Month: June 2023

The Conductor couldn’t sleep all week having to wait until Friday for Belmont to resume after a disappointing Sunday. The good news is we have five straight days of racing through the 4th of July and Saratoga is right around the corner. Enjoy your holiday weekend drinking stew with your passenger friends and family. The Conductor will be shoveling. More coal. More. Skip.

Race 3: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) OC 80000n3x

#2 Cazadero (9/2) – This gelding missed the break in his return from Dubai last time. That race was a likely prep for this spot anyway, as he returns vs tougher just 14 days later. He’s a Grade 2 winner on turf and has shown ability on dirt as well. This is Jacobson’s specialty move, he’s 6/19 this year with a whopping +$1.99 ROI with runners 2nd off a layoff.

Race 7: 1 Mile. OC 62500n2x

#4 Guntown (9/2) – #6 Gait (2/1) is the rightful favorite in here cutting back in distance after pressing a quick pace last time. However, Linda Rice has won every dirt race during this Belmont meet. Guntown’s form is better than it looks on paper too. He’s consistently run huge late pace figures, closing behind slow paces. His running style should suit Belmont’s track profile perfectly and moving into Linda’s barn for the first time, he’ll obviously run a career best race.

Race 8: 1 3/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) F.Alw 95000n1x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #9 Lullaby Land (5/1) – 1st off the claim shipping up from Tampa last time, this mare made nice visual move on the turn before flattening out. She still ran a good 3rd that day and now shortens in distance 1/8 of a mile. Trainer Jack Abrams runs a capable small barn and it’s a good sign that Jose stays in the saddle…although the Conductor is hoping for a better ride this time. She’ll be an overlay and the Conductor will bet she puts the field to sleep.

A chalky Saturday at Belmont brought the train back into neutral. Don’t worry passengers, we’re not going to let NYRA off the hook. Time to punch back end the weekend with a bang. Skip.

Race 5: 1 1/16 Mile. Clm 32000

#1 Two Thirty Five (10/1) – This old gelding ran evenly at Belmont 1st off the claim vs tougher last time. Now he drops in class, gets a weight break, and stretches out to his best distance. He’s 6/17 at this distance and many of these other contenders are exiting a race vs weaker last time. Two Thirty Five beat the Linda Rice favorite, #8 Lastchanceatglory (3/1), last year as well.

Race 7: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) F.OC 45000n2x

*Gullet Shot of the Day #4 Dream Central (5/1) – It’s tough to back a trainer that’s 0/24 at the meet, but the Conductor likes it. She’ll be an overlay at the windows despite her running lines in the Sciacca barn. She’s won a state-bred sakes over this Belmont turf course at this distance and Conductor has been waiting to play her back off her last race. Off the bench last time, she wheeled out 3-wide on the turn, got shut off, and then finished best when she finally found room in the stretch. She should have won that day and now takes on a weaker allowance group here. In her 2nd start off a layoff, Dream Central looks primed to get her picture taken.

Race 9: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) Clm 50000n2L

#10 American Grant (12/1) – This gelding took a big step forward in his first start on turf last time. He had a bad turf trip chasing 3-wide on both turns, mostly uncovered, and still hit the board at 30/1. He has to improve a lot again to upset this field, but he’ll have no problem getting the distance and has potential upside. American Grant can certainly hit the board again at a big number,

Let’s go Mr. Ductor. Friday at Belmont brings us back to back #gullet shot of the day winners heading into the weekend. I’m so happy to be a passenger and have this extra summer stew money. Please keep it going Conductor, we beg of you. Looks like you have some juicy prices on the menu this Saturday too! Let’s Ride.

Race 6: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Wild Applause Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #4 Im Just Kiddin (10/1) – The Conductor is certainly not joking with this filly. She takes a big step up in class today, but the Conductor isn’t scared of this group. Im Just Kiddin got placed 1st by DQ at Belmont last time and was also best in that race. She had a bad trip 4-wide around first turn, 3-wide on 2nd turn, and was uncovered throughout her journey. The Conductor likes the shorter distance for her today, and she’ll be forwardly placed in a race without a lot of early speed. She’ll have the lead in the stretch and at 10/1 the Conductor will find out if she’s good enough.

Race 8: 1 1/4 Mile. (Inner Turf) Alw 95000n1x

#2 Hold the Salsa (12/1) – Stretching out to a marathon distance for the 1st time last start, he ran a good 2nd behind the even money favorite at 47/1. He had a good trip that day, but also galloped out in front of the group. Nobody in this field has proven they can win at this distance while the Conductor knows he’ll have no problem getting it. He gets a weight break again vs this field too.

