After an Opening Day at the newly renovated Belmont Park that saw Forever Young win the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) by more than three lengths, they are back at it in Long Island for the first Saturday of the meeting. The ten-race card is headlined by the $175k Floral Park at six-furlongs over the grass. Here are a few horses I will build my day around, including my top choice in the feature.
Race 5:
My first play of the day comes in this MSW for 2YOs over the Inner Turf at 6.5-furlongs that kicks off the Pick 6. The second and third place finishers in the Skidmore in late August at the Spa return here with oddsmaker David Aragona expecting #8 Titan Ready to take the most public support. Titan Ready was no match for the gate-to-wire winner he chased at the Spa last month, but did easily out finish #5 River of Deceit. They stretch out a furlong and move to a new venue, so I am not in love with the chances of either of the two colts exiting the merry-go-round race up north, but they are the clear ones to beat on paper.
Instead, I will take a bigger swing with #7 Songbird Prince. Trainer Tom Morley won a couple on Opening Day and holds a strong hand here with River of Deceit and my top choice second-time starter that did not do much running at first asking. That said, he did break at least a half step slow from his inside draw in a race where there was virtually no change in the running order throughout. I expect a big move forward in career start number two. Hopefully, it is good enough to get the money.
Play: #7 Songbird Prince (12-1 ML)
Picks: 7-4-5
Race 6:
A state-bred MSW at two-turns over the grass is up next where I am not in love with any of the juveniles that have made a start thus far. 3-1-ML favorite #7 Equilibrate is likely to take money given his barn, but took no money on debut and is likely to be an underlay just based on the human connections. It feels like a good spot to try a first-time starter and I like the look of #5 Falconer. The son of Mo Donegal commanded $180k at the Keeneland September ’25 sale and has some precocity in the blood despite not a lot of turf route influence on the bottom side. Trainer Miguel Clement is highly capable of having them ready to fire in a turf route at first asking. Hopefully, this colt is ready for a big late run with veteran Joel Rosario taking the call.
Play: #5 Falconer (6-1 ML)
Picks: 5-10-7
Race 9: Floral Park
The feature on the first Saturday at the newly renovated Belmont Park is a competitive one for fillies and mares sprinting over the Widener Turf Course where I like the chances of #10 Leslie’s Humor. The LSU Stables mare has only raced once this year, but it was a victory at this same distance over the Aqueduct grass in late June. Clearly, the daughter of Kantharos has some sort of soundness issue since she has won three in a row, but only raced four times dating back to last August. That said, she appears to be getting better with age and since entering the barn of trainer Chad Brown. Her victory last out was not only her third straight, but it came after losing a ton of ground midway through the race. She appears well poised for her first start against stakes foes.
Play: #10 Leslie’s Humor (5-1 ML)
Picks: 10-3-8
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