Belmont Park, Race 10
8 furlongs, Turf
#2 Speaktomeofsummer 3/1
Late runner has enjoyed stretching out last couple posting turf spreads of +22 and +18 when doing so. Not sure the cutback to a mile is what she wants here. There are a couple other runners that have eclipsed her mile Final Figure and those big spreads should regress here without the extra distance to drive them up late. Seems like an underlay at 3/1.
#3 Selflessly 2/1
Her best efforts have come outside of Belmont, likely because she's been a bit more forward than some of the others but it could be a nice balance for this race. She has a couple Final Figures of 74 and 75 which could both win this race with the most recent a good move in energy distribution posting a +14, a progression off her last best run which was just a +7 turf spread. Her two lowest figures, however, have come here at Belmont. She'll need to learn to relax just a bit more than that 61/69 here 2 back but there is some speed in this race that could coax her to repeat that run.
#4 Giacosa 15/1
Always a good sign of future turf promise when a runner can pop the TDL pattern young as Giacosa did 2nd time out. She's been consistently deep with her late energy with turf spreads going +16, +12, +18, +15 since debut and the Final Figures have slightly increased with every single start. Seems to be developing in the right direction and is worth a look here at a big price. The progression has been smooth and incremental which often leads to a big breakout at some point.
#5 Miss J McKay 7/2
Never off the board in 8 starts, she'll stretch out here to a mile for the first time. She's had nice tactical speed remaining somewhat compressed despite sprinting over the last 3 posting 77/76 from 81/76 from 82/78. Any turf spreads better than -5 going short, I consider eligible to handle longer distances on turf. Every runner to her inside is in routing form posting turf spreads upwards of +15 looking to move late so she could get the jump on them here and have first shot turning for home. However, if you're one to play the track itself, consider Belmont's long backstretch and large sweeping turns give more compressed runners better opportunity to work out a trip than other configurations. Over this current meet, early speed has not been good with the eventual winner sitting an average of 4 ½ lengths off the pace at 1st call and almost 3 lengths back at 2nd call with no runners able to wire the field in 13 tries so far.
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