Belmont Friday Race Selections: Grade 2 New York, Belmont Gold Cup

By Rick Francis —-

Belmont Park

Race 9) 1&1/4 Mile. (Inner Turf) Grade II. Purse $600,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 5:15)/ 4:15/ 3:15/ 2:15

8) Homerique (Brown/Ortiz, I.); Exchange Rate filly made her North American debut a memorable one coming from last to win the Grade 3 Beaugay; gets 2nd lasix and for trainer Brown that’s a 23 percent win angle.

6) Competitionofideas (Brown/Castellano); stablemate of Homerique led late in the Beaugay just couldn’t hold on; will make for a great stretch duel.

3) Giant Zinger (Mott/Ortiz, J.); weakened late in the Sheepshead Bay here in early May; Mott filly should love this particular distance.

7) Semper Sententiae (Hennig/Velazquez); filly has finished in the money in seven straight.

Selections: 8, 6, 3, 7

Race 10) 2 Miles. (Turf) Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. Grade II. Purse $400,000 AN INVITATIONAL FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.
Post Time: ( 5:48)/ 4:48/ 3:48/ 2:48
ADVANCED FORECAST: Sunny, High 68, Low 61

4) Red Knight (Mott/Ortiz, J.); Pure Prize gelding is rounding into top form winning the Jerkens two back at this distance and just getting caught in the Elkhorn at Keeneland.

3) Amade (Botti/Prat); Irish-bred 5-year-old gets first lasix for this marathon, and though he’s become a synthetic specialists that transition to turf will be smooth; distance proven.

6) Arklow (Cox/Geroux); late stretch battle came up a neck short in the Grade 1 Man O War; will be charging late once again.

8) Raa Atoll (Comer/Bojko); out of Sea the Stars, colt is another getting first lasix and is a distance specialist.

Selections: 4, 3, 6, 8