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Belmont Saturday Highlight Horse: Danny’s Deceiver will relish wet track in the Vosburgh
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DontLetTheGamePassYouByfortfus

>Belmont | Race 9 | Post Time 5:44 EDT | Go To The TimeformUS PPs

In three runs over sealed tracks, Danny’s Deceiver has earned two wins and a second, which is better than he’s done in all of his fast track races. It would have seemed unlikely that he could compete against a field of this quality just a few months ago, but he’s made huge strides over his past few starts.

He defeated a strong allowance field on Belmont Stakes day in June, and then made an eye-catching run from far back to nearly win in July. He was still dismissed at 40/1 in the Forego—his stakes debut—but he managed to pass more than half the field while rallying from last to be fourth. The fact that he was able to accomplish such a feat over a fast track speaks to the form that he’s in right now. I take it as a positive sign that Jose Ortiz climbs aboard, and the stiff 6-furlong workout that he put in a few days ago would appear to indicate that he’s feeling good coming into this race. If there’s one horse in this race that could surprise a lot of people and step up to hit the board—or even win—I believe it’s him.

THE PLAY

Win/Place: 8

Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,2,3,6,7

Trifecta: 7,8 with 2,3,7,8 with 1,2,3,6,7,8

DontLetTheGamePassYouByfortfus

>>Go to the PPs for The G1 Vosburgh | Post Time 5:11 EDT Saturday

It’s been a few years since we’ve had a dominant older Grade 1 dirt sprinter in this country, which makes A. P. Indian a welcome presence. He is undoubtedly the leader of this division after sweeping both Grade 1 sprints for older horses at Saratoga, running his winning streak to five. If he shows up, he’s a likely winner of this race—but will he show up? His connections have cast doubt over whether they would run him over a sloppy track, and there is plenty of rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday. If he remains on the sidelines, this race really opens up.

Let’s go through the field:

#1, Weekend Hideaway (20/1): This horse has been plagued by inconsistency but seems to have gotten over those issues this year, as he’s put together four straight solid performances, including three wins against New York-breds. However, he was no match for X Y Jet at Gulfstream, or even Stallwalkin’ Dude in this race last year, so it would appear that he’s a cut below the best runners at this level. That said, he would be one worth moving up if the track comes up wet.

#2, Holy Boss (4/1): After reeling off four straight victories towards the first half of his three-year-old campaign, he’s been winless since last year’s Amsterdam at Saratoga. He’s hardly been disgraced in any of those races, and some might even argue that he’s improved as a four-year-old. However, the fact remains that he’s been in position to win in four straight races and just has not been able to seal the deal. Today his task is complicated by an inside draw in a race that features other speed and stalking types drawn to his outside. He resented getting stuck down inside in the True North two back, and he could be in for a similar trip here.

#3, Joking (8/1): After struggling to get through his allowance conditions for what seemed like an eternity, Joking has come on suddenly this year at the age of seven. Charlton Baker is having a fantastic year on the NYRA circuit and this runner’s success in the Grade 2 True North has to be considered his crowning achievement. That said, he missed some races over the summer and now must be set to top even his prior performance while returning from a layoff dating back to mid-June. The hurdles are significant, but he does love Belmont Park and ran a competitive speed figure when last seen. I’ll be using him underneath in exactas and trifectas.

#4, Green Gratto (30/1):

It’s hard to imagine that this admirable old warrior will be able to stick with X Y Jet early and still be around at the finish. He’s a pace presence (our Pace Projector has him pressing the early pace), but probably not much else.

#5, A. P. Indian (1/1):

There is little to criticize when analyzing this gelding’s recent form. He’s equally effective at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs; he can race on the lead or come from off the pace; and he’s run speed figures that are simply a few points higher than those of almost all of his competitors. In winning 10 of his 16 lifetime starts, he’s finished out of the money only twice. However, one of those subpar performances did come over a sloppy track in last year’s Phoenix at Keeneland. It’s possible that he needs a fast track to produce his very best effort, and he’s unlikely to get that on Saturday. However, if that is the case, his connections have indicated that he’d be unlikely to run. If the track is anything close to fast and he shows up, I’m not trying to beat him.

