At the Gate - Sunday
By Mike Dempsey
The star of Saturday was the filly Catch a Glimpse, a gate to wire winner in the $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), stamping her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in November at Santa Anita.
She won her eighth race in a row and her second Grade 1 victory. Her first came in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
She stopped the timer for the 1 ¼ miles on turf in 1:59.87, which was faster than Deauville’s win in the Belmont Derby (G1). The colt won his race in gate to wire fashion for trainer Aiden O’Brien in 2:00.51.
The clunker of the day was tossed in by Private Zone in the Belmont Sprint Championship (G3). The defending champion and runner up of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) was sent off as the 7-5 favorite but was not a real threat in a fourth place finish.
The race was won by A.P. Indian, who was bet down from his 10-1 morning line to 6-1 and prevailed by a head over a game Marking.
Here is today’s opener from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $25,000 (1:30 ET)
#3 Galardonado 7-2
#6 Erik the Red 5-2
#1 Still Krz / 1a Red Crème 3-1
#4 Beach Hut 4-1
Analysis: Galardonado dueled for the early lead and could not go with the winner late in a runner up finish against $32,000 claimers here in his first start off the claim by the Englehart barn. He was the beaten chalk two and three back after winning for this tag four back at Keeneland. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and the barn does good work with recent claims. He fits well in this spot with his best and Castellano sticks.
Erik the Red drops out of a $50,000 claimer where he was off a beat slow and not much of a threat in a sixth place finish at 4-1. He makes his third start off the layoff here and he was good enough to beat Alw-2 optional claimers over the main track here last fall. He should be closer to the pace in this spot and is in good hands with the Rice barn that has been sending out live runners at the meeting, hitting at a 27% clip.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 3,6 / 1,3,6
TRI: no play
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 OClm $62,500N2X (5:13 ET)
#3 Montclair 8-1
#6 Tambourin 5-2
#4 Request 5-1
#5 Make a Decision 5-1
Analysis: Montclair won at this condition two back at Gulfstream Park going 1 3/16 miles on turf and last out checked in fourth at this distance in his local debut. The runner up Fundamental came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers (was second by a nose and placed first via a DQ) on June 11 here. Our top pick was claimed out of his last outing by the Gargan barn that is 26% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. he is Group 2 placed and is proven at the distance. Seems likely to get bet down from the 8-1 morning line.
Tambourin finished evenly in a fourth place finish last out at Monmouth Park in his U.S. debut, coming back off a year layoff. He beat allowance foes at Chantilly in his second career start at 1 5/16 miles, then was fifth in Group 3 company. A nice pedigree, by Smart Strike out of the stakes winner Colony Band ($187,037). He should move forward second off the bench for the Motion barn.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 3,6 / 3,4,5,6
TRI: 3,6 / 3,4,5,6 / 3,4,5,6,7
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Laurel Park:
LRL Race 8 OClm $40,000N3X (5:16 ET)
#5 Noble Cornerstone 10-1
#3 Mr Palmer 6-5
#7 Golden Glint 4-1
#6 Old Upstart 6-1
Analysis: Noble Cornerstone stretches out from a sprint here where the gelding was not much of a threat in a ninth place finish in his first go off a 5 1/2 month layoff. He has done his best work sprinting, his last win coming last June where he beat Alw-2 optional claimers at Belmont Park. This is still one turn and he owns solid early and mid pace numbers in a race without a ton of speed. He figures to move forward off his last outing and is going to be a decent price in this spot.
Mr Palmer had the lead heading for home at this level last out but could not hold off the winner late. He has landed in the exacta in three of his four starts here including winning the Private terms back in '13. He has had a habit of landing for minor shares in his career but RRod has gotten him to the winners circle three times in his last seven starts. The logical one to beat but his price is going to be very much on the light side.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 6-1 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 3,5 / 3,5,6,7 / 3,4,5,6,7
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
R2: #7 Dark Street 12-1
R3: #5 Villa Savoye 20-1
R4: #7 Chatter Pattern 8-1
R7: #3 Know It All Anna 15-1
RF8: #3 Montclair 8-1
Good luck today!
