ENTHUSIAST OF ALL

BELMONT DAY 2025

7- TRUE NORTH, 6.5F, 1:37

1. #6 Mullikin (2-1)- Probably best at 7f but led at the 6.5f mark last out against a salty group after running four wide the entire way before finishing 5^th beaten just 1.25 lengths. Looks like the controlling speedin a race pretty soft on pace and should get a great setup with that tactical advantage. Has a win at Saratoga and gets Flavien Prat back on board, and may actually appreciate the cutback here following that hard effort at 7f against a tougher field. 
2. #5 Book Em Danno (5-2)- Hard-knocking type just missed the win last out in the same race as the top selection, finishing 4^th by a neck in a wild four-horse photo. Won at 7f on this undercard last year and probably prefers a bit more ground than this, but has won at 6f and seems to always be there at the end. 
3. #4 Nakatomi (4-1)- 6f specialist will stretch out slightly here after running eight straight at that distance, returning from a 2^nd place finish in Dubai. May need the pace to be a bit sharper than this projection offers but is classy enough to win with a repeat of best races; has two wins and third in three starts at Saratoga.
4. #2 Crazy Mason (9-2)- The top three tower on class, but this improving colt enters off of three straight wins and will be flying late; earns Timeform LP designation and will be one to watch in deep stretch if they go more quickly up front than expected.

8- MET MILE, 8F, 2:17

1. #1 Fierceness (1-1)- Not getting too creative here, but this is likely the most talented dirt horse in the world at the moment and should win for fun on the cutback. 8f is likely not the ideal distance for this more Classic-geared colt, but this field came up short and weaker on pure mile speed types.
2. #5 Raging Torrent (5-1)- Could be loose on the lead in a short field, and while considered more of a 7f type, did win at 8f last out in Dubai. Winner of last two could get brave up front and will be dangerous on the lead if unpressured; usable on top with so many likely singled to Fierceness.
3. #2 White Abarrio (9-5)- Certainly has the class credentials to win, but has finished 5^th and 3^rd in last two tries in this event. The feeling has always been that 9f is the bullseye distance for this one, and we can’t justify using both him and Fierceness on top. 
4. #4 Just A Touch (4-1)- The “now” horse gets the nod from the Brad Cox barn after two blowout wins in ’25 against lesser, not impossible but perhaps not as brilliant as the favorites; has upside and will need to reach it to contend here.

9- JAIPUR, 5.5F T, 3:08

1. #9 Ag Bullet (7-2)- BC Turf Sprint 3^rd place finisher was moving strongly late and probably would have won that 5f race with the added ground here. Enters off a horrendous ride when 7^th and buried on the rail last out and gets a resultant jockey switch to Prat; should be near the lead from the onset and in great position to hang on late. Twirling Candy mare led at the 5.5f point of the 8f Matriarch two back and now returns to a more suitable distance to tackle the boys. 
2. #2 Think Big (6-5)- Has won three straight at this distance, two coming over turf with some give, and looms the one to beat in this spot. Must use on top in multis on that basis, but may be worth taking a shot against in outright win wagers at this price given the race shape and likelihood of being too far back early against slowish fractions on a speed favoring turf course against a deeper field. 
3. #4 My Boy Prince (10-1)- Shortens up but won on the lead at 6f last time out off a six month layoff in ’25 debut against some of these, another that should get a favorable trip and be in solid position late. 4-year old should improve second off the lay for Mark Casse. 
4. #3 Our Shot (8-1)- Has never missed the board in four starts at Saratoga, with last six races coming at 5-5.5f including a win three back at this distance. Has tables to run on the favorite after running 4^thbehind that one last out. 
5. #10 Coppola (12-1)- Seems allergic to winning beyond 5f and has missed the board last three all at this distance, but should take them a long way on the lead here; eligible to hang on for a piece, but has never won outside of Churchill Downs or Gulfstream.

10- PENNINE RIDGE, 8.5F, 3:47

1. #1 Zulu Kingdom (6-5)- Looms perhaps the most logical single in this entire sequence coming off a Grade 1 win at the distance last out. Owns top Beyer (90) and Brisnet (94) figures at the distance that top the field by a wide margin, and holds a whopping 22.5 point Brisnet Prime Power advantage over the rest of these foes. 
2. #9 Noble Confessor (12-1)- Maiden has run closer to the top pick than any of these, and did it at this distance over yielding when beaten just a neck last fall at Aqueduct before actually finishing ahead of him in the Breeders’ Cup at 8f. Just missed when 2^nd last out at 8f and can improve here 2^nd off the lay for Todd Pletcher, who wins with 24% of his entrants in that stage of their form cycle. 
3. #4 Flying Mohawk (9-2)- Gets back to preferred turf surface after running last two over dirt in the Derby and synthetic in the Jeff Ruby, both at longer distances. Earns Timeform LP designation in a race projected to have a fast pace has and won last two at 8.5f on turf, but was a well-beaten 5 lengths by the top two selections last year at this distance. 
4. #2 A.P. Kid (10-1)- Ambitious placing for Pletcher and Velazquez off an easy 8.5f maiden win in first turf try, where 2^nd place horse came back to break maiden next out and three others were also next out winners; has speed and upside.
5. #7 Mi Bago (6-1)- Stakes winner on turf at 7.5-8f does not seem to want to run a step beyond that and sees added pace here, faded to 4^th last out with a similar setup but has the speed figures to perhaps hang on for a piece of the board. 

