Steve Matthews’ Belmont selections for Friday, July 7
Best bet: LOS BORRACHOS (8)
Best value: CASIGORDO (2)
FIRST: Soldat House was a useful seventh in debut and should make forward move with race under belt. Girl’s Night is speedy and will prove very tough on a soft lead. Talk Softly logged five tightly grouped works for move to grass for Christophe Clement; right in the thick of this.
SECOND: Casigordo drops and returns to dirt; forward move predicted. Primo Pentimento is fleet-footed and needed last; logical, short-priced player. Honorable Jonas could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
THIRD: Cafe Y Blanco fired half-mile bullet since much-improved third in last; more to come. Captain Kitt was a hard-charging second in most recent; very dangerous. Legendary Humor regressed in last after game placing in prior; rebound threat. Oh So Sinister is riding a forward line on the numbers; price will be tempting.
FOURTH: Royal Inheritance logged three sharp works since fast-figured win last month; pairs up. Zippity Zoom is speedy and 2-for-2 at Belmont Park; very playable. Big Mara could be in the garden spot if fractions get hot and hectic.
FIFTH: Pegasus Red was an even fourth in last and packs potent wallop on best; more to come. Day of Fury drops and could prove to be a front-end threat if able to recapture “A” game. Jeter is riding a forward line on the numbers; right in the thick of this.
SIXTH: Courtmewithcarats was a wire-to-wire winner on dirt last time and should transfer razor-sharp form to grass. Leah’s Dream also won last on main track and could easily replicate that effort on turf. Avery Maeve moved to the lead too soon when a weakening third in last; tighter and dangerous today. Hoponthebusgus bounced in last after fast-figured second in prior; bounce-back threat.
SEVENTH: Kharafa compiled four solid workouts since last start; set for best in third race since five-month layoff. Blacktype is fresh and owns fast late-pace figures; dangerous. Mohaymen moves to grass in effort to turn around declining form; demand value.
EIGHTH: Los Borrachos gets confident price hike in first start since claimed by Danny Gargan; gets ideal setup in likely pace dynamics. Moon Over Beauty owns fast figures and is training with a purpose for first start since April; dangerous. Francesco Appeal is fleet-footed and makes first start for Rudy Rodriguez; big-time player.
NINTH: The Podiatrist displayed late foot in debut and could be sitting on forward move with race under belt. Secret Scholar was compromised by poor start in last and owns fast back figures; very dangerous. Martino gets rider upgrade and returns to dirt; logical, but likely underlay. Gait to Heaven tallied career-best pace number in last; worth long look at long price.
