BetPTC.com / Graded Stakes Preview / Ed Meyer
Belmont Race #6 – G3 Dwyer – 1 mile on the main- 4:38 pm
BetPTC.com Selections – #2 – (6-5) Battalion Runner / #3 – (7-5) Practical Joke / (#5 – (5-1) Giusseppe the Great
Battalion Runner is a good looking son of Unbridled’s Song who is 4/4 ITM lifetime. He ran a game effort in the G2 Wood Memorial finishing second to Irish War Cry. Cuts back from 1 1/8 to a mile, and makes his first start off the layoff for Todd Pletcher. The barn wins (29%) with rested runners and a couple bullet works over the course has everything looking good. Practical Joke comes in for Chad Brown exiting the Kentucky Derby. He’s been on a brief vacation for 2 months and may not have taken to the track in Louisville. Solid stalker type who plans to come calling down the lane. Giusseppe the Great is a lightly raced colt from the barn of Nick Zito. He is 4/4 ITM this year and was picking up the pieces in the G2 Woody Stephens finishing 2nd.
Race #8 – G1 Belmont Oaks – 1 1/4 on the main track – 5:46 pm
BetPTC.com Selections – #8 -(7-2) New Money Honey / #2 – (15-1) Beau Recall / #7 – (6-1) Uni / #12 – (5-2) Sistercharlie
New Money Honey is making her 2nd start off a two month layoff in the hands of Javier Castellano. Her last effort in the G3 Wonder Again showed good promise coming in fresh and ready. She showed a whole new dimesion grabbing the lead going wire-to-wire. Chad Brown is the trainer and comes back to score (27%) off a stakes win. She is 2/2 at Belmont, and you have to respect the barn on big race days. Beau Recall ships in from Santa Anita, and has the services of Flavien Prat who wins (21%) on the turf. She is conditoned by Simon Callaghan and looks to put away the bridesmaid dress and walk into the winner’s circle. By all accounts she looks to be sitting on a big effort. Uni is a daughter of More than Ready for Chad Brown / Irad Ortiz. She is coming over from France, and Brown wins (29%) with new runners in his barn. Sistercharlie has been a monster and her last race at Chantilly was a big effort in the Group 1 Prix de Diane. I love the move to Chad Brown / John Velasquez , and there is not much you couldn’t like. Opening up at (5-2) and breaking from the #12 post is enough to send me looking for a better price. If she runs half of her last race she’ll be tough, but you’re not going to get the price you deserve. I’m leaning to the other Chad Brown runners who offer a better price.
Race #9 – G2 Suburban Handicap – 1 1/4 – 6:18 pm
BetPTC.com Selections – #6 – (4-5) Shaman Ghost / #5 – (8-1) Follow Me Crev / #3 – (15-1) Sunny Ridge
Shaman Ghost is shooting for three straight wins. This son of Ghostzapper was closing stoutly in the G3 Pimlico Special. 2/3 ITM at Belmont and gets an added 1/16th of a mile to target. He appears to be hitting his gear at the right time and is 4/5 at the distance. Follow Me Crev exits the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita and has faced some real tough guys along his journey. He sports a bullet work going 1:13 flat at Santa Anita and ships to New York for trainer Vladimir Cerin. Sunny Ridge is a son of Holy Bull and 2/2 ITM over the Belmont surface. Manny Franco in the irons for Jason Servis (33%) and they could get a piece of the pie stalking just off the speed.
Race #10 – G1 Belmont Derby – 1 1/4 on the turf – 6:50 pm
BetPTC.com Selections – #1 – (12-1) Good Samaritan / #6 – (8-1) Arlow / #5 – (5-1) Called To The Bar
Good Samaritan exits the G3 Pennine Ridge at Belmont. This son of Harlan’s Holiday has returned to the races stronger than ever in 2017. The distance should not be a problem and draws the golden rail winning at a rate of (29%). Bill Mott is the trainer and Joel Rosario has been the only rider aboard. You’ll see him working up the rail looking for his path at the 1/4 pole. Arklow was the longshot winner who beat Good Samaritan in the G2 American Turf at Churchill Downs. Mike Smith stays aboard, and this son of Arch is 2/2 on the greensward. Smith is winning at (42%) at Belmont and the “Money Man” cometh for a very good reason. I think we’ll be hearing good things from this guy in the future. Called To The Bar ships in from France and is 4/4 ITM on the turf. He has been away from the races for 46 days and the son of Henrythenavigator. He has won at this distance for rider Maxime Guyon at Chantilly.