Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for June 25-28
Thursday, June 25
Best bet: LES REYS (4)
Best value: CELESTIAL GLAZE (6)
FIRST: Mary Lois compiled six tight works for first start since April; classic Chad Brown. Prime Connection also is training with a purpose; dangerous. Stand the Rain was a useful fifth in lone grass start; don't ignore.
SECOND: That'sthefactjack is riding a two-race winning streak; keeps on giving. Blenheim Baby is fresh and owns positional speed; worth long look. Spirit of Esther is fleet-footed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
THIRD: Addagirl Addie is 0-for-23 but may have finally found right field; now or never. Island Charm could play out as the main speed on the rail; big-time player. No Need to Panic drops and makes third start of form cycle; must consider.
FOURTH: Les Reys is 1-for-1 on Big A sod; rates close call. Leslie's Humor fits Chad Brown's signature pattern. Ready to Jam needed last and gets class relief; very interesting.
FIFTH: Bet Bold outworked 126 rivals in half-mile bullet last week; best guess in nine-horse field with seven newcomers. Hurricane Mo was an even third in debut; experience helps. Flight Command is training swiftly for debut; charting a must.
SIXTH: Celestial Glaze adds blinkers after slow start in last; controlling speed with aggressive handling. Neon Bordeaux could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Determinedly was a determined second in last; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Edistrudis made eight-wide move when a clear-cut second in last; more to come. Short Shift, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, is quick from gate and could prove tough on an unchallenged lead. Mursal fires strong efforts with machinelike consistency; be no surprise.
EIGHTH: Heads in Beds makes first start since moving to Saffie Joseph barn; sharp work tab seals the deal. Artistic Success is speedy and has Kendrick Carmouche aboard; big-time front-running threat. Lupine regressed in last after front-end win in prior; rebound potential. Midnightloveaffair makes third start of form cycle; don't ignore.
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Friday, June 26
Best bet: OAT COUTOUR (6)
Best value: AWESOME EMPIRE (3)
FIRST: Chester Boy drops and adds blinkers after logging fast late-pace figures in both starts. Fateful Lightning was a clear-cut second on turf two starts back; dangerous. Executive is training with a purpose for first start in eight weeks; worth long look.
SECOND: War Master failed to fire on sloppy surface last time; return to dry land is key. Sagamore Mischief could play out as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Quiet Wisdom was done in by wide trip in last; worth long look.
THIRD: Awesome Empire should be aided by cutback to sprint; three works since last start seal the deal. Golden Symphony makes quick return after clear-cut win in last; very playable. Gypsy Dreaming is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead.
FOURTH: Speightful Song is training sharply for first start with maiden-claiming tag; breakthrough predicted. Easemyworriedmind is fresh and also takes potent class drop; worth long look. Chris's Song owns positional speed and fast final numbers; must be factored into the mix.
FIFTH: Iron Sight compiled tight work tab for first start since last summer for Chad Brown; you know the drill. Gold Sovereign, also from the Brown barn, has finished second in three of last four starts; another placing? Duty owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SIXTH: Oat Coutour made sustained run when a useful fourth in last; more to give. Willpowered owns a win and two seconds from last three outings; logical contender. Newlyn is training with a purpose for first start since last fall; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Math Tutor was rested after top-figured score in April; picks up where he left off. Manhattan Chrome owns two wins from three starts; big-time player. Enduring Spirit set sizzling splits when a game second in last; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Vintage Vino makes third start of form cycle after tough-trip eighth in last; forward move predicted. Hard Circle makes first start since claimed after winning two in a row; very dangerous. Carc Brothers has yet to taste defeat in two starts; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Urgency gets added ground after showing improved speed in sprint last time; breakthrough predicted in first start since claimed. Teutonic drops after non-stressful fourth last out; dangerous. Savvylicious has the rail and drilled three times for first start in 55 days; worth long look. Tail Risk makes quick return after useful sixth in first start since seven-month absence; don't ignore.
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Saturday, June 27
Best bet: RUN CURTIS RUN (8)
Best value: SPIRIT DRAGON (4)
FIRST: Problematica projects as the main speed on the rail with proper ride. Best Impression owns stalker's style and could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Open Soul Autism drops and owns competitive back numbers.
