Steve Matthews' Belmont at the Big A selections for May 14-17
Thursday, May 14
Best bet: SIDEARM (5)
Best value: GRIT N GLITTER (8)
FIRST: Through the Years lost a head bob for all the money when odds-on in debut; paltry price once again. Happy Away, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, also logged placing in first start; logical. Fire Song makes debut for Mike Maker; could be the goods.
SECOND: Morning Menace gets Lasix in first start since moving to Chad Brown barn. Run Wild is working swiftly for first start; follow the money. Highgrove is another newcomer that's training with a purpose; must be factored into the mix.
THIRD: Sunshine Lily was second to a repeat winner last out; crisp half-mile work in the interim seals the deal. Celtic Dawn is training swiftly for first start since being taken off in ambulance after winning debut last summer; dangerous if all is well. D's a Rock should move forward after even fourth last out; don't ignore.
FOURTH: Dark Assault is fresh and logs fast figures on best efforts. Silver Talent fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; worth long look. Sorrentino has trained consistently since useful fifth in debut; must consider.
FIFTH: Sidearm was a tough-trip third in lone turf outing; strong recent work tab is the clincher. Grunge displayed improved speed in last and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Jubilee Parade owns two seconds and a third from four starts; another minor award?
SIXTH: Day One Starter should pack amplified wallop with cutback to sprint; lone win was at this distance. Pair of Socks delivers strong efforts with machinelike consistency; big-time player. Oil Capital, an uncoupled barn mate of Pair of Socks, is another that is more than good enough on best races.
SEVENTH: Starship Godiva tallied swift late-pace figure when winning debut by more than four lengths; more to come. Sparkling Mama is speedy and could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Lady Rose compiled eye-catching work tab for first start since last fall; don't dismiss.
EIGHTH: Grit N Glitter runs late and could get ideal setup in wide-open nightcap. Island Charm is speedy, drops and returns to dirt; dangerous. Lady Delilah is 0-for-21 but logs fast numbers on "A" efforts. Bounding Along is a newcomer that's training with a purpose; stay tuned to the tote.
Friday, May 15
Best bet: DEVILISH GRIN (5)
Best value: NORTH END LADY (7)
FIRST: Goodbye to Romance concluded work tab with two crisp half-mile works; best guess in field of unraced 2-year-olds. First Site owns win-early breeding on both sides of pedigree. Medieval is from a dam that has produced two winners from three foals to race; happy hunting.
SECOND: Life Is Gravy gets the meds for first start since breaking maiden last fall; picks up where he left off. B Provocateur is speedy and can prove tough on a soft lead. Special Ops (stalking style) and Southeastern (ultra-consistent) are two more that must be factored into the mix.
THIRD: Disarmed wheels back in a hurry and drops after failing to fire last week; improvement predicted. Caramel Chip could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Motorcade owns three wins and three seconds from last six starts; right in the thick of this.
FOURTH: Pop Art was a front-running winner in last at Tampa and gets Kendrick Carmouche for local debut; main speed once again. Three to G owns a win, a second and a third from three starts; logical. No Alibi gets Lasix for stateside debut; very interesting.
FIFTH: Devilish Grin compiled tight work tab for first start since February; ready. Key Actress is speedy and rested; big-time player. Fraudster was a clear-cut second on Big A sod last fall; must consider.
SIXTH: Mozambique should pack intensified wallop with cutback to 6 furlongs. Illmatic owns bulletlike speed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Fireballin outworked 45 rivals in half-mile bullet on May 4; worth long look.
SEVENTH: North End Lady fired half-mile bullet since useful fifth last out; forward move expected. Red Burgundy could play out as the speed of the speed from the rail; very interesting. Juliet On Approach made surging late run to win last; price will be tempting.
EIGHTH: Master Freud was rested after clear-cut win on March 27; call based on price potential. City of Oscars looms the prime beneficiary if pace gets hot and hectic. Alexis Zorba is quick from gate and training with a purpose; don't ignore. Bite and Strike could pose a late-running threat on "A" effort.
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Saturday, May 16
Best bet: BERNING BEAUTY (9)
Best value: OHONTE'S OWN (11)
FIRST: Nabokov gets confident price hike after winning by more than four lengths last week; more to come. Factually Correct also jumps in class after front-end score in last; dangerous. Big Hat Willie is fresh and owns fast back numbers; must consider.
SECOND: Law School drops and gets blinkers and Lasix; half-mile bullet on May 8 seals the deal. Getting Closer was a front-running winner at Keeneland last out; worth long look. Divine Interventions consistently fires big efforts; be no surprise.
THIRD: That'sthefactjack was disqualified after determined win in last; gets it right today. Will of a Womanne is rested and gets class relief; dangerous. Midnightloveaffair drops and returns to dirt; don't ignore.
FOURTH: Madonna of Loreto compiled five tight works for first start since changing barns; ready. Will Not Be Swayed exits hard-charging score in last; very playable. Soloshot, another last-race winner, owns faster back numbers.
FIFTH: Isola d'Oro lost a head bob for top prize when four lengths clear of third finisher. Sounds Like Fun was a front-end third in last; dangerous. Swiss Army Knife drops and returns to dirt; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Screaming Uncle was too close to scorching splits when facing pricier last time; quick return is the clincher. Texas Red Hot defeated seven rivals when winning at this level last out; big-time player. Brave Bear makes second start since claimed and owns fast back numbers; don't dismiss.
SEVENTH: Eye On the Ball never got going in the mud last out but could make forward move with switch to sod. Lobbyist adds blinkers in first start for Dave Donk stable; very interesting. Peyton gets the meds after speed and fade in debut; must consider.
EIGHTH: Athena's Fury is training with a purpose for first start since last summer; Lasix and class drop add to appeal. Valiant Diva makes second start since five-month layoff after improved sixth in last; worth long look. Speed Walking moves to grass for Ken McPeek; wake-up potential.
NINTH: Berning Beauty logged four works since determined win eight weeks ago; picks up where he left off. Cicciobello exits wire-to-wire score in last; very dangerous. Concorde Spirit packs powerful late wallop on "A" efforts; right in the thick of this.
10TH: Lawyer Mason was a useful fourth in last start; more to give in second start since four-month absence. Burning Bridges owns a win and two seconds from three starts; logical, short-priced contender. Stormy Birthday is working consistently for first start since last fall; very interesting.
11TH: Ohonte's Own was pace- and trip-compromised when third in debut; improvement predicted. Leave Me gets Lasix for first start since New Year's Eve; strong second on Big A sod last fall. Nowucme Nowudont was an even fourth after wide trip in last; big-time player. Emotionlyavailble is training swiftly for debut for Brad Cox; could be the goods.
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