Steve Matthews' Belmont selections for Sunday, June 5
Best Bet: PRACTICE SQUAD (9); Best Value: FUNNY JOKE (6)
FIRST: North Pole adds blinkers and gets added ground; main speed with aggressive ride. Endowed compiled strong work tab for move to dirt; improvement expected. Nobodyridesforfree owns fast numbers; must be factored into the mix.
SECOND: Got the Gold made last-to-first rally to win most recent; takes another. Motion to Strike is speedy and will prove very tough on a soft lead. Braciole was done in by poor start last time; more than good enough on best efforts.
THIRD: Propensity has worked three times since non-stressful fourth in last; forward move predicted. Justintimeforwine is fleet-footed and could be aided by turnback to sprint. Boom Boom Kaboom regressed in last after pairing up wins in previous two starts; rebound threat.
FOURTH: Union Lake gets the meds in first start since last Halloween; strong string of works is the clincher. Cupids Girl owns competitive back numbers; dangerous. Liana B outworked 87 rivals in half-mile bullet on May 21; follow the money.
FIFTH: Rivka was second to a much-the-best winner in debut on Keeneland grass; timid call in race with eight newcomers. Ranting debuts for potent first-out stable; worth long look. Fourway Stop is from a dam that has dropped a turf winner; don't overlook.
SIXTH: Funny Joke has trained with a purpose since overcoming tough trip to win debut this past winter; more to come. Baltasar was a clear-cut maiden winner in first start on Belmont loam; very playable. Life Changer, another last-race victor, consistently logs swift numbers.
SEVENTH: Candy Monet notched only win on Belmont dirt last autumn; return to main track is key. Appreciate, another that goes turf to dirt, gets class relief and will offer beefy odds; very interesting. Love That Face owns speed and could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Federalist Papers talliedswift late-pace figure when a handy winner last time at Keeneland; pairs up. Champagne Ivy owns speed and can handle the marathon distance; very dangerous. Flanigan's Cove owns two wins and two seconds from last four starts; must consider.
NINTH: Practice Squad logged fast final fraction when besting a next-out winner last time; three works in the interim seal the deal. Hilliard notched only win on Belmont sod; big-time threat. Eddie the Great was a pace-pressing second in last; very playable. Bail Out finally landed in the winner's circle last time after 26 tries; don't just toss.
