Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for Saturday, Oct. 1
Best Bet: BANTERRA (1); Best Value: LOVE AND LOVE (4)
FIRST: Banterra regressed last time after fast-figured placing in debut; rebounds. Pretty Miss Keens has drilled twice since speed and fade in first start; dangerous. Miss Fashionista debuts for Pletcher and Repole; be no surprise.
SECOND: Freydis the Red was a tough-trip second in last; two works in the interim seal the deal. Justifiable Belle also was second in last (albeit with slower final fraction); logical contender. Idea Generation returns to maiden ranks for Chad Brown; likely underlay.
THIRD: Our Philly Special drops into basement for local debut; "A" game takes this. Runabout should pack intensified kick with cutback to 7 furlongs; very playable. Tapizearance is fresh and owns fast back numbers but takes suspicious price plunge in first start since claimed; mixed message.
FOURTH: Love and Love logged most recent win on this surface and distance this past spring; ready to fire. Halo City owns three wins at the distance; very interesting. Brattle House could prove very tough on a soft lead.
FIFTH: Full Moon Madness owns experience edge in eight-horse field with seven newcomers. Limits of Power noticeably picked up the tempo in final two works. Mount Up and (Pletcher) and Inflationary (Brown) are two more firsters that must be factored into the mix if charting suggest they're live.
SIXTH: Sheriff Bianco fired crisp 5-furlong drill since non-stressful third in last; more to give. Courageous Oh La bested top selection by a half-length after doing the dirty work up front on Sept. 4; big-time player. King Moonracer could be in the catbird seat if pace meltdown ensues.
SEVENTH: Life Is Good holds edge on the numbers against four overmatched rivals; Woodward Stakes for watching only. Keepmeinmind will be aided by cutback to 1 1/8 miles. Thomas Shelby's speed could give him a puncher's chance at a fat ticket.
EIGHTH: Be Your Best has visually impressed in winning both starts; rates close call in small but competitive field. Pleasant Passage was a determined winner at the distance in debut; very dangerous. Alluring Angel should find the added ground right in her wheelhouse; worth long look.
NINTH: Arzak chased scorching splits and faded late in Grade 2 stakes at Kentucky Downs last time; better setup today. Scuttlebuzz logs fast final fractions on best efforts; very interesting. Thin White Duke, a last-race winner, is 1-for-1 on Big A sod; must consider.
TENTH: Verifying tallied swift final fraction when living up to massive tote support when winning debut; 2-year-old colt with a future. Gulfport is speedy and could prove a handful on a soft lead. Top Recruit has trained strongly since winning Ellis Park stakes in August; don't overlook.
ELEVENTH: Captainsdaughter should pack heightened wallop with cutback to 6 furlongs. Tellaperfecttale is fleet-footed and logged two wins at the Big A. Kant Hurry Love also owns speed and must be factored into the mix. Liberty Flame is fresh and owns swift back numbers; right in the thick of this.
