Steve Matthews' Belmont selections for Sunday, May 15
Best Bet: RADIANT GEM (9); Best Value: HOOKY PLAYER (5)
FIRST: Digitize tallied swift late-pace figure when second in debut; added ground plays to strength. Nabokov, an uncoupled barn mate of top pick, could play out as the main speed. Cloud Forest concluded work tab with half-mile bullet; could be the goods.
SECOND: Sweet Sensation moves to grass after dominant seven-length maiden score at Tampa; transfers razor-sharp form to new footing. Love's Misery won second in row when a front-end victor on Big A sod last time; very playable. Now Yus Cant Leave logged only win on Belmont grass; price will be tempting.
THIRD: Got the Gold regressed in last after fast-figured placing in previous start; rebounds. Hereby could secure clear lead in field that's lacking a well-defined front-runner. Makart could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; must consider.
FOURTH: Chulainn, a two-time winner on Belmont turf, compiled a string of endurance-building works for first start since November; properly conditioned. Saint Selby is speedy and could prove very tough to catch on a soft lead. Straw Into Gold logged strong efforts in all three outings on Belmont grass; worth long look.
FIFTH: Hooky Player is working with a purpose at Colt's Neck Stables; potent layoff barn. Bail Out is 0-for-26 and has been second five straight times; runner-up again? Strike Price was done in by pace pressure in debut; improvement expected.
SIXTH: Three Jokers is fresh and projects as the speed of the speed with heads-up handling. Perceived owns stalker's style and raging current condition; very dangerous. Civil War has worked three times since clear-cut placing in last; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Miss Dracarys notched eye-catching training tab at SoCal base for Neil Drysdale; career best predicted. Flighty Lady fits the classic Chad Brown profile of a fresh and properly conditioned runner; big-time danger. King's Harlequin gets the meds for stateside debut; don't overlook.
EIGHTH: Fluid Situation has trained strongly since breakthrough maiden win in March; more to come. Senbei has logged front-end score in four of five starts; obviously can take another. Provocateur owns stalker's style and has fired bullets since winning Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream last out; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Radiant Gem tallied rapid final fraction when debuting on Belmont sod last fall; 60-day freshener is the key. Mispelled Mooon was done in by sizzling splits last time; dangerous with softer flow. Diamond Status owns speed and gets first-time Lasix; very interesting. Legend's Song is firing bullets for debut; follow the money.
