Steve Matthews' Belmont at The Big A selections for June 11-14
Thursday, June 11
Best Bet: FRENCH TIP (7)
Best Value: C J STAR (4)
FIRST: Speed Walking drops, adds blinkers and returns to dirt; forward move predicted. Island Charm could play out as the main speed with aggressive handling. My Girl Aubree is another that will be favorably positioned near the front; must consider.
SECOND: All Class, a non-stressful fourth in last, should pack amplified kick with cutback to 6 furlongs. My Magic Wand is speedy and drops; big-time danger. Atarah owns four wins, three seconds and a third from 10 starts; be no surprise.
THIRD: Mezcalifornia gets class relief after bouncing in last; rebounds today. Kyle's Mom could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Mursal was a determined winner in last and owns fast back numbers.
FOURTH: C J Star drilled three times since tallying fast late-pace figure when second in last; more to come. Franklin Delano owns speed and makes second start since eight-month layoff. Quiet Power owns two seconds and two thirds from five starts; another minor award?
FIFTH: Intothewilderness is training with a purpose for first start since November; drop into maiden claimer seals the deal. Valiant Diva was a clear-cut second in last; very dangerous. Two Clicks displayed out-of-the-blue speed in last; very interesting.
SIXTH: Liam's Legacy gets Lasix after useful fourth in debut; moves forward today. Chris's Song fired crisp half-mile work since pace-pressing third in last; developing and dangerous. Judge Boushay was a fast-figured second in last; likely underlay.
SEVENTH: French Tip gets class relief after facing stakes field last time at Gulfstream; four works in the interim seal the deal. Right Timing exits facile maiden score in last; dangerous. Mermaid was a front-running maiden winner in most recent; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Inherent Promise is 0-for-16 but owns field's fastest figures on best efforts. Mortal Lock sports an 0-for-12 slate, but could pack amplified wallop with cutback to shorter route. Fleet N Ready owns speed and makes first start since gelded; don't dismiss. Visible is from a dam that has produced three turf winners; very interesting.
Friday, June 12
Best Bet: GHOST ARMY (8)
Best Value: IMPLACABLE (10)
FIRST: Five Wishes set fast fractions when a front-running maiden winner last time; more to come. Special Ops could be the prime beneficiary if top selection hits the wall. Caseofthemondays logs swift numbers on best efforts; price will be tempting.
SECOND: Trail of Gold drops and makes quick return; improvement predicted. Kiamba gets Lasix after third in stateside debut; dangerous. Agia Marina has the rail and makes third start of form cycle; don't ignore.
THIRD: Silvology owns fast late-pace figures and compiled tight work tab for first start in more than a year. Opulent Restraint is speedy and gets Lasix; big-time player. Peak Hype fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; worth long look.
FOURTH: Hey Cookie is rested and could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat. Howling Wind won last and owns faster back figures; very playable. Princess Ny is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead.
FIFTH: Dimensionality has the benefit of the rail and logs fast final fractions on "A" efforts. Key Actress is quick from the gate and could play out as the controlling speed. Samartina makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; must consider.
SIXTH: Just Peachy was a clear-cut second in debut; potent second-out barn. Cadillac Mary is from a dam that has produced three turf winners from three foals to race; very interesting. Honey Honey chased hot pace when third behind top selection on May 14; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Screaming Uncle could play out as the speed of the speed with heads-up handling. Golden Symphony also is fleet-footed and drops; dangerous. Smilensaycheese could impact at beefy number if pace meltdown ensues.
EIGHTH: Ghost Army is rested and makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; string of endurance-building workouts seal the deal. Restless Renegade owns solid efforts but is a frequent failure at short odds; you've been warned. Dare Defying is riding a forward line on the numbers; don't ignore.
NINTH: Chayton never threatened in Jersey Derby last time; nice spot for local debut. Madagascar makes first start after tough trip in last; worth long look. Tiz Trouble was rested after winning debut by more than six lengths in April at Gulfstream; must be factored into the mix.
10TH: Implacable projects as the controlling speed in turf debut. He's My Kind, a useful fourth in first start, could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Bremen outworked 125 rivals in half-mile drill to conclude training tab; could be the goods. Jubilee Parade owns three seconds and a third from five starts; another minor award?
Saturday, June 13
Best Bet: DEEMER (4)
Best Value: VITALIZE (5)
FIRST: Always Packen drops and returns to dirt; improvement predicted. Bootsy's a Rascal owns sprinter's speed and adds blinkers; front-running threat. Uncle Barrie could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
SECOND: Superpower is fleet-footed and gets class relief; main speed. Natural Hunk should pack amplified kick with cutback to mile; very playable. Lucas's Mischief could prove tough if able to shake clear.
