Steve Matthews' Belmont selections for Saturday, April 30
Best Bet: MARKET ALERT (7); Best Value: LORD FLINTSHIRE (8)
FIRST: It's Mandatory is fresh and packs potent kick on best efforts. Roman Empire drops and gets favorable cutback in distance; dangerous. Road to Success is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead.
SECOND: Happy Farm fired crisp half-mile drill for first start in 62 days; primed. Aristocratic could easily go wire to wire if allowed soft fractions. Glory Road regressed in last after winning prior two; must consider.
THIRD: Musical America was done in by swift splits last time; gets slower pace in this dynamic. Flowers for Lisa was a determined winner in last; very playable. Magnetron bounced last time after a three strong efforts; rebound threat.
FOURTH: Grand Journey consistently logs fast late-pace figures; 6-for-18 on grass. Summer to Remember is quick from gate and could play out as the dominant speed; big-time threat. Hieroglyphics owns three wins on Belmont sod; right in the thick of this.
FIFTH: Fancy Feline has worked twice since non-stressful fourth in last; forward move predicted. Adversity is speedy and gets Lasix; very interesting. Blame It On Mary, another that's fleet-footed, could prove very tough if able to clear other front-runners.
SIXTH: Dame Time displayed improved speed when second on Gulfstream's Tapeta surface last out; handles switch to grass. Snow Loves a Fight was a late-running fourth at 6 furlongs last time; additional furlong could play to strength. Big Bee tallied solid numbers in two starts last spring; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Market Alert was a fast-figured winner on March 27 and outworked 117 rivals in half-mile breeze last week; more to come. The Reds should pack enhanced kick with cutback to shorter route; very tempting. Southern District went to the sidelines after top-numbered score on Feb. 7; classic Chad Brown.
EIGHTH: Lord Flintshire logged only win on Belmont turf and is training consistently for first start since November. Saratoga Flash also notched lone score on Belmont grass and owns sprinter's speed; front-running threat. Umbria delivers strong efforts with machine-like regularity; dangerous.
NINTH: Proven Strategies could get the early jump in bulky Elusive Quality field. American Monarch holds razor-sharp current condition and could fall through the cracks in the betting; worth long look. Value Proposition is from Chad Brown barn and will offer no value but obviously could take this on best effort; if price means nothing to you.
TENTH: Ouster was a tough-trip third in key-race debut; rates close call. Patrick the Great raced wide when a game second in first start; be no surprise. Tap'n de Bank gets first-time Lasix for Brad Cox; serious player. Sinful Dancer failed as the favorite in five straight starts; you've been warned.
