Belmont Park, Race 2 – Friday, July 7, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
BEL2:070723 – Six furlongs on the inner turf. 12 juvenile fillies have been entered, but we only have room for ten of them to start. Four of the ten expected to compete have been out one time before – the other six are firsters. Maker has two scheduled to run, along with one each from Pletcher, Morey and Terranova II. The list of sires set to check one in at the starting gate include Kantharos, English Channel, Street Boss, Spendthrift Farm’s Bolt d’Oro, WinStar Farm’s Constitution, and Hard Spun. First-Crop Sire (1CS) – Flameaway – also has one logged. It’s always fun with the babies on the lawn, so let’s take a closer look at seven of these…
#2 – Smooth Waves (6/1) – One of the four experienced runners in this one, she is by English Channel, out of a Kitten’s Joy mare (lots of turf breeding there, right?). Her one race was on the lawn at Belmont, but she showed very little under Flavien Prat. Mom was a runner, cashing in for nearly a $1/4 million on the track with a record of 3 for 19, plus a runner up finish in G3 company and one of the three wins coming during her second race when she was a two-year old – a MDN CLM at Woodbine in August. Interestingly enough, she never won on the lawn in four tries. Today’s runner, trained by Mike Maker, hammered down for $90,000 as a yearling last September at Keeneland. She has a ½ brother that earned $579K while going 7 for 31 on the track (one of the wins being a G3) and he also won at first asking in September of his 2YO campaign at Presque Isle Downs. All of his running was done on the turf, other than his first which was on an All-Weather surface. Most recently, since her race, she’s worked twice at Belmont on the training track. Ruben Silvera is named as the jockey.
#3 – She’s Fire (3/1) – Kevin Rice trains this gal who has also been out in the afternoon on one occasion. During that tilt at Presque Isle Downs in mid-June, she lead for most of the race before getting caught at the end to finish second, less than a length from the big money. She’s by 1CS – Flameaway – who will being trying to notch his third winner. Her dam was 2 for 7, netting her owners $31K while racing. She’s Fire was picked up for a reasonable sum -$17,000 – as a yearling when going through the Fasig-Tipton KY Winter Mixed sale last year (64/83). She’s prepped twice since her last race, both at PID – her most recent was a bullet, covering a ½ mile in 47.31 (1/5). Jose Ortiz has agreed to be the pilot.
#4 – Permed (5/2) – Like the two listed above, this filly has competed one time, in early June at Belmont on the dirt oval. Similar to the filly above, this gal lead most of the way, only losing by ½ length and easily holding second place. She’s by Street Boss, out of a Curlin mare that couldn’t find the Winner’s Circle in three outings and this is her first foal. Today’s runner is a home-bred from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and is trained by Todd Pletcher who’s given her two easy four furlong works since she raced. The man in the saddle will again by Irad Ortiz, Jr.
#6 – Goats on a Tree (12/1) – Jose D’Angelo conditions this filly who comes to us from Bolt d’Oro out of a Rahy mare that was 2 for 11 with $43,000 in purses. She was snagged out of the OBS Spring 2YO sale earlier this year for $30,000 (19/22) after going 10.3 under tack. She does have a half-bro that won $234K while racing with a 3 for 18 record with one of the wins coming in black type competition. Palm Meadows Training Facility has been home to this FTS where she’s worked out four times (once over the grass with a partner when the dogs were up), her fastest coming on 5/27/23 when she went three panels in 35.10 (5/37). Trevor McCarthy will handle the reins.
#7 – Dr. Ray D. (8/1) – Another First-Time Starter, this filly is the second one in here from Mike Maker and she is by Constitution and sold as a yearling last September at Keeneland for $130K (59/105). Mom won $142K while a race mare and captured three of the 15 races that she ran in. She also threw one that won one of his two races as a FTS in August of his freshman year at Saratoga posting a fine 81 EBSF. His next race was a runner up finish in the G3 Futurity Stakes here at BEL (95 E-Speed Fig). Seven total works for this gal – the first five at Keeneland and the last two at Belmont (all on dirt) with her best probably coming the first time over Belmont’s surface when she covered four panels in 48.17 seconds (8/80). Dylan Davis answers the call to climb into the saddle.
#8 – Sea Dancer (6/1) – William Morey trains this home-bred filly who will also be making her first start. She’s by Mastery out of a Congrat’s dam who banked $107K going 3 for 20. She has thrown a colt who is now three-years-old that has already earned $185K with a record of 3 for 7, including one stakes victory and a 2YO score at Santa Anita on the final day of 2022, posting a fabulous 105 EBSF. This gal has had twelve total works – the first five at KEE, the next five at TP and the last two at BEL with his most recent being a sharp, 4f effort done in 47.89 (9/87). Flavien Prat will get the leg up.
#9 – Hidden Spin (15/1) – Hard Spun is the stallion behind this filly who is out of a Curlin mare that won $200K and three races from 15 tries. When she went through the auction ring at Keeneland last September as a yearling, she brought $95,000 (25/69). She’ll be making her first start today for trainer John Terranova II, who shows no starts in our 2YO MSW races at Belmont in the spring from 2018 thru 2022. Workouts? Eight total, all at BEL on the dirt – her last two have been at a ½ mile – none eye catching fast, but all solid. Derby Champ – Javier Castellano – will be her guide.
Pick – #4 Permed – If this filly breaks anywhere near as fast as she did last out, I think that she’ll be getting her picture taken, albeit likely at short odds. She ran a very game race in her lone race (and registered a solid 77 EBSF), but just came up a bit short in the final 70 yards. The two ½ mile works should help to put a bit more base under her. Pletcher is 10 for 50 (20.0%) with two-year-olds moving to the turf for the first time in Maiden Special Weight races over the past five years (which is roughly his overall strike rate). I very much like that Irad gets the return ridding assignment and I believe this one will graduate today.
Come on now – we need a winnah! Belmont has another of ‘our races’ scheduled for Saturday and then again on Sunday, so lots of good baby action as we anxiously get ready to turn our attention squarely to The Spa. Have fun with this one and please continue to stay tuned to this great site – ‘Past The Wire’. All the best and thank you, my Edgie Warriors.
