Steve Matthews' Belmont selections for Friday, June 3
Best bet: McLOVIN (4)
Best value: UNBRIDLED BOMBER (7)
FIRST: Weyhill Farm Rd. owns win-early breeding and concluded work tab with crisp half-mile drill; best guess in field of newcomers. Andiamo a Firenze compiled eye-catching training tab for debut; could be the goods. M. C. Double R is from a dam that has produced two winners from two foals to race; charting a must.
SECOND: Lionessofbrittany owns speed and could get the early jump with aggressive handling from the rail. Translate could be sitting in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall in the lane. Inajiffy is another that would be aided by pace meltdown.
THIRD: Bastet was a useful fourth in first start since two-month layoff last time; rates close call. Big Tony's Girl was a wide second in same last race as top selection; dangerous. Carly Hustle runs late and could impact if fractions get hot and hectic.
FOURTH: McLovin overcame soft flow to win second in a row last time; more to give. Petit Fils is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Soldier Rising owns fast late-pace figures on best efforts; must consider.
FIFTH: Hey Padre is training with a purpose for first start since last autumn; ready for return. Happy Farm delivers strong efforts with machinelike consistency; very dangerous. Shiraz could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; worth long look.
SIXTH: Giocare was a sharp second in last and owns faster back numbers; more to come. Crypto Cash owns two wins and two seconds from last four starts; logical contender. Direct Order makes first start since claimed after dominant victory in most recent; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Unbridled Bomber was a late-running third in last and outworked 71 rivals in half-mile bullet this past Sunday; additional furlong is key. Highly Respected logged swift numbers in both starts; likely underlay. Varatti is another that has delivered strong efforts in two outings; be no surprise.
EIGHTH: Shawdyshawdyshawdy makes peak start of form cycle after improved third in last; more in tank. Regal Speaker owns two wins and a second from three starts on Belmont sod; very dangerous. Irwin bested top selection by a neck when second on May 6; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Howe Street logged rapid final fraction when second in debut on Big A sod this past April; crisp 5-furlong drill on May 23 seals the deal. Torpedo Run owns speed and has top-notch front-end rider at the helm; very interesting. Causin' Mayhem was second to a repeat winner in debut on Gulfstream grass in March; dangerous. Growth Capital, from Chad Brown barn, has finished second as the favorite in both starts; short price once again.
