Belmont Stakes Day: Grade 1 Undercard Selections
By Rick Francis —-
Belmont Park
(NOTE) Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr is off all mounts due to injury
Race3) 7 Furlongs. Woody Stephens S. Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency Grade I.
Purse $400,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
3) Jackie’s Warrior – winner of the Champagne as a juvenile this Maclean’s Music colt returned to his “comfort zone” rotes of a mile or less by taking the Pat Day Mile last; distance today is perfect.
6) Caddo River – always forwardly placed, Hard Spun colt will love this cut back; however a speed duel with top pick could cost them both.
4) Dream Shake – Twirling Candy colt will be the benefactor of the above speed duel.
2) Drain the Clock – 2-time Grade 3 winner at today’s route, enters off a comfortable score inn the Bay Shore.
Selection: 3, 6, 4, 2
Race 5) 1 Mile. Acorn S. Grade I. Purse $500,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE-YEARS-OLD.
Post Time: ( 2:01)/ 1:01/12:01/11:01
6) Search Results – battling down the stretch. Flatter filly came up a neck short in the Kentucky Oaks; furlong cut back makes the difference here.
1) Travel Column – gave way in the Oaks, but this daughter of Frosted has a proven record of bouncing back off such efforts.
2) Obligatory – last to first in the 8 Belles; Mott with a last out winner, 19 percent.
4) Dayoutoftheoffice – first or second in 5 career starts.
Selections: 6, 1, 2, 4
Race 6) 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) Jackpocket Jaipur S. Grade I. Purse $400,000 INNER TURF FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 2:41)/ 1:41/12:41/11:41
4) Fast Boat – gelding out of City Zip enters having won 2 straight with his last a roaring from the rear to take the Grade 2 Turf Sprint, hot work last week in prep for this.
6) Bound For Nowhere – after missing by a head and neck to close out the 2020 turf season, 7-year-old by The Factor got up by a nose to win the Shakertown; form is solid.
12) Sombeyay – Into Mischief 5-year-old comes in off a pair of tough place finishes and with seven previous seconds that’s as best to hope for here.
9) Oleksandra – mare’s win here in 2020 came with a remarkable winning time; a repeat of that timw would do it again.
Selections: 4, 6, 12, 9
Race 7) 1&1/16th Mile. Ogden Phipps S. Grade I. Purse $500,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 3:18)/ 2:18/ 1:18/12:18
2) Valiance – Tapit 5-year-old makes her first start since a game second to Monomoy Girl in BC Distaff; this one can surprise at a price.
3) Letruska – stretch battle with Monomoy Girl in Apple Blossom was one to remember. Mare by Super Saver maybe the hottest horse racing now.
1) Swiss Skydiver (SCRATCHED) – multiple Grade 1 and 2020 Preakness champion exits a tough finish inn the Apple Blossom, but as her record indicates, always bounces back.
5) Shedareshedevil – 2020 Kentucky Oaks winner has won 5-of-6, two straight; you can’t leave off any tickets.
Selections: 2, 3, 1, 5
Race 8) 1 Mile. (Turf) Longines Just a Game S. Grade I. Purse $500,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 3:58)/ 2:58/ 1:58/12:58
4) Regal Glory – part of the Chad Brown trio entered here, winner of two straight.
11) Blowout – snapped a “seconditis” streak with her determined score in the Distaff Turf on Derby undercard.
2) Sweet Bye and Bye – once out of the money here from five starts.
5) Always Shopping – switch to Hall of Fame jock Johnny V makes this Awesome Aga mare an exotics threat.
Selections: 4, 11, 2, 5
Race 9) 1 Mile. Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan H. Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 A HANDICAP FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 4:42)/ 3:42/ 2:42/ 1:42
6) Knicks Go – rebounds from Saudi Cup effort.
3) Silver State – winner of five straight.
1) Mischevious Alex – a winner of three straight, last two came against very short fields similar to this sixe.
2) Dr Post – Westchester winner here last month.
Selections: 6, 3, 1, 2
Race 10) 1&1/4 Mile. (Inner Turf) Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. Grade I. Purse $750,000 INNER TURF FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 5:38)/ 4:38/ 3:38/ 2:38
4) Domestic Spending – English-bred, a winner of 5-of-6 just gets it done.
6) Rockemperor – blinkers come off for a distance proven 5-year-old.
7) Channel Cat – triple digit speed figures when going long.
9) Gufo – Clement trained colt is always close at the line; dangerous.
10) Colonel Liam – winner of 4-straight, 5-of-6.
Selections:4, 6, 7, 9, 10