#6, X Y Jet (7/2): In many ways, this horse is the real wild card in the race. He is the only runner in this field to have consistently run speed figures that suggest he could give A. P. Indian a scare. However, he has not been seen since late March, and his connections picked an awfully ambitious spot in which to bring him back. Speed is the name of the game for this son of Kantharos, and he will try to take them as far as he can up front. However, he’s never encountered a horse that can finish up like A. P. Indian, and I wonder if an early tussle with Green Gratto could leave him somewhat vulnerable late. It’s also fair to wonder whether he can produce his best form in New York. Jorge Navarro’s runners have been effective at Monmouth and Gulfstream, but he gets only a 54 trainer rating on the NYRA circuit. Perhaps his Golden Shaheen effort is supposed to ease those concerns, but I still need to see it here to believe it.

#7, Stallwalkin’ Dude (8/1):

He nearly won this race last year after boldly forging to the lead past midstretch under Irad Ortiz. However, the game Rock Fall had just enough left in reserve to battle back for the victory. Things have not gone smoothly since then, as he’s had his ups and downs and seemed to completely tail off during the spring and early summer of this year. However, he got back on track at Saratoga and earned another Grade 1 placing in the Forego. He was never going to beat A. P. Indian that day, but he still ran a creditable race. Now he shortens up to arguably his best distance while in some of the best form of his career. I don’t anticipate that he’ll beat A. P. Indian, but he’d become a major player in the event that the favorite scratches.

#8, Dannie’s Deceiver (20/1):

If the surface does indeed come up sloppy, it figures to help this guy more than anyone else. In three runs over sealed tracks, he’s earned two wins and a second, which is better than he’s done in all of his fast track races. It would have seemed unlikely that he could compete against a field of this quality just a few months ago, but he’s made huge strides over his past few starts. He defeated a strong allowance field on Belmont Stakes day in June, and then made an eye-catching run from far back to nearly win in July. He was still dismissed at 40/1 in the Forego—his stakes debut—but he managed to pass more than half the field while rallying from last to be fourth. The fact that he was able to accomplish such a feat over a fast track speaks to the form that he’s in right now. I take it as a positive sign that Jose Ortiz climbs aboard, and the stiff 6-furlong workout that he put in a few days ago would appear to indicate that he’s feeling good coming into this race. If there’s one horse in this race that could surprise a lot of people and step up to hit the board—or even win, if A. P. Indian is absent—I believe it’s him.

THE PLAY

If A. P. Indian (#5) runs, he’s my top pick, but I think there are a few runners that could be used underneath him in exactas and trifectas, including Stallwalkin’ Dude (#7) and Dannie’s Deceiver (#8). If the favorite is scratched, then Dannie’s Deceiver would inherit the role of my top selection.

With A. P. Indian:

Win/Place: 8

Exacta: 5 with 7,8

Trifecta: 5 with 7,8 with 1,2,3,6,7,8

Trifecta: 5 with 1,2,3,6 with 7,8

Without A. P. Indian:

Win/Place: 8

Exacta Key Box: 8 with 1,2,3,6,7

Trifecta: 7,8 with 2,3,7,8 with 1,2,3,6,7,8

Race 1:

Whitegate (#1)

Was steadied in traffic when attempting to move up the rail last time.
Faces a much easier field today.
Charlton Baker gets a 100 trainer rating with runners coming off layoffs of this length.
10/1 on ML
———–
Race 6:

Reconsider It (#10)

Was done in by a wide trip in her debut.
Was hindered by a slow pace last time.
Gets a huge rider switch to Junior Alvarado.

