Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for June 18-21
Thursday, June 18
Best bet: SPARKLING MAMA (7)
Best value: ROAGNA (8)
FIRST: Long Term Market tallied rapid final fraction when a clear-cut second in debut; three works in the interim seal the deal. Phantom Blue owns speed and logged swift numbers in both starts; very dangerous. Full of Tact will be aided by return to dirt; don't ignore.
SECOND: Arctic Wolf is firing bullets at Lindy Farms training base in Connecticut; best guess in nine-horse field with eight newcomers. Bet On Zion is from a dam that has produced four turf winners; follow the money. Johnny Hockey concluded work tab with crisp 3-furlong move; charting a must.
THIRD: Hand Over Heart logged six tight works since determined win in debut; more to give. Concurrently, an uncoupled barn mate of top pick, gets Lasix for first start since December; classic Chad Brown profile. Pinky Brier is a front-running threat on best efforts.
FOURTH: Legacy Lady ships in from New Jersey after compiling swift training tab; ready. J'ray's Jewel outworked 181 rivals in half-mile bullet on May 30; could be the goods. Miss Money Pants, the only member of this 10-horse field to have raced, was a front-end second in lone start; big-time player.
FIFTH: Mutaawid makes first start for Brad Cox after determined win at the distance last time; pairs up. Harrow owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Hall Monitor, a last-race winner, handles marathon trips; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Kaz Farm Girl makes first start with maiden-claiming tag after displaying improved speed in last; weakness of field helps, too. Luckbeourlady is training sharply for potent first-out barn (Miguel Clement); stay tuned to the tote. Camille's Legacy could make forward move with switch to dirt; price will be tempting.
SEVENTH: Sparkling Mama exits hard-fought win in last and projects as the main speed on the rail with aggressive handling. L'Eclair could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat from favorable outside slot. Gracie's Delight, another speedy, last-race winner, makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Roagna compiled strong work tab for first start since last fall; ready to fire. Leslie's Star owns sprinter's speed and could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Ruby Ruby drops after regressing in last start; bounce-back potential. Bossy Dish makes quick return after sharp third on June 6; must be factored into the mix.
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Friday, June 19
Best bet: SNOOKIE BEAR (8)
Best value: BITE AND STRIKE (7)
FIRST: Banker Bull owns win-early bloodlines on both sides of pedigree; best guess in field of five newcomers. Defrost is another that's bred to come out running. Freedom Charge debuts for Steve Asmussen; follow the money.
SECOND: Twenty Two Black is speedy and dons the shades; main speed with proper ride. Old Time Rocknroll returns from layoff and gets blinkers and Lasix for Chad Brown; very dangerous. Noble Heritage was a pole clear of third runner when a game second in last; big-time player.
THIRD: So Vain fired half-mile bullet for first start since claimed by Linda Rice; cutback to 7 furlongs seals the deal. Icy Legs never got going in the slop last time; dangerous on dry land. Ishkabibble drilled three times since last start; price will be tempting.
FOURTH: The Toy Cannon was a front-end winner in last start; more to come. Apollo Code owns stalker's style and could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Three Little Birds, idle for nearly three months, was a winner after similar layoff this past winter; very interesting.
FIFTH: Mo the Merrier has trained swiftly since late-running second in debut; added ground plays to strength. Alghero is a rested runner from Chad Brown barn; dangerous. Ovechkin returns to dirt after being gelded; don't dismiss.
SIXTH: Shadow Dragon projects as the speed of the speed with heads-up handling. Whittington Park drops and packs potent kick on "A" efforts. Concorde Spirit fires big efforts with machinelike consistency.
SEVENTH: Bite and Strike made sustained rally to win last; pairs up. Cuando is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Learntodiscover could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
EIGHTH: Snookie Bear is rested and logs fast final fractions on best efforts; sharp work tab for return seals the deal. Mike's Magic owns sprinter's speed and has Kendrick Carmouche aboard; front-running threat. Chummers gets class relief and makes third start of form cycle; worth long look. In the Dark is 1-for-1 on Big A sod; worth long look at long price.
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Saturday, June 20
Best bet: JUST FOR LUCK (3)
Best value: AQUA BLAZE (4)
FIRST: War Stride displayed improved speed in race switched to sloppy dirt last out; set for best in third start of form cycle. Shape Note tallied solid final fraction when a clear-cut winner in last; dangerous. Straight Arrow was a useful fifth in first start since 18-month absence last time; very interesting.
