Day #1 was everything and more for this handicapper. – I’m sitting back like one does after a fine dinner and a Cuban cigar. It was a day that was awfully tough to beat, but in a handicapper’s fashion I find myself digging into my selections before I make my final call with the E-Z Win Forms. – Grab them up, and get to handicapping. Day #2 looks to have some of the same stuff if not better. But we’ll only know if we see it take place. – Best of luck from your friends at Winning Ponies !

 

Race #4 – The B/C Juvenile Fillies – 1 1/16 – 3:05 pm ET

#5 – Sweet Loretta (6-1) = Javier Castellano in the irons for Todd Pletcher and they win 20% as a team. Two-year-old filly who is a perfect 3/3 with wins. She owns two solid works over the deep Belmont oval in preparation.

 

Race #5 – The B/C Filly and Mare Turf – 1 1/4 – 3:43 pm ET

#8 – Lady Eli (5-2) = Irad Ortiz congratulated his brother Jose on his first B/C win, and he looks to do the same for the red-hot Chad Brown barn. She is 1/1 at Santa Anita and 8/8 ITM on the grass. It was a long road to get her back in the game much less to the level she was used to showing. I think you’ll be hard pressed to find a chink in her armor.

 

Race #6 – The B/C Sprint – 6f – 4:21 pm ET

#5 – AP Indian (4-1) = Jersey Joe Bravo in the saddle and he is looking for 6-in-a-row. This son of Indian Charlie has the goods to make it happen, and Bravo is double-dog-tough on the big money days.

 

Race #7 – The B/C Turf Sprint – 6 1/2f on the turf – 5:05 pm ET

#8 – Washington DC = Ryan Moore in the irons for Aiden O’Brien. They get first Lasix and the barn wins 18% on this move. He ran a beautiful race at Chantilly last out and looks to bring some Euro-style to the day.

 

Race#8 – The B/C Juvenile – 1 1/16 – 5:43 pm ET

#9 – Practical Joke = Joel Rosario for Chad Brown. They are looking to be a perfect 4/4 with wins today and they overcame a bad trip last out to get up in the shadow of the wire.

 

Race #9 – The B/C Turf – 1 1/2 on the turf – 6:22 pm ET

#6 – Mondialiste (15-1) = Daniel Tudhope makes the trek across the pond for David O’Meara. Winner of the Arlington Million and second in the B/C Mile at Keeneland last year. Bumped a bit in the stretch and ran a game 4th against a key race field. Son of Galileo and was bumped around a bit and has the goods to make it to the winner’s circle at a square price.

 

Race #10 – The B/C Filly and Mare Sprint – 7f – 7:01 pm ET

#3 – Tara’s Tango (8-1) = Rafael Bejarano in the saddle for Jerry Hollendorfer. She is 6/8 ITM at SA and 2nd off a brief layoff. She comes into the race fresh and cuts back to 7f from 1 1/16.

 

Race #11 – The B/C Mile – 1 mile on the turf – 7:40 pm ET

#9 – Ironicus (8-1) = Jose Ortiz comes out of the key race at Keeneland in the Shadwell Mile. This son of Distorted Humor has a late kick that is plain scary. This is my best play of the day and Shug McGaughey knows how to bring them ready. 2nd off the summer layoff and this is time to get a good price and see Ortiz notch another win.

 

Race #12 – The B/C Classic – 1 1/4 – 8:35 pm ET

#10 – Arrogate (5-2) = Mike Smith up for Bob Baffert and they are looking for five-in-a-row. I’m looking for a race similar to what we saw yesterday in the Distaff and when California Chrome comes calling, it should be worth the wait.