The Lead:
While much of the national stakes scene winds down after the Breeders’ Cup, the 2-year-olds remain fruitful in multiple divisions late in the year. The juvenile turf sprinters are co-featured Saturday at Belmont in the $175,000 Awad Stakes. The 6-furlong event attracted a field of 9, including filly influence as well.
Field Depth:
MORE CHAMPAGNE is Grade 3-placed amongst a field that includes listed stakes winners ARCTIC WOLF, MONETA AGENDA and RIYADH WAY. TITAN READY is stakes-placed. No doubt MORE CHAMPAGNE has kept the top strength of schedule amongst this lightly raced group.
Pace:
There’s not nearly the early pace expected here you’d anticipate in a 2-year-old turf dash. TITAN READY and ARTIC WOLF project to be the speed with McMOON in closest pursuit. Additional pace can also pop up, perhaps RIYADH WAY, but this hardly looks overwhelming up front.
Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.
1-JUST JOE: Plagued by ground loss in all 3 starts, so the rail will help that cause, but his lack of a top-end gear has been the culprit. Most recent work was sharpest yet on clock and could indicate a move forward, which he’ll need under Flavien Prat.
2-MORE CHAMPAGNE: Horse to beat exiting a third-place finish in the Matron in which both Brickyard Belle and Harpers Corner came back to acquit themselves very positively in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Trainer Tom Morley’s turf sprinters are 7-15 in the exacta at the new Belmont and a bullet workout for this shows stability at the end of a long campaign since April.
3-METALLICAN: Unbeaten Parx-based colt for Jamie Ness has been just good enough in all 3 starts in Maryland racing away from home. Not afraid of travel but this will be by far the late-runner’s toughest test.
4-RIYADH WAY: Versatile pace player won both turf sprints at Gulfstream in front-running and rallying styles. Hollywood Beach Stakes he won last out has been a productive race over the years so don’t be surprised if it translates well at this level in New York.
5-TITAN READY: Speedster capable of wiring this cast with a win already over the course as an edge and note Brad Cox barn is 5-for-10 in turf sprints at the new Belmont. Manny Franco leads local jocks with 13 turf sprint wins and a sharp 23% win rate in these grass dashes. Colt hasn’t misfired in 4 starts over various surfaces and appears reliable to be a tough out on the front end.
6-REZA: Surprisingly flat in Churchill allowance after big-splash debut Tapeta win at Gulfstream. This is aggressive placement but not a lot of allowance options exist. Landing Javier Castellano a plus – he’s winning 20% in local turf sprints and his 9 such wins trail only Manny Franco. Mixed vibes but will make him prove it.
7-McMOON: Fresh off the $40,000 claim while breaking his maiden in start 4. New York-bred takes a big bite of the apple here and will be among biggest prices on the tote.
8-MONETA AGENDA: Restricted stakes winner at Colonial couldn’t see out the trip nor the open company in the Laurel Futurity. Six starts in, appears to have found his ceiling more so than most of the others and hard to project a winning effort.
9-ARCTIC WOLF: Outside speed should be in the mix throughout at the end of a well-traveled campaign. From NY to KY to CA and back to NY after a training stop-off in KY. Two bullet works in Lexington since then indicate that he may not have topped out yet from all the travel.
Most Likely Exotics Contender:
TITAN READY is proven over the course and distance and should have a pace edge.
Best Longshot Contender:
RIYADH WAY hasn't been favored in either Florida win and could be overlooked on the ship.
Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$90 win TITAN READY. $10 Exacta TITAN READY over MORE CHAMPAGNE.
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