6/4/21

FRIDAY AT BEL

  3  BEL    The True North (GII)
$300.000        4yo&Up       6 1/2f    Dirt           123lbs

Sprinters get the Friday Stakes card kicked off as we look at a field of ten set to go six and a half furlongs in The True North (GII).  I took Not Trippin Now as the top choice off of that big win in the CD (GI) last out.  He’s come a long way from his maiden claimer days and looks to be a huge horse at the age of six.  Let’s put Hang Around in the second spot off of that win in the Cartier (GIII).  If he runs anything close to that last out he should be tough as well.

Here’s The Field –

I’m no fan of the girls running with the boys but this one sure did light it up last out, winning the Whimsical Stakes (GIII) at WO in very quick time.  She was third in the BC F&M Sprint (GI) at KEEE and this barn doesn’t play around, so the brought her here because they thought she could win.  Give her a look. 

Back to back wins coming to this race, taking down Alw horses at TUP but then shook it up when taking the MD Sprint (GIII) at PIM, going off at 15/1 odds.  I doubt that you will get that here, but he’s certainly capable of winning.  He’s got speed and looks to be back on his game. 

Another with back to back wins and that was a huge win in the CD (GI) on KYD day, and considering you could have claimed him for $8.00 back in Apr of last year, he’s proving that having patients can pay off in a big big way.  If he repeats that last out race, he will be tough.

Yet another with back to back wins, both coming at the Alw level and that last race was over this surface taking out NY-bred horses.  He has some speed but this looks like a big step up in class so I’ll probably look a some others for the top spots.  Still, he can run. 

Single win this season taking Alw types down at FG going six furlongs, then was up the track in the Hals Hope (GIII) at GP and was a tiring fourth last out over this track in the Westchester (GIII).  He’s going to have to get back to his best or this will be a tough race for him. 

He changed hands after closing out the ’20 season, and has been tough since changing hands.  Won the GP Sprint Championship (GIII) the again (DH) in the San Carlos (GII) only to just miss last out in the CD (GI).  That’s top notch racing vs top notch competition and makes him a big horse to watch today. 

A single win last season and he’s still looking for his first win of this year, his last victory coming back in Beau Stakes at CD back a year ago.  he’s been on the board in a couple of Alw races, but certainly needs to improve to be considered a threat today. 

Got back to the winning ways last out taking down Alw horses at LS, so they jump back into the deep end and he’s been close in a number of graded races including a near miss in the Discovery (GIII) to close out ’20 and a third in the San Pasqual (GI) to start his ’21 season. 

Nice win at WO last out taking the Cartier (GIII) and he’s also won an Alw race at SA to kick off the season.  He’s been off of the board in a couple of other graded races, but he looks to be in good form right now and should be tough if he can run back to that last out race. 

Two wins since changing hands over to the big barn.  Taken out of the Mar Auction for just $24.010 and won straight away taking down high end claimers atSA.  Won the Runhappy over this track last out and drew away late in that one.  He’s got speed and looks to be in very good condition.

COZMAN   3  /  9               Willie’s Green Card       9  /  8

  4  BEL    The Bed o Roses Hcp (GIII)
$300.000        4yo&Up F&M     7f    Dirt           Hcp Weights

Sprinting ladies will be headed post-ward for The Bed o Roses Hcp (GIII) and I putting all of my ducks in won egg or something like that… let’s put Secrether as the top choice in this one.  She has won five in a row and won vs graded horses over this track last out.  I’m looking for her to run right back to that race and put another win in the bank today.  There’s a bunch of old class in here and one of those could run big at any time, but I’ll stick to the top choice here. 

Here’s The Field –

Very consistent type that usually brings home some cash, and was a close-up, yet tiring, third n the Derby City (GI) at CD in her most recent.  She’s quick, she’s fast and she loves these sprint races.  She should be in the middle of this one as well.

