[Michael Taylor]

1, Disengage: Didn’t do much in debut at a lower class level but had some troubles. Barn does respectable for send starts. I don’t think he’ll be a major player today.
1A, Golden Holiday: Beat his stable mate 1, Disengage handily in his first start but finished well off the leader. Will need to step up to be considered for more then minor rewards.
2, Keepcalmcarryon: Per norm Plecther has him training nicely and saddles Velazquez for his debut. The rail may be advantageous and I think he hits the board with everything going for him.
3, Hagler: Lost by 5 lengths in his first start racing evenly but it was enough to finish 12 lengths ahead of the remaining field. A repeat effort should have him in contention.
4, Wit: Everything seems to point to a win for him in his first start. His sire Practical Joke is hitting at 50% win rate for his first time starters, Pleatcher/Ortiz are a formidable team. Its hard to not use him.
5, My Rosie: She faces the boys in her first start and they may be a bit too much for her right now. Her low percentage barn turns me away also.
6, Baytown Warrior: He hasn’t raced over a dry track in any of his starts. Ships in from Churchill and has improved with each outing. He does has trouble keeping pace in the last furlong but I think he can pump up the trifecta payout.
7. Magical Knight: Not a lot to like for this grandson of Curlin but I do like his work over a muddy Belmont surface on May 6th. I ‘ll give him a chance in my vertical wagers.
8, Too Much Action:Not a lot to like about him but at least his work outs are consistent. Not sure how he will handle the off going but I can use him in my trifecta.

$2.00 Win 3
$1.00 exacta box 2-3-4
.10 cent superfecta 3-4 / 2-3-4-6 / 2-3-4-6-8 / ALL
.50 pick three 3/ 8 / 3-6

1, Soft Power: Seemingly bred for turf and debuts for Chad Brown who does well sending out runners in situations like these. Doesn’t have a lot of runners to beat and could notch a top three finish
2, Islandman: Not for me today
3, Sea City: His last start almost a year ago he didn’t perform well and I think he needs this race just to sharpen up a bit.
4. Migrate: Mott starts him today with just one turf work. I’m not seeing anything that sways me to use him beside his trainer. Looking toward others for a winner.
5, Charleston Strong: Returns from a long layoffand gets a dose of Lasix. Cuts back in distance and this could help him hang around for minor rewards at a price.
6, Pipeline: Didn’t do a lot to brag on in his first start back in April. Showed some late run and could be enough to hit the board for the Chad Brown barn
7, King James: Has improved slightly in both of his starts. Stretches out and will need to be handled carefully to last the distance. He can win but I will use him underneath.
8. Ranger Fox: Chased the winner in his last but was outfinished by a neck. Rosario returns and should know how much horse he has. A good ride can see him loom for the win.
9, My Cousin Rich: Parx shipper should struggle to win. Showed some late run in his last versus cheaper. If he takes to the grass he can get a trifecta finish with a big effort.
10, Mach One: Gulfstream Park shipper has the turf experience but doesn’t seem fast enough to win. Will lead early and then fade as they near the wire but could hang around for the exotics.

$2.00 WPS 8
$1.00 exacta 8 / 5-6-7-10
.10 cent superfecta 8 / 5-6-7-10 / 5-6-7-10 / 1-4-5-6-7-9-10

1, Nova Rags: Cuts back and if he gets a clean race could be among leaders as they near home. The downside is he’s racing against runners with more grade stakes tries and that could be just enough to keep him from winning.
2, Draining the Clock: Comes off the freshening and will have company on the lead so Ortiz will need to ride smartly. He’s a major player.
3, Jackie’s WarriorShortenms up in his return to Belmont. He posted his highest speed numbers here. 2, Draining the Clock should dbe in his vision from the start. I think he wins but not 100% sure.
4, Dream Shake: Fought 3, Jackie’s Warrior step for step in their last and couldn’t get by. Could apply the same pressure and blow up the race. Wont use him to win but underneath.
5, Tulane Tryst: Even pace runner should have no chance but if the 2-3-4 kill each other in a possible speed duel, why can’t he pick up a sizable check ? Superfecta maybe ?
6, Caddo River: He flashes the ability to run with these and could affect the early pace. The percentages for the Cox barns are intriguing. I like him for an possible upset runner in this short field.

