7/8: Belmont Park ~ Stars & Stripes Day (6th-10th)

[Kasept]

BELMONT PARK


POST-SCRATCHES


6th: 100th Dwyer (G3), 3yo, 1m (P5, P3, DD)

True Timber (1st time with Castellano) can pressure Battalion Runner (Velazquez) or take control based on Johnny's decision with the Wood runner up. How race plays depends on those early maneuvers. Practical Joke and Giuseppe the Great will stalk with Giuseppe likely closest exiting 7f Woody Stephens. Rosario and Practical Joke loom and note that his last win came in this one turn mile scenario in the Champagne..

Most Likely: #3 Practical Joke 7-5 WON ($3.50)
Best Value: #5 Giuseppe the Great 5-1 4th
Next Best: #2 Battalion Runner 6-5 3rd


7th: 10th Belmont Sprint (G2), 3+, 7f (P4, P3, DD)

Feels like everyone lining up against Mind Your Biscuits in domestic return and can understand why with pace scenario that doesn't help him. Unified should get an ideal close up stalking (or even controlling) trip which could kick off a big day for Jimmy Jerkens with Shaman Ghost in the Suburban and Dolphus in the Cornhusker to follow.

Most Likely: #7 Unified 5-2 7th
Next Best: #2 Mind Your Biscuits 9-5 WON ($4.80)
Best Value: #4 Tommy Macho 8-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #1 Stallwalkin' Dude 5-1 4th


8th: 39th Belmont Oaks (G1), 3yo-F, 10f-IT (G/S, P3, DD)

Fascinating cast for this edition of the former Garden City, with Chad Brown holding an imposing hand with Peter Brant pair (Sistercharlie/Fifty Five), e5's New Money Honey and Sol Kumin's Uni. Sistercharlie the clear filly to beat out of the Grp 1 Prix de Diane..

Most Likely: #12 Sistercharlie 5-2: Challenging draw for obvious class of the field.. 2nd
Best Value: #1 Coasted 15-1: Due for some racing luck and Rosario can help find it.. 7th
Next Best: #8 New Money Honey 7-2: Slow to engage as 3yo; G3 win signals readiness.. WON ($7.00)
Exotics Use: #2 Beau Recall 15-1: Gives up chasing Sircat Sally; Gets Prat for first time.. 6th


9th: 131st Suburban (G2), 4+, 10f (P3, DD)

Shaman Ghost (and Jerkens barn in general) in an obvious groove, but Matt King Coal may take some catching. Love that Cerin, furious over unaddressed difficulties encountered at the start of Gold Cup, comes East for shot at rich reward with constantly improving 5yo Follow Me Crev. Dennis Drazin's plucky NJ-bred Sunny Ridge SCR'D likes Belmont and could be chugging along behind Coal's moderate pace..

Most Likely: #6 Shaman Ghost 4-5 2nd
Next Best: #2 Matt King Coal 7-2 5th
Best Value: #5 Follow Me Crev 8-1 3rd


10th: 68th Belmont Derby (G1), 3yo, 10f-IT (DD)

Boys version of the co-features equally engaging with the American players entering off some eye-catching efforts. Oscar Performance (Pennine Ridge), Arklow (American Turf) and Yoshida (Murphy) all command respect coming in to this, with Euro invaders Homesman and Called To The Bar arriving off Grp 3 wins at the Curragh and Saint-Cloud respectively..

Best Value: #1 Good Samaritan 12-1: Been arriving late on scenes; Price key saves ground.. 4th
Next Best: #7 Yoshida 7-2: 'Other' Mott blitzed PIM, awaited this; Tactical gears a plus.. 6th
Exotics Use: #5 Called To The Bar 5-1 2nd
Super Add: #6 Arklow 8-1 11th


P5 Grid:

6: 2-3-5 (A), - (B), 1-4 (C)
7: 2-7 (A), 4 (B), 1-5 (C)
8: 12 (A), - (B), 1-8 (C)
9: 2-6 (A), - (B), 1-4-5 (C)
10: 1-5-6-7 (A), 2-3-4-10 (B), 8-9-11 (C)

Simple (A+B): 3x3x1x2x8 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A's: 3x2x1x2x4 = 48 x .50 = $24


P4 Grid:

7: 2-4-7 (A), - (B), 1-5 (C)
8: 12 (A), 1-8 (B), 2-7-9 (C)
9: 2-6 (A), - (B), 1-4-5 (C)
10: 1-5-6-7 (A), 2-3-4-10 (B), 8-9-11 (C)

Simple (A+B): 3x3x2x8 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A's: 3x1x2x4 = $24 ($12 for .50)


Good luck!
Steve

[Kasept]

BEL SCR/CHG'S