Saturday Plays at Belmont
Saturday Plays at Belmont
Saturday at Belmont they will run the Man O War, a turf marathon, The Peter Pan, a nice three-year old stake, and The Runhappy a sprint. Something for everybody as they say.
For me the Man O War looks like a race of mostly horses who have their best days in the rear-view mirror. There are two exceptions as I see it. I always try to look for horses on an upswing whenever possible and after dissecting this race I would up coming down to those two.
Warren Point ships in for the always dangerous Charlie Appleby from Qatar and Bahrain. Prior to that the horse ran in the UK. While the company he kept is iffy, he is a Group 1 second place finisher last out and the 4-year-old gelding shows up every time and Frankie is coming to ride for Godolphin.
Howe Street was bet to favoritism last out in The Elkhorn at Keeneland and made a middle move while trying stakes foes for the first time. He takes blinkers off for this and has tasted the deep waters. Prat sticks and he can turn the tables on Verstappen and Red Knight who both beat him and are back here as well. Jorge Abreu is good taking blinkers off.
The Peter Pan also came down to two for me.
Henry Q is back with Doug O’ Neill and Dettori who broke his maiden rides. He should like the one turn mile and an eighth and he was OK in the two Sunland Park stakes. His main problem might be the horse to his outside.
Bishops Bay is two for two and tries stakes company here. He too should relish the one turn mile and an eighth and this Uncle Mo colt has plenty of upside and tactical speed.
In The Runhappy Pennsylvania bred Beren is fast and consistent. Irad Ortiz will ride for capable Robert Reid and should be able to place this horse where he wants him to be. At 11 for 27 lifetime this guy knows how to win and is two for two at Belmont. I’ll land here in this one.
The other two will be game time decisions unless we get a scratch or two. I can see myself leaning to Appleby on the grass and Cox on the dirt but again I’ll be making that decision late Saturday.
Enjoy the races!