Tag: Belmont Park

Brutal Saturday for the Conductor, The pony gods put him in his place for tempting them. However, you still can’t wipe the smile off the Ductor’s face. Last day at Belmont and then we’re off to Toga for the rest of the summer. Let’s finish the meet in style. Skip

Race 7: 6 Furlongs. F.S.Alw 80000n1x

#5 Disruption (8/1) – #3 You’re My Girl (8/5) probably obliterates this field, but this filly intrigues the Conductor. Disruption progressed nicely after debuting at Saratoga last fall and ran a very fast figure to break her maiden. Now she makes her first start as a 3-year-old for top connections and  looks to get a perfect trip today. Prat will have her stalking a contested pace and she’s one of the only runners in here that has proven she can pass horses and win. She’s the value in this race.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.Alw 50000s

*Gullet Shot of the Day #8 Brisky Frolic (6/1) – This is the best betting race on the card, plenty of prices have chances. However, the Conductor likes this filly quite a bit in this spot. She obliviously improved moving to the Linda Rice barn last time. Lezcano gave her a terrible ride that day too. She was 3-wide and uncovered the entire turn for no reason. Now she stretches out to a route and Jose hops aboard. This race is devoid of any other early speed and Brisky Frolic will be alone on the lead. They won’t catch her. Gate to wire. Skip

0/3 Tuesday at Belmont after a great weekend left a sour taste in the Conductor’s mouth. Thankfully, the pony gods let us get right back at it after only two days of rest. It’s the last weekend at Belmont and then the train heads upstate to rob Saratoga blind. Grab a shovel, it’s the coal isn’t going to pile itself. Skip.

Race 5: 6½ Furlongs. S.Mdn 75k

#8 Thank You Jon (5/2) – This colt was hammered at the windows in both starts for a low % barn. The bettors know something and he showed the Conductor that he has talent last time at Belmont. He checked hard after a slow break, chased in the parking lot the entire turn, and still never quit for a good 3rd. Now 2nd off the layoff with a nice outside post and Irad aboard, he’ll graduate today. 5/2 or better is fair enough for Mr. Ductor

Race 9: 1 Mile. (Turf) G3 Manila Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #3 More Than Looks (8/1) – This filly is stepping up in class, but make sure you watch her last race. She showed a thunderous late punch despite a wide trip and being bumped in the stretch. She’s a certified mower and is shipping in to Belmont for a red hot Cherie DeVaux barn. 8/1 would be a dream, anything over 5/1 is tasty. As usual the tape shows more than meets the eye.

Race 10: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) F.MC 75000

#1 Freedom for All (8/1) – This is a pretty weak field and this filly intrigues the Conductor. She has some turf breeding and has run well in Kentucky vs tougher on dirt. She runs like a turf horse and has run strong late pace figures in each start. With a nice inside draw, she should get a ground saving trip and be dangerous if she takes to the turf at all. At 8/1, the Conductor is more than willing to take a swing.

Bernt Again saves Sunday at 4/1  for the Conductor and us passengers. The train keeps rolling at Belmont and the July 4th party rolls on. More grilled meat, more stew, more winners. Let’s Ride.

Race 2: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) F.MC 40000

*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Wonder Girl (6/1) – This filly just missed at this level three starts back and ran better than it looks last time vs tougher. She had a bad trip in that last race, pressing 3-wide uncovered the entire turn. Now she drops in class, cuts back in distance, and gets a weight break vs this group. All signs point to her graduating today.

Race 5: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.S.Mdn 75k

#12 She’s a Natural (20/1) – When this filly drew the far outside post again, the Conductor puked. She’s had terribly wide trips and bad rides in her last few starts. Last time she was rank and 4-wide into 1st turn, made 4-wide uncovered move on 2nd turn and ran well again without a fair shot. Carmouche is aboard for the first time today, maybe he can figure out a way to work out a trip from the 12 post. If he can, She’s a Natural can light up the tote.

