Steve Matthews' Belmont selections for Thursday, June 9
Best bet SPIKED (2)
Best value: U CAN'T HANDLE THIS (9)
FIRST: Turn of Events is training with a purpose for first start since autumn; owns four wins on Belmont sod. Reux could play out as the main speed with aggressive ride. Artemus Citylimits delivers strong efforts with machinelike consistency; big-time player.
SECOND: Spiked tallied rapid final fraction when a clear-cut second in debut this past March; sharp work tab for return seals the deal. Precursory should be favorably positioned near the front in field that's light on speed. Aunt Naughty owns two seconds and a third from four starts; must consider.
THIRD: Consumer Spending owns field's fastest late-pace and final figures. Shad Nation makes third start of form cycle; dangerous. Skims packs potent kick on best efforts.
FOURTH: Ouster logged improved internal numbers in last; breakthrough predicted. Devil Boy fired half-mile bullet since last start; very playable. Tommy Gun owns speed and has trained sharply for first start since seven-week freshener; right in the thick of this.
FIFTH: Talkin Pharoah moves to grass for Wes Ward; timid call in nine-horse field with seven newcomers. Morethanreadyeddie owns turf breeding on both sides of pedigree. Dr Oseran debuts for potent first-out barn; charting a must.
SIXTH: Alexis's Storm lived up to heavy tote support when a dominant winner in debut at Laurel; more to come. Girl Bye was a wire-to-wire winner in first start at Gulfstream; very dangerous. Devious Dame, a debut winner at Churchill Downs, has trained swiftly in the interim; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Miss Tapirado could get the early jump in compact group. Eylara was a willing third in stateside debut; dangerous. Baby Blythe needed last; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Zelenskyy Strong visually impressed when breaking maiden by 10 lengths in debut at Gulfstream; pairs up. Valenzan Day displayed rating tactics when winning first start; must consider. No Nay Hudson was a front-running winner at even money in debut at Churchill Downs; obvious contender.
NINTH: U Can't Handle This projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Dame Time also is fleet-footed and has worked three times since last start. Miscreant was a battling second in debut; big-time player. Diamant Damhsa could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues.