12/1 on ML

This Beldame features three Grade 1 winners, in the form of Apple Blossom winner Forever Unbridled, surprise Test winner Paola Queen, and Mother Goose winner Off the Tracks. However, it’s still hard to shake the feeling that this has come up as one of the weaker Grade 1 races run in this division. The absence of stars like Songbird, Beholder, Stellar Wind, and Cavorting is certainly felt here.

The Pace Projector is predicting that the two aforementioned three-year-old fillies, Paola Queen (#6) and Off the Tracks (#7), will show the way early as they stretch out after focusing on sprint races this summer. However, I wonder if either or both of their riders will be somewhat more conservative than this projection suggests, given concerns about stamina over this nine furlong distance. If that’s the case, the door could be left open for Penwith (#4) to take up the early lead under the ever-vigilant Javier Castellano.

Let’s go through the field:

#1, Tiger Ride (15/1): She’s actually run pretty well on dirt and put to rest any concerns about whether she could get this distance with her runner-up finish in a restricted stakes at Saratoga this summer. She deserves some credit for making the first run into a fast pace (color-coded in red) on that occasion in a race that ultimately fell apart late. However, she still lost to Rachel’s Temper and that one is hardly a serious threat to win this race. At best, she’s worth considering for the bottom rungs of trifectas and superfectas.

#2, Forever Unbridled (1/1):

The Beldame is this filly’s race to lose and it’s as simple as that. Some argue that she should have won the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps back in June when she got buried down on the rail by Joel Rosario and had to wait for room before getting out into the clear too late in the stretch. I cannot make any such excuses for her last time, when she appeared poised to draw off at the top of the stretch in the Personal Ensign and just seemed to hang late before getting run down by Cavorting. That said, none of the fillies that defeated her in those races is in the starting gate today. If she produces the kind of performance that she’s capable of putting forth, she is supposed to win. However, if you’re looking for any chinks in her armor, you could point to a pace situation that is somewhat muddled. Joel Rosario got in trouble taking her too far back off the pace two back, and he must avoid making that same mistake again.

#3, Rachel’s Temper (10/1): While I respect the year that Charlton Baker has been having, I still think he’s asking a lot of this mare. This is a horse that really struggled to get through her allowance conditions and fell into an absolutely perfect setup sitting well back off a fast pace when she finally earned a stakes win last time out. She is highly unlikely to get the same scenario here, and I’ll be surprised if she’s a factor.

#4, Penwith (10/1):

What happened to this mare’s early speed? At one time, that was her greatest weapon, but it seems that her riders have made no attempt to show any early initiative in recent starts. However, I’m thinking that might change today. Javier Castellano knows how to read the past performances and I’m sure he’ll take notice that Penwith has produced some of her best results when she’s allowed to rattle long on the front end through steady fractions. If John Velazquez and Luis Saez on the two outside fillies are a little concerned about stamina going this nine-furlong distance, they may be content to let Javier take up the running from the inside. So can Penwith actually wire the field? I don’t think it’s out of the question. After all, it’s not as if her speed figures are that much slower than the top contenders’ in this race, and she figures to appreciate cutting back in distance after two straight races at a mile and a quarter. Her performance in the Royal Delta from last winter would give her a major chance here, and even her Delaware Handicap puts her in the mix despite the fact that race dynamics worked against her there. I believe it’s significant that Kiaran McLaughlin is taking a shot in this race, and she’s my long shot selection.

#5, Going for Broke (6/1): She barely beat Rachel’s Temper two back and I’m not convinced that she topped that performance despite earning a Grade 1 placing in her next start. I wonder if she’ll be overbet here because Songbird’s name shows up in her Alabama running line. That performance looks better in print than it does when watching the replay, as she got an absolutely perfect trip coming through on the rail around the far turn and still had trouble putting away the third place finisher, who was seemingly spent at the top of the stretch. I prefer others.

#6, Paola Queen (15/1): She never should have been 55/1 in the Test, but her win in that race was still a surprise. I generally love turnbacks and I have to believe that it was the shortened distance that allowed her to step up with her career-best performance last time. While she performed respectably enough in her three route attempts, she didn’t run fast enough in those races to compete against the likes of today’s older rivals. I’ll be surprised if she’s able to pull off the Grade 1 double here.