Race 10: 6 Furlongs. (Turf) F.S.MC 40000

#11 Lady Banker (15/1) – This is a classic wide open Belmont maiden claiming race to end the card. The Conductor likes a few other prices in this race too, but he’ll keep those to himself. Losers. Lady Banker is who he’ll place a win bet on if this morning line is accurate. She was bet to favoritism on dirt last time and tired after dueling. That was back in February and now she’s moved into the red hot George Weaver barn and will try turf for the first time. Weaver is 19% with a +$1.74 ROI with first time turf runners this year. Additionally, Lady Banker looks to get a favorable trip in a sprint without much early speed. She can knock everyone out of the pools besides us passengers. Skip

There we go Conductor, there we go. Sonic Speed floats up to 7/1 and rings Belmont’s bell Thursday. If the pony gods can continue to hold off the rain, we’re going to have a big week. Keep the races on the turf and we’ll make NYRA beg for mercy. Unfortunately, not much has the Conductor excited today regardless. One simple winner today. Let’s Ride.

Race 7: 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) Clm 30000n2L

*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Foliage (4/1) – This gelding was bet to favoritism on the class drop last time at Belmont and let down the public. It wasn’t a great effort, but he made up ground had absolutely no shot being so far back behind a slow pace. It was a complete merry go round race and the runners 1-2-3 early finished 1-2-3. Now making his 2nd start in the Joe Sharp barn he adds blinkers, draws well to the inside and will be a better price vs a weak group.

Wow, the Conductor thought there would be no chance they would be on the turf today at Belmont. This whole weekend doesn’t look good on the radar. Lucky us, we need to make up for last Sunday and this may be the only shot we get. Hopefully they stay on the turf for the entire card. They probably will take them off the turf right before the Conductor’s races start just to spit in his eye. 2/2 today with juicy prices. Let’s Ride.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) F.OC 62500n1x

#1 Stephanie’s Charm (12/1) – This filly had some solid efforts vs stakes company this winter. She dropped to this level at Belmont last time after a bit of a break, and ran much better tan it looks on paper. She was sandwiched at start, made a 5-wide move on the turn and rightfully tired late. Now she draws well to the inside and always runs her best in her 2nd start off a layoff. The Conductor adores her in a race with very vulnerable favorites.

Race 9: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Clm 35000b

*Gullet Shot of the Day #9 Sonic Speed (8/1) – This gelding took on much tougher at Belmont going 7-furlongs of the bench last time. That was likely a prep for this spot and he ran sneaky well in that start too. He was stuck behind horses in the stretch and galloped out well in front of the group. Dropping in class and stretching out 2nd off the layoff, he looks primed to run a top effort.

0/2 on a chalky Saturday at Belmont brings the train back into neutral. Slim pickings again on Sunday, but there is a bomb that can make our month. As great as the Belmont Stakes Day card was, these weekend New York cards have been severely lacking. The Conductor needs better weekend racing NYRA, clean it up. Let’s get some prices home. Skip.

Race 5: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) New York Stallion Stakes

#8 Twenty Six Black (5/2) – The Conductor cashed on this colt last time and he’s rolling with him again here. He’s steadily progressing and Mr. Ductor thinks he’s a budding state bred star. He’s a certified mower in the stretch. Taking on an average field today, he’ll get the job done.

Race 6: 1 Mile. MC 20000

#8 Mister Moore (8/1) – Throw out this gelding’s last race going two turns on the turf. His one turn race on turf vs tougher two starts back makes him a contender in here. He tries dirt for the first time today and the Conductor likes his potential to move forward. Additionally, he gets a nice outside draw and McCarthy takes the mount for a small, but profitable barn. With just 25 starters this year, trainer Lerman Roy is 24% with a +$0.24 ROI

Race 8: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) F.New York Stallion Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #4 Joeybignose (20/1) – Finally a bomb at Belmont that the Conductor is salivating to play. This filly tried turf for the first time last time and ran a career best race. She pressed the pace 3-wide uncovered on the turn, and finished best of the speeds in a race that melted down. Now she cuts back in distance and tries 7 furlongs on the turf for the first time. There aren’t any monsters in here and the race looks ripe for an upset. Making her 2nd turf start today, her big nose will hit the wire in front.

Belmont Stakes Day is over. A great day for horse racing and a great day to be a passenger. Time to get back to work. Skip.

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Race 3: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) Clm 30000n2L

#7 Paratus (2/1) – He made a nice middle move into a hot pace vs tougher last time. Dropping in class today, he looks like a cinch to the Conductor against this feeble group.

Race 4; 6½ Furlongs. Clm 40000

#5 Emerald Forest (6/1) – Making his first start at Belmont for the Morley barn, this gelding has back class and early speed in a dirt sprint without much other early pace. He’s working well and Morley is exceptional off the bench. He’s 21% with a +$1.01 ROI this year with starters +46-90 days away. With the bug aboard, he also gets a weight break today

Race 5: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) MC 40000

*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Billy’s Got Issues (8/1) – This is a wide open maiden claiming race and the Conductor is going to take a stand with ol’ Billy Boy. Switching to turf for the first time last race, he improved and ran a solid 3rd in a merry go round race. He made up ground in the stretch and galloped out with the winner. He draws well here and should appreciate the extra furlong.