Happy Fourth of July and Happy Belmont Derby Invitational Day!!! 

Flat racing at the Spa and the 4th of July is a combo that would have been hard to imagine years ago, but this is not your father’s racing calendar. There are five stakes races on this loaded card led by the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational and the Grade II Suburban Handicap.  

Trivia question: Which track was the original host of the historic Suburban Handicap in 1884? 

Race 9 – The Belmont Derby Invitational – Grade I 

One Mile and One Furlong on the Mellon Turf for Three Year Olds 

1. Tank: Winner of three black type stakes in a row where he was part of the pace (87 Beyer). Expect the same today. On the improve as he moves to graded stakes. Could surprise at a price.
2. Early Adopter: Lope de Vega colt had a promising two year old season but has yet to get top prize in a stakes race. Last out he was mid-pack in the Audubon Stakes (73 Beyer) as he was wide while finishing fifth. Will need to show more in his fourth start of the year. Looking elsewhere.
3. Luther: Frankel colt comes here after a poor showing in the Prix du Jockey Club a Group 1 at Chantilly. Two back he was good at Longchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, also a Group 1, where he was a strong fourth and made a nice run at the leaders (which included monster Henri Matisse). Had firm ground at Longchamps – they might be looking for similar today. The Pick.
4. New Century: British bred colt came over and won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine (93 Beyer) last year. His three year old campaign started at Newcastle and then shipped in for the American Turf on Derby Day and came with a late flourish (87 Beyer) to hit the board. Regular rider Oisin Murphy comes over though this colt has moved to Brendan Walsh’s barn. Dangerous.
5. Test Score: Last out he ran a strong 2nd in the American Turf just besting New Century in a head bob (88 Beyer). Two back in the Transylvania Stakes Manny Franco kept him in the clear and he out finished the field (88 Beyer). Has a strong late turn of foot. Has hit the board in six of seven career starts. Gets a piece.
6. Final Gambit: Won the Jeff Ruby and that earned him a spot in the Kentucky Derby where he was a decent fourth. No shame there – so they kept him on the dirt for Matt Winn last month at Churchill and he trailed the four horse field. The dirt experiment appears to be over as he is back on the turf. Likely underlay off that Derby performance. Wait and see.
7. World Beater: Came back off a maiden score to win the Audubon Stakes at Churchill (82 Beyer). In the Audubon he looked like he might come up short but he surged late and won the photo. This one is on the come but faces some tough foes today. Small slice.
8. Flying Mohawk: Won two turf races and then was a decent second in the Jeff Ruby on the poly track at Turfway which led to a start in the Kentucky Derby. In the Derby he came up empty finishing 18th. Now he moves back to the turf – distance should suit. Possible for exotics.

Picks 3-4-5-7 

Race 10 The Suburban Handicap – Grade II 

One Mile and a Quarter on the Dirt For Four Years Olds and Up 

1. Phileas Fogg: He was a strong second in the Pimlico Special as he pressed the pace and took over only to be caught by Awesome Aaron (99 Beyer). Two back this NY bred crushed state breds in the Excelsior Stakes going today’s distance (98 Beyer). Using.
2. Disarm: Does his best running in the lane but is a grinder type which has resulted in minor awards in stakes races. Most recent effort in the Oaklawn Handicap was OK as he picked up the pieces for a non-threatening fourth (96 Beyer). Was a strong second two years ago in the Travers behind Arcangelo but hasn’t run a triple digit Beyer since. Looking elsewhere.
3. San Siro: Looks for his first career stakes win today. Opened his four year old season with a nice performance in the Ben Ali where he might have won but got in tight (88 Beyer). The in the Pimlico Special he ran well enough but was a distant fourth behind two of today’s foes. Plodder – but ten furlongs should suit. Maybe a gimmicks play.
4. Locked: Winner of both the Cigar Mile last winter and the Santa Anita Handicap (109 Beyer) enters here off a subpar fourth in the Alysheba Stakes where he was squeezed at the break and didn’t how his usual strong late foot (96 Beyer). Needs to rebound today. Logical favorite.
5. Bendoog: Has primarily been running in allowance company but is in good form and is two necks away from winning all three of his races this year. Distance suits as he was second in this race last year as he was just out finished by Crupi. That’s been a trend for this Gun Runner colt – hits the board but comes up short. Versatile type. Minor award.
6. Honor Marie: Runs here off a nice win going a mile and a half in the Issac Murphy at Churchill where he made a sustained run from the 3/8th pole to win a head bob (92 Beyer). Might be a Churchill specialist as all three career wins have come under the Twin Spires. Not today.
7. Antiquarian: Finished a decent second last out in the Blame Stakes where he got to the lead after pressing the pace but drifted on turn and Mystik Dan got through on the rail (97 Beyer). Is he a ten furlong horse? Not sure – he ran OK last year in the Belmont (which was at 10F) flattened out. Looking elsewhere.
8. Awesome Aaron: Has two wins in a row and has shown marked improvement once the blinkers came off – extra ground has helped as well. Last out in the Pimlico Special he was kept three wide as he stalked the leaders then he wore them down and bested Phileas Fogg late (100 Beyer). Posted a 104 Beyer two back at Oaklawn in allowance company. Can set the pace or stalk, and this post will allow Irad to pick a spot. Should sit just off Phileas Fogg. The Pick

Picks 8-1-4-5 

Trivia Answer: Sheepshead Bay Racecourse in Brooklyn was the original site of the Suburban.