#7, Off the Tracks (5/2): There’s a lot to like about this filly, but I’m wondering if she’s a bit of a trap in this spot. Her odds are probably not going to be that much higher than those of Forever Unbridled, but I believe her older rival is a far more likely winner of this race. She obviously deserves accolades for her performance in the Test, which earned her a 123 speed figure—easily best in the field. That said, she was a turnback that day, just like Paola Queen, and she was not able to reproduce that form in the Prioress next time out. While she did earn a Grade 1 victory in the Mother Goose, she may have benefitted from a surface that was favoring inside speed on that occasion. Her lone race over a wet track was one of her worst, and there are still questions about her stamina. I’m not going to be shocked if she steps up and wins this race, but I don’t think a price around 5/2 or 3/1 would represent fair value. She’s somewhere in my play, but I prefer others on top.

THE PLAY

While I fully acknowledge that this is Forever Unbridled’s (#2) race to lose, I have to take a shot with Penwith (#4), given the expected value. I would bet her to win at odds of 8/1 or higher.

Win/Place: 4

Exacta Box: 2,4

Trifecta: 2,4 with 2,4 with ALL

Trifecta: 2,4 with 1,5,7 with 2,4

by Ben Massam

The brand-new Santa Anita turf course will play host to a contentious renewal of the GI Rodeo Drive S. Saturday, featuring a 14-horse scramble to seize a A Win and Youre In qualifying bid to the Nov. 5 GI Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Trainer Michael Stidham sends out 7- 2 morning-line favorite Zipessa (City Zip) to tackle 10 furlongs for the first time in her career. The chestnut recently attacked a quick pace and held on determinedly to finish third in Arlingtons GI Beverly D. S. Aug. 13. Zipessa figures to be on or near the lead again Saturday, and retains the services of Florent Geroux, who was aboard for her win in the GIII Dr. James Penney Memorial S. at Parx July 4.

Zipessa will likely have company from Avenge (War Front) near the front of the Rodeo Drive cavalry charge. Winner of the nine-furlong GII John C. Mabee S. at Del Mar Sept. 4, the dark bay--whose previous successesin Arcadia have come in turf sprints--will also confront the longest distance test of her career Saturday. Decked Out (Street Boss) represents the opposite end of the pace spectrum, doing her best work from the backfield. The sophomore recently made an eye-catching move on the turn and came up a head short when runner-up behind Harmonize (Scat Daddy) in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20. Bjorn Neilsen=s Real Smart (Smart Strike) looms as an intriguing longshot for trainer Graham Motion, who has enjoyed considerable success shipping turf runnersto Southern California. Confidently spotted at the Grade I level, the 4-year- old British import captured the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. at Delaware Park July 9.

1 Keri Belle Empire Maker Arroyo, Jr. Shirreffs 15-1
2 Frenzified (GB) Yeats (Ire) Gonzalez Cassidy 10-1
3 Queen of The Sand (Ire) Footstepsinthsnd (GB) Blanc Gallagher 20-1
4 Avenge War Front Prat Mandella 6-1

5 Real Smart Smart Strike Van Dyke Motion 15-1

6 Tiz a Kiss Cee's Tizzy Talamo Baltas 20-1
7 Majestic Heat Unusual Heat Stevens Mandella 12-1
8 Fresh Feline K Kitten's Joy Sutherland Shirreffs 20-1
9 Generosidade (Uru) Nedawi (GB) Pereira Lobo 12-1
10 Nancy From Nairobi (GB) Sixties Icon (GB) Smith Sadler 10-1
11 Decked Out K Street Boss Desormeaux Desormeaux12-1
12 Zipessa K City Zip Geroux Stidham 7-2
13 Elektrum (Ire) High Chaparral (Ire) Espinoza Sadler 5-1

14 Sobradora Inc (Arg) Include Bejarano Callaghan 6-1