7/8: Belmont Park ($62k C/O)

[Kasept]

Two top sprinters fell Saturday with the undefeated Agave Kiss off the board after stopping in the Victory Ride and Trinniberg being nipped in a knockdown-dragout with Fort Loudon in the Carry Back. Interestingly, there was nothing to indicate that Agave Kiss would fail to fire and a number of red flags about Trinniberg with the Barbhoos extremely hesitant to enter the Summit events. Yet Agave Kiss was dull and Trinniberg ran a quality follow-up to his 106 Beyer Woody Stephens as he and Fort Loudon rang up 104 BSF's in their duel.

Using Fort Loudon with Trinniberg in multis wasn't a stretch, but even if you wanted to protect against a faulter by Agave Kiss, finding Allen Jerkens' 39-1 Emma's Encore was no small feat. She was working very well for her first start since May 16 and had picked up all the pieces of a pace collapse going 6f in her last win. However, projecting a 20 point fig jump -- an 8 length improvement on the Beyer scale -- was difficult. Hats off to Caton Bredar who tabbed her on Saturday's 'Down the Stretch'.

In the Suburban, Kathy Ritvo had Mucho Macho Man tuned up beautifully and Mike Smith quietly guided him to an impressive win against a group left panting in his wake. His 108 Beyer was a career best and sets him up nicely for a run at laurels during the second half of the year. The other 4yo's in the race -- To Honor and Serve, Stay Thirsty and Buffum -- were simply embarrassed by their counterpart, beaten a dozen plus lengths. Trickmeister set serious fractions and stayed on for third while Hymm Book was 2nd, arriving far too late on the scene.

Hope everybody did OK Saturday.. Another carryover at Belmont Sunday and since Tina and I don't leave until tomorrow, it's hard to bypass the approachable sequence.


BELMONT PARK


POST-SCRATCHES


5th: CLM, 3+, 1m-T (P6, P3, DD)

$62k P6 C/O starts here..

Difficult start to sequence with perhaps 7 here capable. Out of the Kingmambo mare Menekinko, #11 Tater Downs SCR'D is a half to Ready's Echo (More Than Ready) and sire Badge of Silver gets plenty of turf winners himself (14%). Tricky draw but lures Castellano, who could have ridden 5-2 Sr. Henry, for NY bow. Pedigree buffs may like to note that Kind Regards, dropping, stretching out and moving to the grass for Schosberg, happens to be the older brother of Grace Hall..

Most Likely: #9 Sr. Henry 5-2 5th
Best Value: #2 Slews Big Finale 8-1 8th
Next Best: #1 Beckham Bend 7-2 4th
Exotics Use: #8 Shalangar 10-1 3rd


6th: CLM, F&M-3+, 7f (G/S, P3, DD)

Fair amount of speed signed on. Difficult read..

Most Likely: #5 Landing My Way 5-1 2nd
Next Best: #4 My Unbridled Storm 8-1 5th
Best Value: #3 Truly Devoted 5-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #8 Miss Libby 4-1 4th


7th: S/HCP, 3+, 6f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Fun race. 2-1 Cactus Son SCR'D has run against many better known turf sprinters of late and may simply outclass these. But there are plenty involved that are capable, in form or with advantageous karma including 10-1 Orsonian going to Rudy off the claim..

Best Value: #3 Orsonian 10-1 5th
Next Best: #7 Freudian Dilemma 15-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #5 Maui Mark 5-2 WON ($6.70)
Super Add; #6 Wicked Tune 5-1 4th


8th: MDN CLM, 3+, 6f-IT (P3, DD)

SCR #3 Back Room Deal who ran Saturday..

Nothing original with Mott dropper Darwin Award as top tab, but I've been waiting for Barnards Galaxy to accomplish something for 2 months and return to sprinting and open $25k maidens may help. My man Sciacca has been trying to get Star Walk on to the turf the last 6 weeks and with good reason, as he's a half to the accomplished turf sprinter Tahoe Warrior..

Most Likely: #4 Darwin Award 3-1 WON ($3.60)
Next Best: #9 Barnards Galaxy 15-1 4th
Best Value: #6 Star Walk 30-1 5th
Exotics Use: #1 Mad Fast 6-1 9th


9th: Voodoo Dancer-R, F&M-3+, 1m-T (DD)

Wallis and Sylvestris exit the G1 Just a Game. Will pair them with the underlaid faves Fontley and LaCloche..

Best Value: #8 Sylvestris 8-1 4th
Next Best: #5 Wallis 5-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #4 Fontley 2-1
Super Add: #2 La Cloche 7-2 WON ($9.80)


10th: CLM, F&M-3+, 6f-IT

Tricky finish if you get this far in the P6. #10 Downhill Joey -- out of a Kris S. mare -- moves to the grass and drops off the claim for Pletcher-Repole. Won't be 6-1. #2 Hey Babe should get a nice stalking trip under Napravnik..

Most Likely: #10 Downhill Joey 6-1 8th
Next Best: #2 Hey Babe 8-1 WON ($10.40)
Best Value: #5 Jolienne 12-1 6th
Exotics Use: #6 Sotique 4-1 5th


<$100 P6 Play:

5: 2-9
6: 4-5
7: 3-7
8: 4
9: 5-8
10: 2-5-10

2x2x2x1x2x3 = 48 x $2 = $96


<$50 P4 Play:

7: 3-5-6-7
8: 1-4-6-9
9: 5-8
10: 2-5-10

4x4x2x3 = 96 x .50 = $48


Good luck!
Steve

[Kasept]

BEL SCR/CHG'S

NOTE: Overnight rains have softened the turf to 'good'. Should be slightly less helpful to speed than it has been..