Belmont Park: Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Analsysis, Selections

One week ahead of the Belmont Stakes, Belmont Park features another graded contest. The Pennine Ridge is a grade 2 turf stakes on Saturday’s card.

A Look Ahead to the Belmont Stakes

With a week to go before the third leg of the triple crown, here are the runners that currently may be pointed to the race. On paper this year’s contest looks to be a wide open affair.

• Brigadier General trained by Dallas Stewart
• Howling Time trained by Dale Romans
• Golden Glider trained by Mark Casse
• Skippylongstocking trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr.
• Barber Road trained by John Ortiz
• Creative Minister trained by Kenny McPeek
• Nest trained by Todd Pletcher
• Ethereal Road trained by D. Wayne Lukas
• We the People trained by Rudolphe Brisset
• Rich Strike trained by Eric Reed
• Mo Donegal trained by Todd Pletcher

Pennine Ridge Full Card Analysis

Belmont Park Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM ET; Purse: $75,000 Maiden Special Weight, About 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 10

• #4 RUSSIARUSSIARUSSIA (2-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & record at the distance.
• #3 OUR JESSICA (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & race flow.
• #8 EAU CLAIRE (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & pedigree.
• #1 WHATLOVELOOKSLIKE (3-1) has connections that can be dangerous with these turf maidens.

Selections: 4-3-8-1

Belmont Park Race 2

Post: 1:32 PM ET; Purse: $28,000 Claiming, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 ALFIE SOLOMONS (6-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #6 ROAD TO SUCCESS (2-1) is the next likeliest winner. This one should have the foundation to get the 6 1/2 furlongs and may just get the perfect race shape here.
• #2 BRUNATE (9-2) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #3 SCORPION DYNASTY (10-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.

Selections: 5-6-2-3

Belmont Park Race 3

Post: 2:03 PM ET; Purse: $48,000 Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #2 PRAIRIE FIRE (7-2) is worth a look here given edges in class & form.
• #5 SHE'S A BLACK BELT (8-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & early foot.
• #1 GREATEST LOVE (7-2) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #3 CHAYSENBRYN (3-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & power rating.

Selections: 2-5-1-3

Belmont Park Race 4

Post: 2:34 PM ET; Purse: $85,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, About 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 8

• #7 KING ANGELO (4-1) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & pace numbers.
• #4 SWASHBUCKLE (5-1) will likely have the stamina to be around in the late stages of the race.
• #2 NOT PHAR NOW (3-1) has speed figures that fit with this group
• #1 VALMONT (7-2) could be a factor in the early pace. If the speed holds this one could be in a great spot.

Selections: 7-4-2-1

Belmont Park Race 5

Post: 3:03 PM ET; Purse: $75,000 Maiden Special Weight, 7 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 11

• #6 SARAH'S SPLENDOR (3-1) is the fresh face in this group and while that angle can often be far more deadly in the claiming ranks, I like this one to be in with a shot here.
• #5 LISA'S VISION (2-1) has a great shot in the race given the speed & class.
• #7 VOLEUSE (7-2) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #1 SHINFULL (6-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.

Selections: 6-5-7-1

Belmont Park Race 6

Post: 3:34 PM ET; Purse: $28,000 Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 F F ROCKET (7-2) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & record at the distance.
• #1 GOLANI BRIGADE (5-2) should be competitive based on the overall power rating which has it tops in the group.
• #4 ZAEVION (4-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & early pace.
• #2 I LOVE JAXSON (6-1) has run against some really honest runners and may be able to parlay that experience into a good run here.

Selections: 5-1-4-2

Belmont Park Race 7

Post: 4:06 PM ET; Purse: $92,000 Allowance, 7 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 16

• #2 STONY POINT (6-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's record at the distance & form. This looks like one of the best chances to get a price on top.
• #1 ANADOR (4-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today from the inside draw.
• #12 MISCHIEVOUS DIANE (9-5) has the speed figures to win here, but I worry a bit about the horse needing to be on or near the lead and having to cover a lot of ground from post 12.
• #4 NAZUNA (3-1) merits consideration in this spot given the connections.

Selections: 2-1-12-4

Belmont Park Race 8

Post: 4:40 PM ET; Purse: $60,000 Starter Allowance, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #3 LUNI SIMA (3-1) gets the top selection here as this runner has done nothing wrong to this point in the career.
• #2 INVISIBLE WAR (6-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.
• #7 JAKE ROCKS (10-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #4 COUSTEAU (6-1) is a solid price that could get a nice setup in the race.

Selections: 3-2-7-4

Belmont Park Race 9

Post: 5:12 PM ET; Purse: $200,000 Pennine Ridge S., About 1 1/8 Miles on Turf; Entries: 7

• #4 NAPOLEONIC WAR (3-1) is out of the Chad Brown barn and ridden by his new first call rider. With Flavian Prat in the saddle, this one could be tough to take down.
• #6 EMMANUEL (5-2) switches to the turf after a stint on the Derby trail. This one is talented, but the question will be in how this one takes to the surface.
• #7 UNANIMOUS CONSENT (8-5) is the other Chad Brown. I never play a Brown ridden by Manny Franco on the turf over another runner from the same barn. This one may finish 2nd, but I don’t seem it beating the stablemate.
• #1 GILDED AGE (5-2) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts for Bill Mott though it is a bit puzzling that no rider has yet been given the call.

Selections: 4-6-7-1

Belmont Park Race 10

Post: 5:44 PM ET; Purse: $55,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 14

• #10 CADENCIA (6-1) has a great shot in the race given the speed & class.
• #6 MISS BONNIE T (6-1) should have the foundation to carry speed long on the grass.
• #1 INVESTMENT INCOME (4-1) gets Irad in the saddle and is trained by Chad Brown. I don’t love that this one is in maiden claiming. That suggests Brown is willing to lose this one, but his roster is so deep that being at the end of the bench may make you a top runner in most barns.
• #5 RHOMBIQUE (20-1) is a bomb that could be one of those under the radar runners who trips out perfectly. These types can blow up the trifecta.

Selections: 10-6-1-5

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