Price’s Belmont Preview

Good morning and Happy Belmont weekend!

The Belmont festival of racing is doing its victory lap around Saratoga Springs this year for what will likely be the final time. NYRA started a massive overhaul of Belmont park three to four years ago, which is quite remarkable considering the number of races that historically took place at the track. It is a massive project and the results of which should bolster racing in New York for years to come. One of the benefits is for the past few years we have gotten to enjoy this incredible weekend of racing in Saratoga Springs, which is always a treat. I had the pleasure of going to the past two and they were fabulous. Saratoga Springs is always a magical place, but in early summer it is just spectacular.

One of the interesting caveats to the race is the change in distance. Historically the Belmont has been 1 ½ miles, one lap around Belmont Park. Saratoga Springs is a smaller track and this distance is not feasible, so they shorten the race to 1 ¼ miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.

At the top of the stretch in the Kentucky Derby I thought, for a moment, that I had nailed it. The rail opened up and there was Emerging Market just waiting to pounce…and then he wasn’t. What played out the rest of the race I thought was incredible, Renegade some how navigating the trip and then Golden Tempo swooping up the outside…Irad / Jose…their embrace…it was really a magical Derby.

So many of the Kentucky Deby players are back and I think the Belmont, competing at the same distance, it should be a really fun race.

The one new shooter to consider is Growth Equity, and I think he is pretty live. He is the same connections as Emerging Market, Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables (Seth Klarman), and he comes off a very impressive win in the Peter Pan stakes. He is pretty tactical, meaning he will rate close to the pace, and I think he is a very good chance at likely longer odds as he will be overshadowed by the Derby runners. His rider Manny Franco is a great guy, who won four races yesterday, and is managed by our good friend John Panagot, who is celebrating a birthday on Saturday…could there be a better present!?

I did think Golden Tempo had a chance in the Derby and am going to play against him this weekend. I would love to see him win again as I love his connections, but for my money I am going to use Growth Equity, Renegade, Commandment…with maybe Chief Wallabee and Emerging Market as well.

Mill Ridge Runners Friday

COUNTING STARS lines up this afternoon at 5:08 for the Grade 1 Acorn. We were so proud of her effort in the Kentucky Oaks and are hopeful she can turn the tables on Always a Runner. The Acorn will be a 5 horse field, which I believe will really suit Counting Stars as she is pretty tactical and can sit closer to the pace. The big change for her is her rider with Irad Ortiz taking the reins. Irad is one of the best riders in the country and has been champion rider at Saratoga the last four years. He knows the track and I believe Counting Stars has a huge opportunity today.

We also have TIME TO DREAM in the Grade 2 Wonder Again, which will be contested at 4:28. She showed brilliance in Saratoga last year winning her maiden race as well as the PG Johnson, the first stakes for 2 year old turf fillies. While she finished 7th last time out it was a sneaky good race for her and I hope a return to Saratoga will be just what she is looking for to get back to the winner’s circle.

Saturday

The True North at 3:25 is another fantastic race on the card and likely a preview of the Breeders Cup sprint between Book em Danno, Imagination, and Bentornato. The race will be very fast, which could set up for a closer like Mill Ridge raised BE YOU. It will be a tall order, but you can’t win if you’re not in. 😊

TEST SCORE is back off a disappointing run in the Turf Classic on Derby Day. After winning the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf he was given some time off and brought back for the Turf Classic. Often times horses will need a race to get fit from a layoff and I am hopeful he will bounce back and be more competitive. He won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby last year and I think he has a big chance. The favorite Rhetorical is very good so it is a tall order, but he definitely has the ability to outrun his odds, and his trainer Graham Motion is a master of getting horses to fire on big days at long odds.