Belmont at the Big A Race 8
After a day at Churchill Downs, we end the month of June with one more race this week from Aqueduct in their Belmont at the Big A meet. We have fillies and mares going seven furlongs on the main track here in an allowance race. Post time for this race is for approximately 4:42 pm Eastern time.
Don’t worry about the cross-entry notes for the 2 St. Benedicts Prep (5/2 morning line) and the 3 Risk Free (8/1 ML). Both these fillies were entered as main track only entrants in a turf race yesterday and were scratched. They should be running today barring anything unforeseen.
The 1 Nikitis (2/1 ML) is favored, and is running for the first time since running in an optional claimer last time out at Tampa Bay Downs at the beginning of April. She likes running at Aqueduct and should be no more than a couple of lengths behind any frontrunners.
The aforementioned St. Benedicts Prep won at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct last month by double digits in a starter allowance race. This is a logical next step for a filly who was near the pace and drew off. But she may bounce after that performance.
The 6 Pitch Clock (5/1 ML) appears to be the horse that might go for the lead in a race that doesn’t have an obvious front runner. She got bumped around at the start of her last race going a mile at Aqueduct and will need a cleaner start to be at the very least close at the end.
The 7 Cupid’s Heart (7/2 ML) returns to the races since her last appearance at Aqueduct in October. Looks like she will need this race, but I think this horse that could be a horse to watch on the NYRA circuit whether it’s the Belmont meet or Saratoga in this allowance tier for the rest of the year.
The 3 Risk Free goes turf to dirt here after running in a six furlong race in the beginning of May which seemed like she was over her head a bit, but she will close here, but will she have enough to win? I’m also concerned that she is 1 for 27 lifetime.
Since we mentioned five of the seven horses, I might as well mention the final two. The 4 Belle of the Ball (12/1 ML) does close well, but I don’t think she’s fast enough to keep up here, while the 5 My Girl Jal (15/1 ML) appears to regressed after back to back wins at Aqueduct in February and March.
Although I am concerned that the 7 Cupid’s Heart might need this race, I think this mare at 80% can still win this. I’ll call this 7-2-1-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 7. Good luck everyone!
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