Race 7: 7 Furlongs. Alw 50000s

#8 Baltasar (4/1) – This gelding’s dirt form lays over this field. He runs his best at Belmont, the only only concern is the layoff. Trainer Hector De Paz Horacio is 18% with runners off the bench this year and it’s a good sign that Franco hops aboard. With a nice outside draw 4/1 would be a generous price on the most likely winner.

Race 8: 1 Mile. (Turf) Hudson Valley Stakes

#2 Dakota Gold (2/1) – Irad got this colt beat last time. He was stuck inside for a long time in stretch and when he finally got out, he finished best and galloped out in front of the field. City Man is certainly not in this field and he ran better #4 Jerry The Nipper (5/2) last time. He’s a single for the Conductor.

2/4 Saturday with Three Technique getting home at 5/1 starts the Belmont weekend off in the green. The Conductor found it hard to find horses to lean on today, but he’s always got a few up his sleeve. Keep the throttle down Conductor, we’ll keep stacking the coal. Skip.

Race 1: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) MC 40000

*Gullet Shot of the Day #7 Steady Scheming (9/2) – The Conductor will set the tone for the day at Belmont right for the jump. This gelding  was bet to favoritism last time and ran a winning race. He made a big wide early move move on the turn and was just nailed late. This may be an asinine morning line, but he’ll likely be the 2nd choice in here and he’s the most likely winner. 3/1 or better is fair for the Conductor.

Race 3: 1 Mile. (Turf) F.Perfect Sting Stakes

#1 Customer List (7/2) – #2 Technical Analysis (1/1) will probably win, but she may be vulnerable off the bench. She also does her best running on the lead and won’t get it today. Customer List won nicely last time off the layoff at Monmouth, closing behind a slow pace. She ran a very strong late pace figure and should step forward with a race under her belt. She looks to get a perfect ground saving trip by Irad today and offers value in this small stakes field. Chad Brown can’t sneak this one by the Ductor at Belmont.

Race 7: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) F.Clm 50000n2L

#2 Bernt Again (4/1) – This is a very weak Belmont claiming race and this filly broke her maiden nicely last time. She got a good trip and ride by Franco, but she was still dominant in victory. She’s progressing nicely this year since returning to the turf and gets a nice inside draw today. The Conductor thinks she’ll float up from this morning line and be an overlay too.

Belmont needs to pay for cancelling the Conductor’s hard work Friday. How are these Canadian fires still reeking havoc? Clean it up Canada, Mr. Ductor has bills to pay. Skip.

Race 2: 7 Furlongs. (Turf) F.Alw 95000n1x

#2 Diamond Hands (3/1) – Returning after a short break last time at Belmont, this filly ran better than it looks, closing behind a slow pace. She wheeled out wide from the back of the pack and galloped out well in front group. 7 furlongs should be the perfect distance for her and she gets a nice inside draw here. Pletcher will take money but the Conductor thinks 3/1 is a fair price and that we’ll get it today.

Race 6: 1 Mile. G3 Dwyer Stakes

#5 Fort Bragg (8/5) – The Conductor was very angry when he scratched on Belmont Stakes day. He ran so well on Derby day and now he’s in the Baffert barn for real. The Conductor thinks he’s a very talented one turn horse.

Race 8: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 50000s

#12 Kingfish Stevens (8/1) – This gelding ran a good 2nd at this level and distance two starts back after making an early move into a hot pace. He ran well again in a stakes vs tougher on Preakness day last time, and now ships back up to New York. He’s improving, working bullets entering today, and Castellano stays aboard for a barn he rarely rides for. The only concern for the Conductor is the wide post, but 8/1 would be more than enough for him to take a swing.

Race 9: 7 Furlongs. G2 John A. Nerud Stakes

Three Technique (5/1) – The Conductor has always been a fan of this hard knocker who runs huge late pace figures on dirt. His best races can beat this group and his running style fits Belmont perfectly. He hasn’t missed the board in 5 career starts over this dirt track and 5/1  is more than fair in this 7 horse field. He can clog two gaps and still make the tackle. Skip.

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