THIRD: Prove Worthy makes third start of form cycle after late-running third in last. First Trumpet is speedy and gets class relief; dangerous. Metatron's Muse could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
FOURTH: Deemer turns back to sprint and makes second start since seven-month layoff; two half-mile bullet works in the interim seal the deal. High Leverage is quick from gate and could prove tough on a soft lead. Hot Off the Beach was a clear-cut second in debut; must be considered.
FIFTH: Vitalize gets confident price boost for first start in 55 days and outworked 183 rivals in half-mile drill on May 9; ready. Nonno Joe was compromised by wide trip in last; worth long look. Blue Pill could land in exotics at juicy number if fractions get fast and furious.
SIXTH: Jackie the Joker climbs the ladder after front-running score in last; more to come. Always Angels owns fast figures but takes suspicious price plunge; your move. Curlin's Magic owns a second and two thirds from last three starts; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Galileans Girl set solid fractions when a wire-to-wire winner last time at Finger Lakes; ready for prime. Celtic Dawn is 2-for-2 and could be in the garden spot if top selection wilts in the lane. Encantar is another that would be aided by front-end duel; very interesting.
EIGHTH: Tiz the Lady was victimized by soft fractions last out; forward move expected. Felixyn drilled three times since useful fifth in last; very dangerous. Laylani Lou is speedy and could prove a tough customer on a soft lead.
NINTH: Lonesome Boy regressed in last after fast-figured win in prior; rebounds. Money Supply compiled tight work tab for first start since last fall; more than good enough on best. Reynolds Channel is fresh and returns to claiming ranks; worth long look.
10TH: Mission Improbable, idle for nearly six months, logged most recent score after similar layoff; history repeats. Boltage gets class relief and owns fast back figures; very interesting. City of Oscars could be in the catbird seat if pace meltdown comes to pass.
11TH: Sir Oscar owns fast late-pace and final figures and is training strongly for first start in nearly a year. Professor Proton exits sprints and starts from the rail; front-running threat. Before the Wind owns three seconds from eight starts; must consider. Dinghy Bar looms a stretch-running threat on best efforts; price will be tempting.
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Sunday, June 14
Best bet: GUNNER BAY (6)
Best value: SOLO JIM (3)
FIRST: River Ride drilled three times since clear-cut second in last; gets there today. Blackfin fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; dangerous. Devilish Grin just missed last time; must consider.
SECOND: Fast and Frisky makes first start since claimed by Rick Dutrow; big effort on tap. Malu exits improved placing in last and owns faster back figures. Tough Street is another that was second in last and is more than good enough on "A" efforts.
THIRD: Solo Jim overcame nine-wide move to break maiden in last; more to come. Egyptian, second to a repeat winner in last, appears to prefer minor awards; you've been warned. Come Full Circle makes third start of form cycle after improved third in last; worth long look.
FOURTH: Channelview makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; breakthrough predicted. Fraudster should be aided by cutback to sprint; dangerous. Emerald Ember, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, should be favorably positioned near the front.
FIFTH: Rules of the Road made sustained run to win last; takes another. Hard Circle, another last-race victor, could play out as the main speed with aggressive handling; big-time threat. Kulapat drops, adds blinkers and owns fast back numbers; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Gunner Bay gets confident price hike in first start since claimed; crisp 5-furlong move last week seals the deal. Big Hat Willie owns positional speed and fast final figures; worth long look. Timaeus has regressed in both starts since swift-numbered score on April 14; bounce-back potential at a price.
SEVENTH: Toga d'Oro gets class relief and makes third start of form cycle; forward move predicted. Momentum Files owns speed and could return to rating tactics with blinkers off; very interesting. Salming should benefit from cutback to 7 furlongs; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Mz Big Bucks drilled twice since speed and fade in last; set for best in third start since four-month layoff. Griselda fits the classic Chad Brown profile and will be the one to fear in the lane if pace meltdown ensues. Capturing took backward step in last after determined win in prior; rebound threat.
NINTH: Ocean Atlantique was rested after hard-fought score on Big A sod this past April; ready. Presider, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection. is fleet-footed and should be aided by today's shorter trip. Paros also is quick from gate and has Kendrick Carmouche in the saddle; big-time player. Frosted Over makes first start since moving to Linda Rice stable; right in the thick of this.
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