Another that had been very consistent, but the last duo have been duds after running seventh in the Hurricane Bertie (GIII) and then sixth n the Derby City (GI) last out.  Can she turn it around today or is it another forgettable one. 

Just missed in that Derby City (GI) stakes and they dismissed her at 21/1 odds that afternoon.  She set the pace until deep stretch in that one and a repeat would make her tough today.  No doubt that she can run and must be given a look.

She was feasting on softer but proved her salt last out taking the Vagrancy (GIII) over this track.  She’s won nine of fifteen lifetime so there’s no questioning her ability to get her nose on the wire first.  She should be tough and the public seems to follow her. 

The big barn backed off on this one a bit after a few bad races vs graded foes, and she got back on track taking down Alw horses at TAM last out.  They go back after the big horses here so they must think they have her straightened out. 

Five wins from her last six starts but she’s been beating up on lesser than what she sees here today.  Won a stakes at FP last out, but this is the major leagues.  Can she carry her form over to this type of competition? 

Solid type that was purchased in the Mar Auction.  Makes the first start of the new connections and if she can run back to her earlier form before that Sugar Swirl (GIII) then she could be in the middle of this as well. 

She’s been running fairly well but threw another dud in the Hurricane Bertie (GIII) where she just never got going.  That was a start contrast to winning the Kalookan Queen at SA.  Can she get back to her prior form then she could be a handful. 

Changed hands via private sale for $100.000 and although she’s been very consistent she also hasn’t won a race since taking down Alw foes at PRX back in Sep of ’19.  She’s going to need her best to run with this group. 

Got the job done vs. Alw horses at SA last out and she seems to excel at the sprinting distances.  She also won at ELP back in Aug going seven furlongs so something in that realm should make her competitive here. 

Kicked off ’21 with a win vs Alw horses and was second against Alw horses at SA but she has struggled against graded horses.  She will need to turn it around or it could be another tough afternoon. 

COZMAN     4           Willie’s Green Card        6

  4  BEL    The BEL Gold Cup (GII)
$400.000        4yo&Up      1 1/2m  Turf           123lbs

The marathon sod handicap horses will be headed to the famed BEL turf course and we look at the field for The BEL Gold Cup (GII) going a mile and a half.  I’m putting the farm on Raj Action Packed here today… I just don’t see any of these beating him.  Three graded wins in a row and actually drops three pounds from that Pan Am (GII) win, where he tallied by four, walking away from them late.  If they beat him, I’ll just have to see it.

Here’s The Field –

A mixed bag from this one as he’s been tough against Alw types but struggles vs. graded horses.  He was third in the Elkhorn (GII) at KEE, so he does fit, don’t get me wrong; however he needs a bit more to be considered with the best of these. 

Another that has some very nice starts, but graded horses seem to be tough on him although he closed well to be thrd in the Appleton (GIII) at GP.  Won last out vs OptAlw horses at SA so he’s in good form… maybe he moves up today. 

Two wins from his las last three starts, both vs. Alw types, and he went wire to wire last out at SA going a mile and a quarter.  This should be tougher than that, but he’s in good form and may run their legs off today. 

Just missed at SA gonig the marathon distance on a wet turf course, and won last out as well.  His only missed check was on the main track and I think we can write that off to the surface.  Give him a look and he may have some odds.

Sold for a ham sandwich and came back to be third vs Alw horses at HOU on the grass.  He sold last Aug for $200.000, so he comes with some back class and looks like he isn’t done running yet.  Maybe he ends up being a bargain?

Hard to look past coming in with three consecutive wins, all at the graded level… took the McKnight (GIII), the Diarmida (GII) and the Pan Am (GII) last out, all of those on the GP lawn.  I can’t see him getting beat.

Stubbed his toe in back to back graded races then got back on track running second vs. Alw horses at SA last out.  Still you have to wonder if he has the same for that won three races last season. 

COZMAN     6           Willie’s Green Card        3  / 6

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES