Saturday’s Selections July 6th, 2024
The Grade 1 Belmont Derby at a mile and three sixteenths this year will have a heavy favorite in Legend of Time. Coming off a win in The Pennine Ridge for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby the three-year old Sea the Stars colt will be heavily backed under William Buick. While he deserves favoritism in this spot, I think he can be vulnerable at a short piece.
Two things jump out at me in Legend of Time’s last race. He had to work very hard to beat a much less experienced horse in White Palomino who with even minor improvement can turn the tables on him. Additionally, I liked Royal Majesty in that race who finished third. I did not like the trip he got that day and I believe he could have won had things gone differently. They didn’t and that was then, and this is now.
This time I lean to Endlessly who gets back on the grass after earning his way into The Kentucky Derby on synthetic. He flopped in The Derby, but we know he is much better on the grass and is absolutely a turf horse. This colt has a very nice turn of foot and was really starting to blossom when the dirt experiment took place on the first Saturday in May. If he is at that level now, and he appears to be in addition to being pointed for this after the not so much Run for The Roses, he can be a handful down the lane. Rispoli rides him great and is one of the best at judging the pace and timing the move. I think Endlessly and Umberto take The Belmont Derby.
I know Domestic Product lost a shoe and got cut in The Derby, but I am not exactly sure how he got beat in The Pegasus at Monmouth last out. I was looking for a big race from him and while he ran okay, he did not come close to what I expected to see against that field. Prat sticks and he is back at a track he has won over and pace wise it looks good for him. I will give him another chance in The Grade 3 Dwyer.
In The John Nerud I respect Prevalence as a horse who has really come around of late with new rider Irad Ortiz and the turf to dirt move. He had shown flashes of talent a long time and appears to have put it together. That said I think the lightly raced improving Mullikin could have a pace advantage in here and I think Prat may put him right on the engine and take this wire to wire. His outside draw would also suit a stalking trip, but I believe his best shot is on the lead. We’ll see if Prat and Brisset think the same.
The Grade 1 Belmont Oaks came up world class. You can make a case for most anyone in here from top to bottom. She Feels Pretty has a nice look to her coming off that monster win off the bench after showing signs she was top class at two. The distance looks like it should pose no problem and she has quite the turn of foot. Cinderella’s Dream catches the eye off the race to Porta Fortuna who came out of the Qipco 1000 Guineas to win a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. I would put those two at the head of the class with the rest not far behind at all.
Make sure and watch Saratoga Saturday on Past the Wire TV brought to you by AmWager every Saturday of the meet. Previews, selections, analysis, news, behind the scenes and more. Shows should be up on Friday and you won’t want to miss a single one.