11-WOODY STEPHENS, 7F, 4:28

1. #4 Patch Adams (5-1)- Connections got a bit caught up in Derby fever as their colt struggled at longer distances; now finds way back into niche role. Two best career efforts have come around one turn and produced triple digit Brisnet Late Pace figures including driving last out win at 6.5f on Derby day; gets a hot pace to run into.
2. #10 Chancer McPatrick (4-1)- Must be better going one turn than two, and this race looks like carbon copy of the 7f Hopeful over this very track last fall. Earns Timeform LP designation in a race with a projected fast pace as Prat retains the mount for had Brown; is 2 for 2 at Saratoga and has highest Brisnet Late Pace at the distance.  
3. #11 Gate To Wire (12-1)- Looks to reproduce impressive 7f win earlier this year in the Swale at Gulfstream in only try at the distance, crushing two of today’s foes by 5 lengths. Draw a line through last race after getting bumped at the start; gets pace to run into this time as well and may be overlooked off last race. 
4. #1 Big Truzz (10-1)- Lightly raced and regally bred colt enters off of 2.25 length defeat to the top selection at 6.5f in last, should tuck in nicely and be running late into the speed in third career start.
5. #8 Gunmetal (8-1)- We are inclined to toss all of the pure speed types (Madaket Road, Macho Music, Neoquis and Citizen Bull) given the likelihood of an intense speed duel between colts not geared to this distance in the first place, but this is one that is not a true “need the lead” type and could rate off the pace to hang around for a piece with Irad Ortiz picking up the mount. 

12- MANHATTAN, 9.5F T, 5:09

1. #2 Integration (9-2)- Well spotted to finally win a Grade 1 race (0/7 lifetime) and hasn’t gone off at odds this high over last seven either. Last won four back with Prat aboard and gets him back for this one after three consecutive rides with Dettori who clearly was not a great fit. Should get a better trip while closer to the lead this time third off the lay, and may be overlooked and given up upon following 7^th place finish during a brutal trip last out in the 9f Turf Classic. Added distance suits, as last win came at 11f. 
2. #6 Spirit of St. Louis (5-2)- Has surged to the front of the turf division off two closing Grade 1 wins at 9f, including a last out triumph in the 9f Turf Classic. Looks like the one to beat off of those efforts, and was flattered when 2^nd place finisher Mercante ran back and won last weekend in stakes company. Has not run beyond 9f but looks to be begging for more ground. 
3. #5 Deterministic (9-2)- Figures to inherit the lead in a race that looks to lack much pace presence and has won twice at 9f previously; could take them all the way up front. Defensive use in multis out of fear of a lone speed scenario, as #7 Tucson could be forwardly placed early as well but may not be nearly as sharp exiting marathon races recently. 
4. #3 Highway Robber (6-1)- Another that exits the 9f Turf Classic, which looks to be a key race in this spot. Ran 3^rd there after cutting back from three straight at 12f, and should benefit from the added ground here, if not from the lack of pace; hard to make a case to turn the tables on Spirit of St. Louis however given their similar racing styles.
5. #9 Far Bridge (3-1)- Remarkably consistent marathoner cuts back here after winning 4 of last 5 at 11-12f, the lone miss being against the world’s best in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Certainly has the class to win but might be worth trying to beat on top at these odds based on distance concerns; was 3^rd in this event a year ago in most recent race shorter than 11f, and managed just 5^th the race before that at 9f. 

13- BELMONT, 10F, 6:04

1. #7 Journalism (8-5)- Only colt to contest all three Triple Crown races is a battle-tested winner off his scintillating comeback victory in the Preakness, closing five lengths in the stretch after being stopped twice in traffic. Will be tested with three tough races in a short five week timespan but looks up to the task at a distance that suits perfectly.
2. #6 Baeza (4-1)- Likely had the worst trip of the top three finishers in the Derby and now sits on a form pattern pointing towards a move forward on five weeks rest. Has been beaten just 2.5 combined lengths by Journalism in two finishes just behind the top selection and can win this with a move forward. Half to Dornoch, who won this race a year ago. Prat retains the mount and sets up to get first run on the two speeds.  
3. #2 Sovereignty (2-1)- Derby winner comes in well-rested having defeated the top two selections at this distance already, but deep closer does not get quite the pace meltdown scenario here in the smaller field. Was poised for a big figures leap in that race based on Thoro-Graph patterns, but with that in the books it is fair to wonder whether to expect a similar upward move again here; use in multis defensively but try to beat on the top line in vertical exotic wagers.  
4. #1 Hill Road (10-1)- Sneaky closing type own the Timeform Late Pace designation and appears dying for more ground after last out 9f win in the Peter Pan. Posted a 101 Brisnet Late Pace figure in that effort; finding a way into the tri could be the key for enhanced payouts. Irad Ortiz picks up the mount for Chad Brown. 
5. #3 Rodriguez (6-1)- Liked chances a lot better before Crudo entered and added pace to what otherwise could have been a lone speed trip. Also concerned about the long layoff after an injury scratched Derby and Preakness attempts, and was crushed 11 lengths by the top choice in only meeting, but has pedigree to hang around and potentially crash the bottom of the trifecta.