Steve Matthews’ Belmont selections for Saturday, June 10
Best Bet: DISCO PARTNER (6)
Best Value: GIUSEPPE THE GREAT (7)
FIRST: Vincento was done in by hot pace last time; four workouts in the interim seals the deal. Thebigfundamental logged swift final fraction when winning last; very dangerous. Nigel’s Destiny bested top selection by nearly two lengths last out; must be considered.
SECOND: Sonic Mule fired half-mile bullet since last start; forward move predicted. Wicked Macho was a front-end winner in debut; very dangerous as the speed of the speed. Outplay also is fleet-footed and has won last two starts by a combined 10 lengths; right in the thick of this.
THIRD: Tu Brutus exits dominant, front-running score in last; more to come. Send It In bested ‘Brutus’ by a half-length when winning Excelsior on April 8; very dangerous. War Story would be aided by pace meltdown.
FOURTH: Salty endured tough trip in Kentucky Oaks; outside draw is the clincher. Union Strike has trained sharply since game placing in last; price will be tempting. Sweet Loretta has won four of five starts; logical player.
FIFTH: Bar of Gold fired two, 5-furlong bullets since last race; set for best. Songbird has been idle since November; for chalk lovers only. Highway Star bested top selection by half-length in Ruffian; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Disco Partner tallied swift final fraction when winning last; pairs up. Green Mask won Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs last out and hails from high-octane Brad Cox barn; very dangerous. Pure Sensation is 2-for-2 on Belmont grass; must consider.
SEVENTH: Giuseppe the Great has trained sharply since earning fast late-pace figure when winning on April 8; onward and upward. American Anthem was a clear-cut winner in last at Santa Anita and owns faster back numbers. Recruiting Ready is speedy and riding a three-race winning streak; big-time player.
EIGHTH: Antonoe visually and numerically impressed when winning stateside debut at Keeneland; more to give. Celestine is fleet-footed and 3-for-3 on Belmont turf; very dangerous. Roca Rojo also is 3-for-3 on Big B grass and has worked strongly since winning last at Churchill Downs; easily could take this.
NINTH: Awesome Slew packs potent late kick and is ideally posted in wide-open Met Mile. Sharp Azteca is speedy and could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Mor Spirit consistently logs fast figures and is 2-for-2 at distance; right in the thick of this.
TENTH: Sadler’s Joy notched rapid late-pace figure when a tough-trip third in Man o’War; call based on price potential. Time Test failed to get the job done when 45 cents on the dollar in U.S. debut; short ticket once again. World Approval is riding a two-race winning streak and handles the marathon distance; big-time threat.
ELEVENTH: Meantime tallied improved pace and final figures in Peter Pan last time and could be primed for breakthrough in wide-open Belmont Stakes. Irish War Cry regressed in Kentucky Derby after fast-figured win in Wood; rebound potential. Multiplier could impact if fractions get fast and furious. Tapwrit was victimized by rough trip in Derby; don’t ignore.
TWELFTH: Revved Up consistently earns the field’s fastest late-pace figures. Hello Don Julio chased swift splits when a game second in last; very dangerous. Arcature is a fresh runner from the Chad Brown barn; need more?
THIRTEENTH: Story to Tell compiled tight work tab for first start in 10 weeks for Rudy Rodriguez; ready to roll. Pulling G’s gets confident price boost after easy score in last; very playable. Top Fortitude packs powerful late rally on “A” efforts; price will be tempting. Realm gets class relief and owns fast figures on best efforts.
