Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for Saturday, May 17
Best bet: ELYSIAN MEADOWS (9)
Best value: PROUD FOOT (4)
FIRST: Have a Happy makes quick return and drops; weakness of field helps. Lumenique could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. That's Funny regressed in last after finishing third in prior two; must consider.
SECOND: Patrolman gets class relief after tough trip in last at Churchill; improvement predicted. Iron Man Ira was a front-running winner in last; speedy and dangerous. Eric From Miami owns fast back numbers; don't dismiss.
THIRD: Dear Moon was a clear-cut second in last; gets there today. Cloudy Chance raced wide when third in debut; worth long look. You Know Better debuts for solid first-out barn; follow the money.
FOURTH: Proud Foot makes first start since claimed by streaking stable; big effort on tap. Dolomite was a dominant six-length winner in last; very dangerous. Save Us Melania has trained sharply since solid score on March 29; must be factored into the mix.
FIFTH: Julita moves to grass after making menacing middle move in last; more to give. St. Addie was an improved third in last; from a dam that has produced a turf winner. Observer owns two seconds and a third from last three outings; must be considered.
SIXTH: Indy Rags has trained with a purpose since tough-trip fourth in debut; improvement predicted. Hop Sing owns three placings from four starts; another second? Duration finished just a head back of Hop Sing in last two; logical, short-priced player.
SEVENTH: Ponant owns speed and starts from rail on tight-turned course. Debt Limit looms the prime beneficiary if top selection hits the wall. Brigade Commander was a game second in lone start on Big A sod; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Mizertonic is rested and could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat. Escondido could play out as the speed of the speed with heads-up handling. Master Freud also is fleet-footed and will prove tough if able to outsprint Escondido.
NINTH: Elysian Meadows, a hard-charging third in last, outworked 100 rivals in half-mile bullet on May 3; more to give. My Last Mission is quick from the gate and will prove hard to catch on an unchallenged lead. Mighty Atlas could be in the catbird seat if pace meltdown ensues.
10TH: Sail With the Wind tallied solid late-pace figures in both turf starts; rail draw is the clincher. She's Our Tiz, a tough-trip third in last, owns a win and two thirds in three starts on Aqueduct grass. Red Burgundy is speedy and could go wire to wire if unchallenged on the lead.
11TH: Princess Summer packs field's most potent kick on "A" efforts; crisp 5-furlong work on May 8 seals the deal. Gattatiz owns speed, is rested and drops; worth long look. Going for Glory could impact if fractions get hot and hectic. Accelerated News exits game placing on Gulfstream's Tapeta track last time; must be factored into the mix.
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