$2.00 WPS 3-6
$1.00 exacts box 1-2-3-4
.10 superfecta 2-3 / 1-2-3-4/ 1-2-3-4 / ALL

1, You’re to Blame: Ran behind leaders in his last and didn’t do much to improve his finish. He faces some of the same runners from that race and unless he unexpectedly changes in a big way I can’t endorse him here.
Ry’s the Guy: He seems to like this distance over dirt. He loses long time rider Landeros but gets Ortiz. Not sure how this will affect him but I think he hangs around for the superfecta at least.
3, Campaign: Hangs back but doesn’t have enough to run down leaders. Adds blinkers but I can only use him in the bottom of my gimmicks.
4, Rocketry: I think this distance is just too far for him to run well. If he wants to be in contention, he’ll need some blazing fractions from the leaders and then they tire out. Not sure that will happen.
5, Musical Heart: He’s never run this distance and if he’s on the lead I think he gets caught late but if allowed to set the pace could be trouble for the others. Tough to call but I think he figures.
6, Moretti: He showed good speed before the layoff but Pletcher seems to have him ready. If he’s on the lead I don’t see him winning but can hang around for minor rewards and if the pace blows apart can win.
7. Ajaaweed: I don’t see him being a player here. He needs a lot of things to go his way but note Pletcher tabs Velazquez to pilot him. He shouldn’t win but if his odds float up I’ll use him for boosting the payouts of the gimmick wagers.
8. Tizamagician: West coast invader will have to be better, in my humble opinion, to verify his 7/2 morning line odds. He usually doesn’t run well off breaks and I think this will be a bit tough for him. I’ll look to others.
9, Lone Rock: I think he will be tough today even with his dropping form. This field is not heart stopping and he retains Vazquez who knows him. He only needs the pace to go in his favor. I will use him and hope he gets the pace he needs.

$2.00 win 9
$1.00 exacta 9/ 5-6
.10 superfecta 5-9 / 5-6-9 / 3-5-6-7-8-9 / 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

1, Travel Column: Cuts back for today’s event. Not sure what happened in the Kentucky Oaks but I think I can toss that effort. She has some late foot and I think she figures in this race.
2, Obligatory: I will venture to say she didn’t get a hold of the Fair Grounds surface and will look past that effort. I think she’ll need these to come back to her as they appeared to have done in the 8 Belles. I wonder if she has an other big effort today, if she does she can upset.
3, Miss Brazil: Moves up in class and seems to like the Belmont surface. She’ll take this group a long was but can she last at this level?
4, Dayoutoftheoffice: She didn’t get it done as the favorite in the 8 Belles. She could improve in this second start off the layoff. She need a little more to beat 6, Search Result but…
5, Make Mischief: She’s not fast enough to beat the favorite. She’ll have to beat me.
6. Search Results: Turns back in distance but this isn’t her race to win outright. Her speed figures are good but if Ortiz isn’t on point I think 4, Diversification could surprise her. She’s posting solid work outs and should be the first under the wire.

$2.00 win 4-6
$1.00 exacta 4-6 / 1-2-4-6
.10 cent superfecta 4-6 / 1-2-4-6 / 1-2-4-6 / 1-2-3-4-6

1, Chewing Gum: Could move forward in his second off the layoff. Ortiz now rides and I usually like Motts turf runners but this one speed figures lag. However his past outings at Belmont makes me think he can hit the board in the trifecta.
2, Casa Cuts back in distance but hikes up the class ladder. I like his times for the 3/4 mile splits in his races. Another Mott entry may not win but I will use him in my trifecta as well.
3, Completed Pass: Maryland based runner comes north and should be out performed today. Hard to use him for anything more then the superfecta.
4, Fast Boat: Well traveled runner has only gone this distance one and didn’t fare well. I’m looking for a slight bounce here and this keeps him out of the top three.
5, Greyes Creek: Not enough speed here to be considered for me.
6, Bound for Nowhere: He’s fast and has proven he can go this distance. He’s run on different turf conditions and has performed well at this level. He should be considered the one to beat.
MTO 7, Secret Rules:
8, Gregorian Chant: Speed runner with some late speed could make things interesting late. West coast shipper might find this turf a little soft for his likings, BTU I think he can out run enough to figure at a price.
9. Oleksandra: He took a lot of money down with him with the loss in his lasts race. You dot know which horse will show up with him. I don’t think he gets the class relief to make him a huge threat but I think he performs well enough to vie for the bottom of my gimmick wagers.
10, Stubbins: His first start in a long time and ships in form Kentucky. The uphill stretch at Kentucky Downs may have him in just good enough shape to run for a superfecta spot.
11, Got Stormy: Veteran graded stakes runners is a tricky one. His form is falling but he usually sticks around for minor purse money. I think this will be the case today as I don’t think he’s fast enough to win at sprinting but can hit the board with an honest effort..
12, Someday: I think he’s good enough to factor in the race but its tough for me to believe he will improve off that speed figure in his first off the layoff. I believe this will be a wide open finish for minor rewards.

$2.00 win 6
$1.00 exacta 6 / 8-9-11-12
.10 cent superfecta 6/ 8-9-11-12 / 1-2-8-9-11-12 / 1-2-3-8-9-10-11-12

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