Belmont Park Saturday: Graded Turf Stakes Analysis

One of the most thrilling parts of summer racing in New York is the competitive turf fields. Saturday at Belmont Park features the graded Soaring Softly on the grass.

Full Card Selections

Belmont Park- Race 1

Post: 1:00 PM ET; $47k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 HAPPY BOB (8-5) gets the top selection. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #6 TALKIN PHAROAH (7-2) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. This one goes out for the Linda Rice barn and gets Ortiz in the irons.
• #2 FRISKY JIM (5-2) debuts here at a short price and that usually indicates that the backside is buzzing about this one.
• #7 AL'S FROSTED (6-1) debuts here and in the maiden claiming ranks there is a much better likelihood of getting something a bit chaotic so maybe this group just needs a fresh face.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 2 – 7

Belmont Park- Race 2

Post: 1:30 PM ET; $100k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 7

• #5 SPACE LAUNCH (5-2) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Clement and Ortiz. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #4 PORTFOLIO COMPANY (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance. This one has a good kick to the finish.
• #2 DAUNT (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #1A Q F SEVENTY FIVE (9-5) makes sense on speed figures. He should be able to get a forward position and the presence of a stablemate here could mean some team tactics to help this runner.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 2 – 1A

Belmont Park- Race 3

Post: 2:03 PM ET; $55k Maiden Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 7

• #2 VARIABLE COST (4-1) should improve off the first start and looks best here. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #1 BROKEN SPUR (7-5) appears to be a major player in this race. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #3 YORKSHIRE PRINCE (5-1) is interesting. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #6 FIRE BARON (10-1) is a horse at a nice price that could make the exotics interesting if he runs to his talent.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 3 – 6

Belmont Park- Race 4

Post: 2:32 PM ET; $95k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 6

• #2 THUNDERIAN (3-1) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
• #6 SMOOTH FLYIN MIKE (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #3 WARRIOR RICHARD (9-2) isn't without hope. He has races that make him a player in this spot. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 ALTERNATE REALITY (4-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 3 – 4

Belmont Park- Race 5

Post: 3:03 PM ET; $90k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 8

• #6 UTILIZATION RATE (2-1) is the top pick. She is well bred for this spot. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Ortiz.
• #1 MIRABELLA (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group.
• #4 DORAL (7-2) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one seems to fit well enough here on class.
• #3 ZAPPERA (4-1) should improve off the first start and should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 4 – 3

Belmont Park- Race 6

Post: 3:34 PM ET; $100k Allowance Optional Claiming going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 MAJORITY PARTNER (5-2) looks best here. He seems to fit well with this group. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #6 MARKET ALERT (10-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. He shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 HAPPY FARM (9-2) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #3 VITTORIO (8-5) should be competitive in this spot. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has been running against some solid competition of late.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 2 – 3

Belmont Park- Race 7

Post: 4:06 PM ET; $175k Soaring Softly S. going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 6

• #2 LOVE APPEALS (6-5) gets the top selection. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #3 AMERICAN APPLE (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #6 SENIOR PRANK (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. She should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #1 LADY BETH (7-2) should improve off the first start and isn't without hope. She won on debut which isn’t easy. The waters get much deeper here but the talent is there.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 6 – 1

Belmont Park- Race 8

Post: 4:40 PM ET; $55k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 DUST DEVIL (3-1) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance and looks dangerous in this spot.
• #6 GLORY ROAD (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #3 ALCOOLS (10-1) seems to fit well enough here at a generous price. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #7 ROCCO STRONG (5-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 3 – 7

Belmont Park- Race 9

Post: 5:12 PM ET; $95k Allowance going 1 3/8 miles on turf; Entries: 7

• #4 INFLATION ADJUSTED (2-1) looks best here. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #1 DANZIGWITHTHESTARS (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one goes out for the Schettino barn and gets Mccarthy in the irons.
• #3 AFJAN (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He goes out for the Toscano barn and gets Davis in the irons. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 3/8 mile distance.
• #6 FIGHTER IN THE WIN (6-1) should be able to get the distance of this race. He is drawn well and should be able to run his race in this spot.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 6

Belmont Park- Race 10

Post: 5:44 PM ET; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #9 LOON CRY (9-5) gets the top selection. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #5 PHOTON (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. She runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #15 SHE'S A NATURAL (12-1) is a price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #10 STRICTLY TABOO (6-1) isn't without hope. She shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.

Selections: 9 – 5 – 15- 10