Steve Matthews’ Belmont selections for Friday, Sept. 22
Best Bet: INALIENABLE RIGHTS (3); Best Value: SO NOTED (7)
FIRST: Elite Kid tallied solid late-pace figure when a surging fourth in last; added sixteenth plays to strength. Fastlanefrontman is speedy, training sharply and adds blinkers; front-running threat. Shamrocked tallied rapid number when third at Delaware last time; dangerous.
SECOND: Fear No Evil made sustained rally when breaking maiden on Laurel grass last time; ready for prime time. Same Kinda Crazy chased fast fractions when an even fourth in last; very dangerous. Avery Maeve regressed in last after fast-figured placing in previous start; rebound threat.
THIRD: Inalienable Rights logged fast final fractions in both lifetime starts; more to come. Battle Station moves to dirt after fast-paced victory on grass in debut; front-end danger. What a Catch has earned swift final figures in all three starts; right in the thick of this.
FOURTH: Single Mission has trained sharply since even fifth in debut; improvement predicted. Purely Lucky has worked twice since game placing in last; logical, short-priced player. Carrera Cat made menacing middle move and flattened in debut; worth long look.
FIFTH: Dynamic War set sizzling splits and faded after poor start last time; wire to wire with softer trip today. Rimanisempreforte drops after fast-figured seventh in last; very playable. Feed Me Carats was an improved second in last and makes third start of form cycle; right in the thick of this.
SIXTH: First Charmer is riding a forward line on the numbers and is a two-time winner at the 7-furlong distance. Beat the Benchmark is training with a purpose for first start in nearly a year for Chad Brown; you know the drill. Double Dose logged two wins on Belmont grass at Spring/Summer meeting; must be considered.
SEVENTH: So Noted outworked 94 rivals in half-mile drill on Sept. 16 and owns sit-and-pounce style that should be well served in probable pace dynamics. Jewel Can Disco is speedy and riding a two-race winning streak; big-time player. Sudden Surprise also has won two in a row and makes first start since claimed by Brad Cox; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Miss Hollywood owns swift dirt numbers, is bred to handle grass and has shown a history of delivering winning efforts off the bench; call based on price. Stormy Victoria packs potent kick and compiled tight work tab for first start since May; very dangerous. Ancient Secret owns three wins on Belmont grass and is training sharply for first start since July 27; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Jacqueline D held the lead until the quarter pole at a mile last time and gets favorable cutback to 7 furlongs. Freckle de Freck also turns back to sprint and should pack enhanced late wallop; very interesting. Sharp Lacey set swift splits and paid the price late last time; dangerous with softer front-end flow. New Canaan endured rough trip when favored in last start; must consider.
