Well, Canada’s forest fires have postponed Thursday’s card. However, the forecast looks like it should clear up by tomorrow. Saturday has one of the best Belmont Stakes cards the Conductor’s eyes have ever seen. There will be smoke in the air then too, but only from our train burning off excess coal. We’re going to win too much to keep it all. Skip.
Race 2: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) F.S.Alw 80000n1x
#3 Sikum (10/1) – This mare has become a new animal in the Jose Comejo barn. She ran a solid 2nd at 32/1 at this level two starts back and ran even better last time. In that last start, she was eviscerated at the break and didn’t throw in the towel to close for 4th beaten only 2 1/4 lengths. With a nice inside draw today in an open race, 10/1 is a tasty number.
Race 4: 7 Furlongs. Alw 95000n1x
#5 Allaboutthemoney (5/1) – This gelding is cycling back to a top effort for Jacobson and his races at Aqueduct this winter are fast enough to beat this group. He ran a thunderous late pace figure last time closing into a slow pace. Irad will time his run right and he’ll blow past them all in the stretch.
Race 7: 1 1/16 Mile. F.G1 Ogden Phipps Stakes
#1 Pass the Champagne (8/1) – #6 Clairier (6/5) is the most likely winner in the Conductor’s eyes, but this is the one mare that intrigues Mr. Ductor at a price. She showed real talent as a 3-year-old and is finally developing into her best self. She had a great trip last time in the Ruffian, but was dominant in victory. That race absolutely makes her a contender in here and she’ll be overlooked at the windows.
Race 8: 7 Furlongs. G1 Woody Stephens Stakes
*Gullet Shot of the Day #8 Fort Bragg (5/1) – The Conductor is still wincing in pain recalling this colt’s defeat on Derby day. He broke slow, rushed up to set a scorching pace and was just nailed at the wire by #4 General Jim (7/2). He ran too well to lose that day and now he’s back in Bobby Baffert’s barn. We will make Belmont atone for Churchill’s sins. Fort Bragg will be a major factor in the Conductor’s Belmont Stakes day bottom line.
Race 9: 6 Furlongs. (Turf) G1 Jaipur Stakes
#11 Casa Creed (9/2) – This classy old horse has won this race 3 times and his race in Dubai this February showed the Conductor he hasn’t lost a step. The post isn’t ideal, but the field should be strung out with a quick pace up front. The Conductor is absolutely against the favorite #12 Caravel (3/1) going 6-furlongs. He’s a 5 1/2 furlong specialist and exiting a win over a speed favoring Churchill turf course.
Race 10: 1 Mile. G1 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan H.
#3 Dr. Schivel (10/1) – #1 Cody’s Wish (7/5) has turned into a monster and the Conductor can’t knock him. But, you know Mr. Ductor doesn’t get excited about even money shots. The one price that the Conductor thinks has a chance to pull an upset is this doctor. He would have been a Breeders’ Cup Sprint Champion with a cleaner trip back in 2021. Additionally, he’s the lone speed if he wants the lead in here. He won his prep off a year layoff as easy as can be last time and Irad hops aboard, so you know he’s ready to roll. The Doctor has the back class and talent to make Cody’s Wish fight for this one.
Race 11: 1‚ Mile. (Inner Turf) G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes
#3 Warren Point (5/1), #4 Ottoman Fleet (5/2) – The Conductor likes this race the least of this amazing Saturday card. Warren Point let him last time and Appleby may have lost his fastball in America, but the Conductor just can’t get behind any of the Americans. If you have a horse you like in here, DM Mr. Ductor he’d be happy to here from you. As of now he’s just going to try and escape this leg with the Euros with a class edge.
Race 12: 1½ Mile. G1 Belmont Stakes
#3 Arcangelo (8/1) – This ridgling has already cashed for the Conductor and has improved with each start. Making his first start around two turns and going 1 1/2 miles is a lot to ask, but the Conductor thinks he has serious potential. Castellano rode him like he couldn’t lose last time. In that victory, he ran an enormous late pace figure despite being in an all out gutter war with a quality Cox horse down the stretch. The Conductor is willing to find out how much talent this boy has if he’s around this morning line.
#7 Hit Show (10/1) – Of the runners exiting the Kentucky Derby, the Conductor likes this colt the most and he’s the best price! He made an early middle move into that scorching pace and stayed on well enough down the stretch. There will be a moderate pace in this Belmont Stakes and he looks to get a much more favorable trip today. His late pace figures prior to the Derby give the Conductor no qualms about the longer distance for him.
#2 Tapit Trice (3/1) – Of the shorter priced morning lines, the Conductor likes him over #6 Forte (5/2) and #8 Angel of Empire (7/2). Forte has serious health concerns and both him and Angel of Empire are deep closers in a race with out much early speed. Tapit Trice is slow early too, but its more because how quirky he is. His antics caught up to him in the Derby, but that was to be anticipated in a 20-horse field. He has the grinding running style that suits this distance and Pletcher wins the Belmont Stakes most years with this type of horse. With a smaller field Tapit Trice will gallop along and could out last them all.
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