post should lead to a ground-saving trip for #2 DAUNT. He came back from a lengthy layoff with a solid effort to be second behind frontrunning winner Dreams of Tomorrow. The lead will be somewhat contested in this affair and that will only help this son of Nyquist.
RACE 3: 4-1-2-6
#4 MR FLOWERS is a firster by Nyquist out of a dam who won on turf. Trainer Chad Brown is 20% with firsters in maiden claimers going long on turf ($2.34 ROI). The lack of a tough looking runner on paper makes you look for a first timer.
RACE 4: 6-4-5-2
#6 SMOOTH FLYIN MIKE comes to NY by way of the City of Brotherly Love and will be trainer Jane Cibelli’s second dirt starter in NY in the last five years. This son of Honor Code has plenty of speed and should be able to get clear in this bunch. He’ll have to elevate his game but he will be a fair price at or around the morning line of 7/2.
RACE 5: 2-7-6-3
#2 DOUBLE DREAM is a first timer by Curlin, whose progeny hit on debut at a 13% clip. The dam was 0-1 on turf and produced Wood Memorial winner Verrazano. That one was a star on dirt but performed admirably on the lawn as well. No trainer wins with more horses that lack real turf pedigree than Chad Brown.
RACE 6: 2-3-5-1
The prior Belmont form of #2 HAPPY FARM makes him interesting here, as he is 6-12 lifetime over this oval. He has speed and should be involved from the start today under Eric Cancel. Being taken so far back early last time out ruined his chances and hopefully Cancel learned from that experience.
RACE 7: 3-2-4-6
#3 AMERICAN APPLE turned heads with a 47-1 upset the last time she came to New York and she now makes her third start off a layoff today. Eric Cancel is back aboard and this filly has been effective coming from off the pace in her last two outings. Look for those tactics to be employed today, especially at 7 panels.
RACE 8: 8-2-6-1
#8 DUST DEVIL figures to get a good pace setup here on a significant drop in class 3rd off a claim. If he can run back to his two back performance at the Big A, he is a major threat to win here. This barn has heated up of late, including the blowout shocking win from Mystical Curlin a week ago.
RACE 9: 6-1-4
#6 FIGHTER IN THE WIN was wide much of the way last time out chasing the pace and wound up tiring late. He is now the one to catch going a trip that is conducive to frontrunning types. The main players in here lack speed and also inspire little confidence from a wagering perspective.
RACE 10: 5-9-7-6
#5 PHOTON ran two races last year as a 3YO that would make her tough to beat this afternoon. She has a versatile running style and can be positioned just off the pace or take back and make one run. That makes her a major threat today at a fair price if the morning line gives any indication.
