Belmont at the Big A Race 6
After the last minute decision to handicap a race from Canterbury Park yesterday, we are back at Aqueduct (aka Belmont at the Big A) for today’s sixth race which is a race for maiden fillies going six furlongs on the outer turf. I am hoping that today that NYRA keeps the race on the turf course today.
We have 13 fillies and mares entered, with 10 running if this race stays on the turf. We have two “also eligibles” in the 11 Mac to Moore (15/1 morning) and the 12 Tipple (12/1 ML) who will need horses in the body of the field to be scratched to run today. Mac to Moore did close some in his debut at Gulfstream on the turf. Tipple does have some grass pedigree in her, so she might be worth a look if you are a pedigree person.
The 13 She’s Always Rosie (7/2 ML) is entered for the main track only, and was scratched from the 4th race on Thursday at Belmont at the Big A. She ran well on the dirt at Keeneland back in April and had some nice works over the last few weeks leading up to her return today if this race goes off the turf.
The 1 Lamorna (3/1 ML favorite) drew the rail and she returns after last running as a two-year-old last October. She had a nice work on the Saratoga turf training track around the dogs. I’m concerned with the rail as a stone cold closer, but it’s not impossible to win here if this race stays on the turf.
The 5 Risk Threshold (7/2 ML) did show speed going a mile on the turf at Keeneland in April. I would prefer this horse going long, but this looks like a spot that she can get a win here before stretching back out to longer races later in the summer.
The 7 Parade Ring (8/1 ML) went for the lead last time out at Belmont at the Big A and weakened in the stretch. She closed in a five-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream in March. If she goes for the lead, she could have an uncontested lead, but we don’t know what the first timers will do.
The first timers are the 3 Aunt Nona (20/1 ML) who has a trainer (John Kimmel) that may not win often with first time starters but does win with his entries in turf sprints. But I concerned of the jock’s record at the Belmont at the Big A meet as well.
The 4 Bam Bam is a filly that is bred for the grass and should run well here. Brad Cox wins 25% of the time with first time starters, 20% of the time with first time turf runners and 22% with runners sprinting on the turf. I definitely would not toss this filly.
The 9 Scarlet Poppy (6/1 ML) was near the lead going two turns in April at Keeneland, and I think she might be in the same position as the 5 Risk Threshold where she might get the win here before going long again.
This is a very interesting race here for the 6th for Belmont at the Big A. I’m going to take a swing with the 4 here. Bam Bam should be ready and if she gets the trip, she will win this. I’ll call this 4-1-5-9 and my play is $20 to win on the 4.
Note that I am going to keep an eye on the scratches and changes. Follow me on X (@JoeQuills) as I will try to update you as soon as I can, and hopefully we do not have a situation where most of the fillies end up scratched because this race is off the turf. Good luck everyone and I will catch you tomorrow morning at 10 am for “Also Eligible” on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.