7/10/21

  3   BEL    The BEL Oaks (GI)

$700.000      3yoF      1 1/4m  inTurf        122lbs

It’s going to be a hot weekend in Elmont NY, and we look at the field for The BEL Oaks (GI), a mile and a quarter inner turf stakes for the sophomore ladies.  I landed on Common Misconception as my top choice in this one.  She won the BC Juv F Turf (GI) at KEE last fall and has been about as solid as you could want this year.  She won over this course last out and I don’t think wet footing is her favorite… she’s got my attention.  I’ll give Fangs Of The Storm a big chance in here as well.  She just doesn’t run a bad race and has certainly seen some tough company.  I skipped over Casting Couch Cutie (I’ll probably live to regret that) and put Dream Scheme in the third spot.  She’s lightly raced, seems to be getting better with every start and I just have a feeling that she will carry that momentum into this race as well.

It’s a great group of horses so grab a cold snack and let’s head down to the rail for what is sure to be a heck of a race. 

Here’s The Field –

Back to back wins coming into this one and that makes this one very dangerous.  Certainly has shown speed and an ability to get home on top and this is a logical spot to see if she can get the job done vs. the big girls.  The rail and speed thing makes her a horse to watch. 

She never has run a bad race showing four wins and a pair of runner-up efforts from her six times to the starting gate.  She won over this track last out taking down NY-bred horses and just missed in open stakes company down at LS prior to that.  She has some ability, no doubt about it.

Broke maide at WO and thne was fourth at SA vs graded horses.  She’s been close in a number of races but this is a big step up in class and she will need to find another gear to run with these.  I’ll have to look at some others.

Another with back to back wins headed into this one as she took down Alw company at both GG and PIM.  She just missed in her only stakes effort but that was an overnight stakes, sprinting at GP.  Can she move up to this type of competition?

She’s a hard knockin’ filly that won the BC Juv Turf (GI) at KEE back in the fall and has two wins in three starts this season, both graded races.  Her only blemish was a third vs. Alw horses (what?) over a soft course, yet she won that last out stakes on a yielding course.  All too much for my head, all I know is she’s good – real good!

Sold for $250.000 after showing some talent as a 2yo and her first start of ’21.  Since she has a win, a third and a fourth, all vs. stakes compan.  She just missed at CD last out, flying home late and just running our of real estate.  She’s a horse that could shake it up in a big, bad way today. 

Another from the big barn and she hasn’t won since her first start of the ’21 season.  She has a trio of runner-up races since then and that certainly makes her dangerous because this barn doesn’t go long without winning with a horse, and this one sure looks ready to win.

Here comes another with back to back wins entering the gate today, as she took down Alw types at WO then came back to win the Tepin at CD.  She’s missed one check in eleven starts so she certainly can get to the wire when it counts.  I’d give her a serious look in this one as well.

Got back on the right side of things, winning for the new connections vs Alw horses at CD.  Was fifth in the Wonder Again (GIII) over this course prior to that victory after running in claimers for the prior connections.  She will need her best to go with this group.

She been really consistent while facing some very stiff competition.  Kicked off ’21 with a pair of high-end Alw wins, then won the Edgewood (GII) at CD.  She love the grass, loves the distance and certainly is a horse you have to give a big chance to, in my eye.

Broke maiden last out going a distance on the main track at PIM.  Goes right into the deep end of the pool, switches to turf… it’s a lot to take in.  I’ll have to consider some others.

Nice win at PIM last out taking the Gallorette (GIII) in her first start on the green stuff.  Did they find magic there?  She had been struggling a bit on the main track but showed a real liking for the sod.  Can she get the job done again here today?

Very nice filly that just couldn’t handle the task when facing the boys in the Shoemaker Mile (GI).  That was a lot to ask of her and I’d look for a much better showing here.  She may get overlooked a bit with the post-position, so use her on the exotic wagers.

Has been holding her own vs. NY-bred types but this is the big leagues.  I’d probably look right over her but Mb doesn’t mess around… if he put her in here, he thinks she can run with this type, so keep an eye on things. 

COZMAN  5 / 10 / 6           Willie’s Green Card     5 / 11 / 8     

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES