Steve Matthews' Belmont at The Big A selections for Friday, Sept. 30
Best Bet: STRONG ODOR (2); Best Value: NECROMANCER (4)
FIRST: North Pole has worked four times since sharp second last out; resurrected David Jacobson barn finally finds winner's circle? Fazaro owns positional speed; dangerous. Order of Magnitude makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; must consider.
SECOND: Strong Odor compiled eye-catching training tab for first start since New Year's Eve; potent layoff barn. Stop War is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. The Important One also is fleet-footed and could impact if able to shake clear from Stop War.
THIRD: Tara Dancer returns to maiden ranks after wide trip in stakes field last time. Photon moves to turf with first dirt numbers; be no surprise. Succulent was disqualified after apparent last-to-first score on Sept. 4; winner versus maidens?
FOURTH: Necromancer gets confident price boost after game placing in last; more to come. Upper Level is quick from gate and drops; very dangerous. Actualize, another with speed, should move forward in second start since three-month layoff.
FIFTH: Happy Farm should be ideally positioned from outside post in small field. Saint Selby could play out as the main speed on the rail; big-time threat. Synthesis packs potent late kick on best efforts; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Slow Down Summer adds blinkers and could get early jump in bulky group. Bad Samaritan was a tough-trip seventh in debut; very interesting. Fancypants Juliana has drilled six times since first start; worth long look.
SEVENTH: Make Mischief was a dominant winner in Yaddo Handicap that was moved to dirt last month; transfers razor-sharp form to turf. Pure Bode, another last-race winner, can be effective from on or off pace; dangerous. Classic Lady is fresh and owns fast numbers on best efforts; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Winter Pool is training sharply for first start since claimed; fires big shot. Pioneer Spirit is fresh and turns back to more appropriate distance. Two Thirty Five gets class relief after taking backward step in last; bounce-back threat.
NINTH: Unruly Julie makes first start since moving to Bill Mott barn; breakthrough predicted. Parnac was a willing second last out; logical contender. Out of Sight fires strong efforts with machine-like consistency; must consider. Musical Romance gets the meds for stateside debut; intriguing.
