Steve Matthews' Belmont selections for Thursday, May 12
Best bet: FAUCI (7)
Best value: KID D'ORO (8)
FIRST: Magic Beauty owns win-early breeding on both sides of pedigree; timid call in season's first 2-year-old race. Ever a Rebel ships in from Kentucky for Wes Ward; be no surprise. Kerry concluded work tab with two bullet drills; could be the goods.
SECOND: Direct Order logged four tight works for first start in seven weeks; rates close call. Croatian wheels back in a hurry after facing pricier field on Saturday; more than good enough if all is well. Winning Drive regressed in last after fast-figured third in prior; rebound threat.
THIRD: Jake Rocks chased sizzling splits and faltered in last; softer flow predicted. Manolito could be in the garden spot if top selection wilts in the lane. Brillant Brooks is another that would be aided by pace meltdown; very playable.
FOURTH: Mill Stone Creek gets rider upgrade after tough-trip fourth in last; soft group. Merger of Equals drops and moves to dirt for Chad Brown; underlay potential. Exact Change was a close-up third when favored in last; must consider.
FIFTH: Shasta Star makes first start since claimed after determined win in last; more to come. Anonymously is fresh and owns fast back numbers; paltry price is the problem. Weekend Fun owns speed, drops and will offer fat ticket; worth long look.
SIXTH: Eudaimonia was a much-improved second in last; more to come. Draw Off gets class relief and surface switch; logical player. Eventually debuts for potent first-out stable; follow the money.
SEVENTH: Fauci is firing bullets for first start since October; ready to roll. Artemus Citylimits owns three seconds and three thirds from last six starts; another minor award? Maxwell Esquire is a four-time winner on Belmont grass; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Kid d'Oro gets positive surface switch and will be ideally suited by return to sit-and-pounce tactics; call based on price. Montebello gets Lasix and makes first start since being moved from Bob Baffert barn; front-running danger. Key Point has delivered strong efforts in both starts for Chad Brown; obvious threat.
NINTH: Duckphat will benefit from return to turf; throw deep in weak nightcap. Out of Sight is speedy and should be aided by slight cutback in distance; logical contender. Succulent was a non-stressful fourth in last; worth long look. Cape Cod Causeway should move forward in second start since four-month absence; don't ignore.
