Belmont Wednesday

Racing in New York may have been saved, but that does not change the present circumstance of the competitive purse imbalance with Monmouth, nor the attractive prizes offered in Pennsylvania. So quality, and quantity, may still suffer over the short-term....and perhaps until sometime next year when/if slots finally arrive. No less than five maiden claimers on today's Belmont card; with a cheap restricted state-bred claimer thrown in for good measure, yuck.

So it's slim pickens, but let's try the fifth, a nicely competitive restricted claimer on the grass, actually one of my favorite kind of races around here these days. Hangingonaprayer (5-1) steps up off a win off a layoff, and stretches out to a mile for the ridiculously hot Carlos Martin. With his last eight starters, this guy has four winners, and three close seconds at odds of 6-1, 8-1, and 14-1. Five-year old daughter of Grand Slam showed some improved form towards the end of last year after switching from the barn of Phil Serpe. A bounce is a concern here after a tough drive at six furlongs in her comeback win; and her last three wins have come at that distance. But she graduated at a mile and a sixteenth, had two pretty good efforts routing last fall after the trainer change; and finds a race with little pace in which she should have good position. So we'll go with the hot barn; but insist at odds at or close to her morning line. Higher Incentive (3-1) is a hard-trying seven-year old who drops to a level at which she should be right there for Gary Contessa and Ramon; but she also has done her best recent running at shorter. Interesting equipment change on morning line choice Double Dinghy Day (5-2); blinkers go on for Frank Alexander for the first time in her 29 race career despite coming off two bang-up efforts, the last at this level. Strictly one to beat. Good luck and have a great day.