SECOND: Riyadh Moon compiled sharp work tab for first start since April; ready. Burninhunkoflove could play out as the dominant speed in first start since claimed by Linda Rice. Spirit Dragon also is fleet-footed and gets favorable cutback to 6 furlongs.
THIRD: Just for Luck ran past 11 rivals when a last-to-first winner on May 10; more to come. Mo Trump is speedy and could prove tough on a soft lead. Cable Ready logs competitive figures on both efforts; don't ignore.
FOURTH: Aqua Blaze could play out as the speed of the speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Five Dozen Roses runs last and will be in the garden spot if top selection wilts. Gattatiz will be forwardly placed in bulky field; price will be tempting.
FIFTH: A.P. Slingshot should pack intensified kick with cutback to 7 furlongs. Timia is speedy but seems to prefer minor awards; you've been warned. Baseball Lady was second when favored in last; logical, short-priced contender.
SIXTH: Late Call exits non-stressful sixth versus tougher group at Monmouth last out; nice fit with the locals at this level. Bar Fourteen, another that raced at Monmouth last time, could prove tough to collar on a soft lead. Polar Bear Plunge plunges in price after being sidelined for seven weeks; damaged goods?
SEVENTH: Hurricane Kaz has displayed newfound late kick in last two starts; move to grass could be the key. Illmatic is speedy and could capitalize on soft lead. Spirit of New York won NY-bred stake on Big A sod last fall; likely underlay.
EIGHTH: Inonit owns fast late-pace figures and is training with a purpose at Fair Hill base. Zeus Lightning drops and returns to dirt; dangerous. Always Honest gets favorable cutback to sprint after showing out-of-the-blue speed in last; very interesting.
NINTH: Solutions was rested after front-end score on April 10; positional speed seals the deal. Red Miller could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. Tapwrits Temper fired two bullet works since even fourth in last; right in the thick of this.
10TH: Stella Fortuna drilled four times since non-threatening seventh in debut; improvement predicted. Tuthilltown was a game second in lone grass start; very playable. Raynham Hall exits sharp third in last; worth long look. Come Monday debuts for potent first-out barn (Miguel Clement); could be the goods.
Sunday, June 21
Best bet: BEIRA (6)
Best value: ULTRA CAMEO (9)
FIRST: Two Ducks drilled twice since tough-trip third in last; improvement predicted. Daw Samaa owns speed and gets favorable cutback; dangerous. Oligarch fired 3-furlong bullet since front-end second in last; right in the thick of this.
SECOND: Massarat owns fast late-pace figures and makes peak start of form cycle; three works since last start seal the deal. Relaxx is fresh, gets Lasix and drops; dangerous. Snipsnippitysnip, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, exits determined win at the distance in last; must be factored into the mix.
THIRD: Ah Ca Ira is rested and gets class relief; forward move expected. Miss Lao also drops and owns fast back numbers; worth long look. Luna Moth runs late and could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
FOURTH: Twirling Lad starts from the hedge after solid third from post 11 last time. High Leverage lost a head bob for the top prize last out; big-time player. Lobbyist is another that came up short by a nose in most recent and must be considered.
FIFTH: First Site has trained swiftly since even third in debut; call in eight-horse field with five newcomers. Ms Liu compiled eye-catching work tab for debut; could be the goods. Mitoleon Dynamite is another firster that's training sharply; charting a must.
SIXTH: Beira notched swift final fraction when winning last at Churchill Downs; keeps on giving. Sarir, an 11-length victor in most recent, fired crisp half-mile drill in the interim; very dangerous. Adrian, an uncoupled barn mate of second pick, could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues.
SEVENTH: Dat Dares Right projects as the main speed with heads-up handling. Rare Society looms the prime beneficiary if top selection hits the wall. Undergrad returns from helpful freshener and started career with fast figures; dangerous if all is well.
EIGHTH: Nonna Lynne fits Chad Brown's signature pattern. Sweet Montreal owns sprinter's speed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Can't Fool Me drops and cuts back to more manageable distance; very playable.
NINTH: Ultra Cameo adds blinkers and should get favorable position from the rail. Bernina Express could display intensified wallop with cutback to sprint. Aperitif was a clear-cut second in last; big-time player. Babcie outworked 51 rivals in half-mile bullet on June 5; very interesting.
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