Steve Matthews’ Belmont selections for Sunday, Oct. 8
Best Bet: SHIDOSHI (9);
Best Value: WAR EAGLE’S RETURN (3)
FIRST: Bird Key logged eye-catching workout tab since useful fourth in debut; forward move predicted. Radiant Beauty was a fast-figured third in first grass start; dangerous. Kasbach debuts for Chad Brown; seen this ending before.
SECOND: Tisbury has drilled three times since speed and fade versus tougher last time; more to give. Ultimate Cause gets Lasix after tallying solid final fraction on Parx grass last time; very playable. Wish Upon was a front-end maiden winner in last; developing and dangerous.
THIRD: War Eagle’s Return gets confident price hike after much-improved third in last and owns “foundation” on the final figures. Sir Bond easily could take this if pace meltdown ensues. Rockport Kat plunges in price after being eased on Sept. 3; damaged goods?
FOURTH: Lezendary has trained with a purpose since third in debut on Aug. 20; one of only two that have started in 12-horse field. Beyond Grace was bought for $1.5 million this past March; beyond ridiculous. Glossy noticeably picked up the tempo in final three works; very interesting.
FIFTH: Paige notched rapid late-pace and final figures when a tough-trip second in last; more in the tank. Feeling Bossy is 1-for-1 at the distance and makes peak start of form cycle; big-time threat. Evidently is rested and owns swift numbers on best efforts; don’t ignore.
SIXTH: Dot Matrix lost all chance at the start last time after front-end score in previous; rebounds. Startup Nation is fresh and consistently logs fast figures; likely underlay. Blue Belt is speedy and fired half-mile bullet on Oct. 1; serious front-running threat.
SEVENTH: Drama Run notched solid final fraction when winning debut at Arlington; throw deep in wide-open Frizette. Strategic Dreams visually impressed when winning first start by 14 lengths; very playable. Separationofpowers was done in by scorching splits in the Spinaway last time; short price is the problem.
EIGHTH: War Flag was pace and position compromised when third as the favorite in Glens Falls last time; worth another chance. Guilty Twelve is 1-for-1 on Belmont sod and 2-for-2 at the marathon distance; very dangerous. Grand Jete also is 1-for-1 on Big B turf and has the benefit of the fence on tight-turned inner turf.
NINTH: Shidoshi is speedy and is training forwardly for first start since gelded; career best predicted. Alpha Team owns fast turf figures and makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; dangerous. Wingman has logged three works since last start; right in the thick of this. Cookie Crisp makes first start since claimed by Rudy Rodriguez; must be considered.
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