At the Gate - Wednesday
While Del Mar opens today, I am more of an east coast guy, at least since the California Horse Racing Board mandated that California tracks had to install synthetic surfaces.
Not only am I an east coast guy, I like real dirt better. Well, except for Keeneland, I do overlook the polytrack at the Lexington, Ky. track twice a year.
So while some horseplayers are looking forward to opening day at Del Mar, I?ll trudge along at Belmont Park for another week, and anxiously wait for the opening of the Saratoga meeting, which gets underway on July 29.
The feature at Belmont Park today is an interesting turf race for fillies and mares, the $65,000 Donor Stakes.
The main problem in the race is trying to decide which one of the three Christophe Clement fillies to back. Rosa Grace, Belle Allure, and Shadiyna all look like they have a shot of picking up the win.
I?m going with Rosa Grace, who I am hoping is the best price of the trio. The filly looks like she may be ready to fire a good effort as she makes her second start off a 2 1`/2 month break.
The barn has been on fire throughout the meeting, hitting at a 27% clip. The French trainer has been especially dangerous on the turf, winning 18 turf races, a 31% win rate.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Alw $45,000N1X (1:00 et)
#7 Mine All Mine 10/1
#8 Rumor Control 4/1
#3 Tempest Storm 3/1
#2 Granted Tiger 5/2
Analysis: #7 Mine All Mine tries turf for the first time here for the Ward barn that is 20% winners with first time turfers. The filly has shown some ability, two back a game second in a $50K stake at Calder. She had a tough trip last out, lunging at the break, was steadied behind runners on the far turn and tired mid stretch. The winner of the race was First Passage, who came back to win the Grade 3 Azalea in her next outing on July 11. She has a decent turf pedigree, by Belong to Me (12% first turf) out of an unraced Unbridled mare that has dropped one other foal to race, 1 for 7 Altona Road ($63K), who is 0 for 1 on turf. The filly looks primed for a good effort here as she makes her third start off the bench and drops into the allowance ranks.
#8 Rumor Control broke her maiden last out in her first start on turf and off a seven month layoff. I don't think she beat a real tough group that day but she has a strong barn in her corner and a very attractive pedigree. She is by Johannesburg out of a Danzig mare that has dropped three other winners including stakes winner Martha's Music ($285K), and she was a $320K purchase, more than double the average for the sire. She put in a near bullet local drill for her first start in New York. She showed last out she can handle ground with some give to it and may catch less than firm going again today.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 7,8 / 2,3,7,8
TRI: 7,8 / 2,3,7,8 / 2,3,4,6,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Donor S. (4:45 et)
#1 Rosa Grace 6/1
#2 Belle Allure 2/1
#3 Winsome Ways 12/1
#5 Shadiyna 8/1
Analysis: #1 Rosa Grace is one of three sent out by the Clement barn. The filly stalked the early pace and came up short in the stretch last out against Alw-3 optional claimers, beaten 2 1/2 lengths at Del Park. That outing came off a 2 1/2 month break and she may not have been fully cranked. We can excuse her effort two back, which was over poly, and three back she was in too tough in Grade 1 company. That takes us four back where in her U.S. debut she was a solid second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga over yielding footing. If she runs that type of effort here, she would be tough to beat.
#2 Bella Allure is also sent out by Clement. She beat Alw-2 optional claimers last out off a four month break. She makes just her third start since coming to the U.S. and she won a Group 3 last fall at Longchamp. The barn has been going very well at the meet, although our top pick likely is going to offer more value for the top spot.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,5
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5,6,7
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #7 Mine All Mine 10/1
R2: #1 Queen of Hearts 10/1
R6: #9 We Got Heat 8/1
R7: #1 Hallelujah Girl / #1a Lateday Edition 8/1
R8: #3 Winsome Ways 12/1
R8: #5 Shadiyna 8/1
Good luck today!
While Del Mar opens today, I am more of an east coast guy, at least since the California Horse Racing Board mandated that California tracks had to install synthetic surfaces.
Not only am I an east coast guy, I like real dirt better. Well, except for Keeneland, I do overlook the polytrack at the Lexington, Ky. track twice a year.
So while some horseplayers are looking forward to opening day at Del Mar, I?ll trudge along at Belmont Park for another week, and anxiously wait for the opening of the Saratoga meeting, which gets underway on July 29.
The feature at Belmont Park today is an interesting turf race for fillies and mares, the $65,000 Donor Stakes.
The main problem in the race is trying to decide which one of the three Christophe Clement fillies to back. Rosa Grace, Belle Allure, and Shadiyna all look like they have a shot of picking up the win.
I?m going with Rosa Grace, who I am hoping is the best price of the trio. The filly looks like she may be ready to fire a good effort as she makes her second start off a 2 1`/2 month break.
The barn has been on fire throughout the meeting, hitting at a 27% clip. The French trainer has been especially dangerous on the turf, winning 18 turf races, a 31% win rate.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Alw $45,000N1X (1:00 et)
#7 Mine All Mine 10/1
#8 Rumor Control 4/1
#3 Tempest Storm 3/1
#2 Granted Tiger 5/2
Analysis: #7 Mine All Mine tries turf for the first time here for the Ward barn that is 20% winners with first time turfers. The filly has shown some ability, two back a game second in a $50K stake at Calder. She had a tough trip last out, lunging at the break, was steadied behind runners on the far turn and tired mid stretch. The winner of the race was First Passage, who came back to win the Grade 3 Azalea in her next outing on July 11. She has a decent turf pedigree, by Belong to Me (12% first turf) out of an unraced Unbridled mare that has dropped one other foal to race, 1 for 7 Altona Road ($63K), who is 0 for 1 on turf. The filly looks primed for a good effort here as she makes her third start off the bench and drops into the allowance ranks.
#8 Rumor Control broke her maiden last out in her first start on turf and off a seven month layoff. I don't think she beat a real tough group that day but she has a strong barn in her corner and a very attractive pedigree. She is by Johannesburg out of a Danzig mare that has dropped three other winners including stakes winner Martha's Music ($285K), and she was a $320K purchase, more than double the average for the sire. She put in a near bullet local drill for her first start in New York. She showed last out she can handle ground with some give to it and may catch less than firm going again today.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 7,8 / 2,3,7,8
TRI: 7,8 / 2,3,7,8 / 2,3,4,6,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Donor S. (4:45 et)
#1 Rosa Grace 6/1
#2 Belle Allure 2/1
#3 Winsome Ways 12/1
#5 Shadiyna 8/1
Analysis: #1 Rosa Grace is one of three sent out by the Clement barn. The filly stalked the early pace and came up short in the stretch last out against Alw-3 optional claimers, beaten 2 1/2 lengths at Del Park. That outing came off a 2 1/2 month break and she may not have been fully cranked. We can excuse her effort two back, which was over poly, and three back she was in too tough in Grade 1 company. That takes us four back where in her U.S. debut she was a solid second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga over yielding footing. If she runs that type of effort here, she would be tough to beat.
#2 Bella Allure is also sent out by Clement. She beat Alw-2 optional claimers last out off a four month break. She makes just her third start since coming to the U.S. and she won a Group 3 last fall at Longchamp. The barn has been going very well at the meet, although our top pick likely is going to offer more value for the top spot.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,5
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5,6,7
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #7 Mine All Mine 10/1
R2: #1 Queen of Hearts 10/1
R6: #9 We Got Heat 8/1
R7: #1 Hallelujah Girl / #1a Lateday Edition 8/1
R8: #3 Winsome Ways 12/1
R8: #5 Shadiyna 8/1
Good luck today!