SECOND: Two by Two by Two gets blinkers and Lasix for first start since last fall; tight work tab clinches it. Spinning Class owns fast numbers on best efforts. Mappy makes first start since moving to George Weaver barn; must respect.
THIRD: Whitby makes third start of form cycle after willing second in last; more in the tank. Calling Card has finished second in last two; another placing? Antietam regressed in last after determined win in prior; rebound threat.
FOURTH: Spirit Dragon wheels back in a hurry after tough trip versus pricier last week; barn logs potent numbers when adding blinkers. Dot's Dollar bounced last time after fast-figured second two back; worth long look. Graywing is speedy and must be factored into the mix.
FIFTH: Archimedes is fleet-footed and gets Kendrick Carmouche; crisp half-mile drill last week seals the deal. Swaging chased fast fractions and faded last out; more than good enough on "A" game. Slay Sadie Slay drops, adds blinkers and moves to grass; wake-up potential.
SIXTH: Starlight Dancer compiled eight tight works for first start in two months; set for big effort. Leslie's Star owns positional speed and makes first start since claimed; dangerous. Brillante fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Strategicoperation owns speed, dons the shades and gets class relief; forward move predicted. Salming gets favorable cutback to 6 furlongs; big-time contender. Sully makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; must consider.
EIGHTH: Run Curtis Run packs potent kick on best efforts and returns to NY-bred ranks. Dancing Buck, a five-time winner on Big A sod, could play out as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Waralo, another that's quick from the gates, owns three wins and two seconds from five starts on Aqueduct turf.
NINTH: Aeolian is training with a purpose for first start in more than seven months for Chad Brown; you know the drill. Bernieandtherose owns four wins from six starts on Big A loam; very interesting. Romantic Dancer is fresh and almost always fires big efforts; right in the thick of this.
10TH: Makes Sense is firing bullets for first start since being eased on April 29; ready for return. Otello should be aided by cutback to mile; worth long look. Eliminate makes first outing since claimed by Linda Rice; dangerous.
11TH: Daisy Doo could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; crisp half-mile drill last Sunday seals the deal. Super Dave owns speed and hails from Wes Ward barn; dangerous. Mr. Pools debuts for potent jockey-trainer combo; stay tuned to the tote. Bubster, another newcomer, compiled swift work tab; charting a must.
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Sunday, June 28
Best bet: FAIRY GODMOTHER (5)
Best value: STARSHIP PEGASUS (4)
FIRST: Tour Jete logged tight work tab for first start since February; tallied two of three wins on Big A sod. Miss Lao moves to grass for new barn after determined win last week; very interesting. Top of the Table owns sprinter's speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SECOND: Bounding Along was a clear-cut second in debut; more to come. Close the Loop owns speed and adds blinkers; big-time front-end threat. Into the Unknown could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
THIRD: Rookie Card is training swiftly for first start since April; main speed with proper ride. Ignite the Light is another that owns speed and fast numbers; dangerous. El Grande O could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; must consider.
FOURTH: Starship Pegasus compiled eye-catching work slate for first start since last fall; ready. Boomington needed last and packs potent kick on best efforts. Fabulous Fox owns sprinter's speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
FIFTH: Fairy Godmother exits dominant maiden score in last; takes another. Twirling Lulu could play out as the speed of the speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Disco Star logged lone win on Aqueduct grass.
SIXTH: Ez Roll rolled to third win from last four starts on June 19; quick return seals the deal. Georgia Magic could play out as the main speed on the rail; worth long look. Willintoriskitall should move forward with return to dirt; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Big Frosty made sustained rally when a solid second in last; gets there today. Nonno Joe exits non-stressful fourth in last; big-time contender. Pilot Knob is fleet-footed and should offer juicy odds; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Sweet Brown Sugar runs late and should receive ideal setup in wide-open NY-bred stake. Highway Harmony, freshened after winning three in a row, is quick from gate and could prove very tough to collar on unchallenged lead. Silsbee engaged smoking splits when a game second in last; very dangerous.
NINTH: Concorde Spirit must overcome daunting post to win final ever race at the Big A; carries Ricardo Santana into history. Tizmarkus exits determined core in last; dangerous. Assume Nothing notched clear-cut win in last at Parx; right in the thick of this. Peek is competitive on "A" efforts; don't dismiss.
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