Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for Saturday, Oct. 19
Best bet: SMILE MON (2)
Best value: TIZ DASHING (3)
FIRST: Quality Chic is fresh and has logged best efforts at the Big A; price play. Locked is training swiftly for first start since last year's BC Juvenile; likely underlay. Costa Terra fires big efforts with machinelike consistency; must consider.
SECOND: Smile Mon gets price boost after fast-figured front-end score last time; takes another. Prove Worthy looms the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. Whiskey N Soda owns two wins from four starts; dangerous.
THIRD: Tiz Dashing tallied solid final fraction when breaking maiden last time; more to come. Concord Green failed to handle yielding course in last; dangerous on firmer ground. Valuation Metric exits game placing in last; logical contender.
FOURTH: Park Avenue Betty owns sprinter's speed and could capitalize on soft lead. Street View is fresh, drops and starts from favorable post; big-time player. Underthemistletoe makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; don't dismiss.
FIFTH: Whistler's Style gets confident price boost after tough-trip second in last; more to come. Cinderella's Cause logged two crisp 5-furlong works since 11-length score in last; very dangerous. Camera owns positional speed and has the benefit of the rail at two turns; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Unlimitedpotential has trained sharply since stopping on Aug. 17; gets his game back today. Treaty Obligation makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; worth long look. Have You Heard is working strongly and logs fast figures on "A" efforts; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Iron Max was compromised by slow pace and wide trip last time and compiled three tight works in the interim. Calling Card was a useful fifth in well-bet debut; dangerous. Deemer tallied clear-cut second in lone start; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Secret Rules is riding a two-race winning streak; more to come. Poppy's Pride is rested and has logged career-best numbers on Big A loam. Dangerous Ride could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat.
NINTH: Pioneering Spirit was done in by plodding pace last out; 1-for-1 at the distance. Mondego could secure unchallenged lead in bulky field; very playable. Daunt owns competitive numbers on best efforts.
10TH: Papilio consistently logs field's fastest late-pace figures. Prerequisite is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Three Priests makes first start since moving to Graham Motion barn; don't overlook.
11TH: Mason Mania was a change-of-pace third in last; forward move predicted. Blake B. owns positional speed and fast back numbers; very interesting. Bold Victory could impact if fractions get fast and furious.
12TH: Progeny fired half-mile bullet since determined score on dirt in last; handles switch to sod. Mz Big Bucks, another last-race winner, drilled three times in the interim; big-time player. Reflexivity is riding a two-race winning streak; must be factored into the mix. Coldhardstare gets Lasix in stateside debut for Bill Mott; don't ignore.
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