Belmont Thursday

- In the third, El Bandido Rojo (8-1) takes a drop in class for trainer Bruce Brown. This gelding improved to a career high 92 Beyer when switched to this barn two races back, just missing at this same level behind Acclimate, also in today's race. He was then moved way up in class, and may have bounced when he faded to 7th behind Starforaday, the latest Contessa miracle who subsequently won the G3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on Preakness day. Sharp workout for this race contrasts with the lethargic one before that last effort, and he picks up Prado, who won on Rap Tale for this trainer last week. Hesogoodwithmoney (5-2) is the logical choice off the layoff for Pletcher. What's up with the Toddster here these days? His Belmont record of 26-4-1-5 is the stuff of mere mortals. This colt returns to the same level at which he wired the field in his last effort, on the inner track in February, and gets Johnny V. He may have some speed to contend with early though, and his two efforts over this track have been disappointing ones. Tough to leave this one out entirely however if you're playing the Pick Four here.