At the Gate - Friday
By Mike Dempsey
The shape of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) continues to change and lost a major contender as the connections of Cavorting announced the mare would be retired.
The mare won the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga in her last outing on Aug. 27, her third win in four starts this year. She developed cannon bone bruising following a workout on Sept. 26 and will head to the breeding shed.
Among the top 12 in early betting, she became the second to retire. Last year’s Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria was retired last month.
In addition, Carina Mia and Curalina are likely headed to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
The top three are still being pointed toward one of the most anticipated showdowns of the year. Songbird is likely going to go off as the betting favorite as she puts her perfect record at risk.
She has won all 11 of her career starts including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall at Keeneland.
Beholder already has a pair of Breeders’ Cup wins, taking the Juvenile Fillies in 2012 and the Distaff (G1) in 2013.
Stellar Wind was the champion three-year-old filly last year and has beaten Beholder in her last two starts.
Top Contenders for Breeders’ Cup Distaff:
Songbird -125
Beholder +280
Stellar Wind +450
Cavorting +750 (retired)
Carina Mia +850 (likely going to BC Filly & Mare Sprint)
Cathryn Sophia +1300 (likely going to BC Filly & Mare Sprint)
Forever Unbridled +1300
Curalina +1800 (might go to BC Filly & Mare Sprint)
Land Over Sea +2000
Stopchargingmaria +2000 (retired)
Paid Up Subscriber +2400
Sheer Drama +2800
Here is the opening race from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Md $50,000 (12:55 ET)
#10 Summer of Joy 6-1
#5 Tiz Rae Anna 6-5
#9 Tiz All Behind Us 12-1
#4 Hostilebutawesome 12-1
Analysis: Summer of Joy made her debut on the bull ring at the Md. State Fair, stalking the early pace and weakening to finish fifth. The winner Sommer Something came back to beat $16,000 starter optional claimers in her next outing on Sept. 22 at Delaware Park. She adds blinkers and drops in for a tag here for the RRod barn that is 20% winners with second out maidens. She is out of the stakes winner La Princesse Jolie ($185,460) who has dropped four winners, top earner stakes winner Spectacular Sky ($288,985).
Tiz Rae Anna drops in for a tag for her third career start here for the Englehart barn. Last out she tracked the early pace and weakened to finish seventh in her first trip over the main track here. The winner Yellow Agate came back to win the Frizette (G1) in her next outing on Oct. 8. She catches a softer group here for a barn that is 22% winners dropping runners from maiden special weight to maiden claiming.
Wagering
WIN: #10 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 5,10 / 4,5,9,10
TRI: 5,10 / 4,5,9,10 / 4,5,7,9,10
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 7 Alw $77,000N1X (4:13 ET)
#4 Mastic 6-1
#2 Delicate Lady 8-1
#1 Smartly Agree 3-1
#7 Tale for Ruby 9-5
Analysis: Mastic tracked the early pace from the rail and could not get to the loose on the lead gate to wire winner late in a runner up finish at this level here. The winner was Kelsocait, who came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers in her next outing on Oct. 10. She was claimed for just $12,500 back in June and has shown steady improvement since landing with Arriaga.
Delicate Lady bobbled coming out of the gate and was off next to last and finished evenly in a third place finish last out at the Spa in her first start since last October. As a juvenile she broke her maiden in her debut and then was third in the Adirondack (G2) before not taking to the turf in the Jessamine (G3) at Keeneland. She returns here off a 2 1/2 month break for Pletcher and worth another look here in her second start this year. Decent value if she goes off near her 8-1 morning line.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,4,7
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,4,7 / 1,2,4,6,7
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #9 Tiz All Behind Us 12-1
R1: #4 Hostilebutawesome 12-1
R5: #4 Pegasus Red 8-1
R7: #2 Delicate Lady 8-1
R8: #5 Snowday 15-1
R9: #5 Benny Big Boy 15-1
Good luck today!