BELMONT PARK – 7/4/23
RACE 1: 1-5-2
#1 RUNAWAY RUMOUR is a heavy favorite and very likely winner of this opener, the Port Washington, off of her narrow miss in the Mount Vernon. She moved first that day into a hot pace and was collared on the wire by Marvelous Maude, but that Chad Brown trainee is not present here. With a well-timed ride she’ll be unbeatable.
RACE 2: 5-2-1-3
#5 BATTLEOFLEXINGTON was wide the entire trip last time out and the winner did most of his running close to the rail. This Kelsey Danner trainee has performed respectably in his last two dirt tries against NY breds and faces a drastically weaker field here than he did last time out. He should be no less than the 3rd choice as well.
RACE 3: 6-1/1A-4-3
While #6 PORTFOLIO COMPANY had become a particularly frustrating horse of late, he put it all together to score a nice win last time out. While the competition he beat was hardly robust, he did all the running in that affair chasing a white hot pace and staying on gamely to the finish. Trainer Chad Brown is taking the conservative route with him back towards stakes company.
RACE 4: 4-5-3-6
#4 FRAT PACK is a second time starter who debuted against eventual Grade I turfer Up to the Mark last summer at Saratoga. He returns off a lengthy break today and has seemingly trained steadily on the Jersey Shore. The experienced runners in here inspire no confidence, so there’s plenty to like.
RACE 5: 7-5-4-1/1A
#7 WINNING CONNECTION is drawn well outside on the surface switch for Pat Reynolds. He ran a bang-up race two back to be second behind Be the Boss with no great setup and his past dirt starts indicate today’s trip should be no issue. The price will be fair as well.
RACE 6: 6-1A-3-5
#6 HEAVEN STREET looks to have a massive pace edge on this bunch in a race re-carded from last Friday. He set the pace two back in the Elusive Quality before getting tired late then came back to perform well against comparable. This trip is never easy to handle on the front end but when you have the edge he does on paper, it gets a lot easier.
RACE 7: 9-8-5-1
#9 PEACE SEEKER was wide the entire trip last out when 5th behind similar foes here on June 11. The inside paths were best on Belmont week when the rails were taken down and this gal was nowhere near them. She is a late running type who’ll need some pace help, but there are some frontrunning types in here who can set the table.
RACE 8: 5-3-1-2
The late running capabilities of #5 I’M BUZZY make her interesting in here given the expected pace scenario. She is shortening up in distance and changing surfaces, and the cutback should help her pack a potent late punch. Her best dirt races have come when she’s been able to lay back and make one run so there’s reason to believe she’s a threat today.
RACE 9: 6-7-2-1
#6 FEATHERS ROAD comes out of a common race among a number of runners in this field. He was at a disadvantage because of how close Jose Ortiz positioned him to the front in a race where the pace boiled over. The inside paths were also best, and this son of Quality Road was always 2-3 wide. He should get a good setup today sitting back to make one run.
RACE 10: 4-5-9-1
No change in picks on the re-draw as #4 RHOMBIQUE returns off a lengthy break after a poor dirt run to cap her 2022 campaign. She was in good form prior to that on the weeds, including some less than ideal trips relative to track profile. This barn is low percentage in every category but she is going to be the right value in a spot where the favorites lack pizzazz.
