Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview

Posted on May 25, 2023 | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

HANCHI and ZING TO WIN were both scratched from Wednesday to save for this. Considering the prize money differential and the fact that Dreamers Never Die won like a smart animal it looks a great move from both stables. HANCHI has finished second in all four trials behind three winners (More Special, Shaddow Fear, Sass Machine) and recently to repeated impressive trial winner Red Square. Drawn to bounce out and take it up and from there is hard to go past. ZING TO WIN can either kick up underneath him or follow his every move. Worked through his gears nicely in his 930m trial. IMA WILD GIRL reunites with William Pike and is going well. PARIS CALLING won well on debut but this is much harder.

Numbers: 4 – 2 – 8 – 7

Suggested Bet – HANCHI WIN

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RACE 2

COSMOPOLITAN GIRL finished 7^th of 7 last start but in replay you could argue she nearly wins with clear galloping room. Her second placing to Snowdome in a 66+ three starts back really looks like standout form for this and while 58.5kg is probably on her weight carrying limit she’s got a senior rider back aboard for the first time in a long while. SUPERSESSION returns to the races after an 8 week freshen. Had six runs in his initial preparation winning on three occasions in impressive style. He has a big turn of foot and can sit just behind the speed and wind up late. Hard to hold out. SWIM THROUGH won well fresh and three deep the trip over 1000 at Belmont isn’t a bad spot. SKY DUKE maps well.

Numbers: 2 – 4 – 5 – 6

Suggested Bet – COSMOPOLITAN GIRL EACHWAY

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RACE 3

OUTSPOKEN LAD was put under pressure in his 930m trial by Alan Kennedy but kept responding under riding. Handy trial for a horse resuming at 1300m who will ultimately get out over a mile and beyond. He will likely hold a tactical advantage over the majority of his rivals in the run and should run well at his return in an open race. GLASGOW GIRL needs to step but if she does then she’s the only leader in the race. Always dangerous when a natural front runner gets left alone for too long. HENCHARD can box seat on the back of her and enjoys a lovely tow into the race. PLAYZ WITH FIRE was a solid return to racing from a long time away. She’ll come on big time from that run.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 3 – 7

Suggested Bet – OUTSPOKEN LAD EACHWAY

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RACE 4

SESSIONS PEAK was dragged back to last at his most recent outing from barrier 9 of 9. The anchor went out mid-race and everything was over-racing through the early and middle stages. The race turned into a sit and sprint and he couldn’t have done much more than what he did. He ran a faster L600 than Ginger Baker and Knot Secret in that event and meets them both better at the weights. Big winner at the barrier draw. KNOT SECRET hasn’t had much go his way since winning a 66+ 1400 at Ascot three starts ago. He’s drawn to get a decent run midfield with cover. MAHALEO finally broke through last start after a string of encouraging runs for the new yard. GINGER BAKER won well last start. Muddling pace doesn’t help him with 60kg.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – SESSIONS PEAK EACHWAY

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RACE 5

CATEGORY THREE was a hard trial to ignore. She sat back last in the trial for 850m and then was only asked for an effort in the final few strides. Love the way she covered the ground and looks to have found a race with a nice even tempo in which to make her return to racing. Plenty more wins ahead for her. HARMIKA has come back like the 3 year old filly who beat Otheroneson 18 months ago. She can park herself just behind the speed and looks like she’ll get every chance to go back to back. SENORITA DOROTEA loses a senior rider but can charge across and may even look for the front. PROBITY was backed into favourite in a 66+ first-up. Now he drops back into a 60+, has blinkers for the first time and will likely go round eachway. Shows just how deep this race is.

Numbers: 3 – 4 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – CATEGORY THREE WIN

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RACE 6 

CATALPA trialled super alongside Itsarayday at Lark Hill before beating progressive galloper Brave Venture fresh at 1200m at Ascot. He was forced to cover plenty of additional ground in a race where Man Crush rolled them along throughout at the opening meeting at Belmont Park and now third-up he gets out to 1400m and gains the services of William Pike. Plenty of speed drawn outside of him should ensure he gets cover and from there he looks hard to beat. WESTRIVER MIRACLE is well placed in a 66+. First-up last campaign he finished third behind The Velvet Queen in an 84+. Blinkers first time and a soft trial. Big price. TRADE WAR rarely runs a bad race. He meets Catalpa 2kg better at the weights from last start and beat him home. He’ll be winning again shortly. BROOKLYN PIER maps to get a soft run.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 2 – 8

Suggested Bet – CATALPA WIN

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RACE 7

IHTS CLOSING INN was gifted the race last start when allowed to dictate terms in front to suit herself. She’s arguably an even better filly with some cover and from the ideal draw William Pike can have her poised and ready to strike. Very open and even race with multiple winning chances. NOD AND A SMILE lost no admirers last start when taking a huge step from a maiden into a 60+ Graduation. He’s shown versatility so doesn’t have to charge forward, however, given the draw he may have to. COBBANCO has to again lump 59kg in a race with a stack of progressive types that get considerable weight pulls on him. MOJO’S LUCK was enormous at his return to racing. Needs every inch of a mile and with the senior going on he can run a race at odds.

Numbers: 9 – 15 – 1 – 11

Suggested Bet – IHTS CLOSING INN EACHWAY

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RACE 8

BUSTLER and THE VELVET QUEEN went to the line locked together over 1400m in the Belmont Sprint and in the Hyperion Stakes do battle again at 1600m. There’s absolutely nothing between them and they’re drawn alongside each other in barrier 1 & 2 respectively. This is a bit of an ugly race without much speed and likely turns into a tactical affair in running. See no reason why the 3 year old can’t win again. THE VELVET QUEEN only improves out to a mile and she has the point to point speed to get herself out of a tricky position if it turns into a sit and sprint. She’s a gun. DOM TO SHOOT got a long way back in the Belmont Sprint and couldn’t go with them. MINSK MOMENT is drawn a lot better here.

Numbers: 9 – 10 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet – BUSTLER WIN

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RACE 9

MULTINATIONAL looks like getting the ideal run behind the speed set by Savage One and Mood Swings. From there he can present at the right time and considering he won first-up no trial over 1400m from the breeze last preparation he should be ready to rock and roll off the back of a soft trial behind sharp sprinter Bitofmerit on Monday. Like the set up for him at his return. ROKANORI looked like he peaked on his run over the last 100m fresh. Should take great benefit from the outing and may even land the back of Multinational in running. ABOVE THE PEG is dangerous from three back the fence. PANZDOWN hit the line like a horse looking for 1400m last start.

Numbers: 6 – 13 – 12 – 2

Suggested Bet – MULTINATIONAL EACHWAY

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Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,4

1,8,9,11,13,14,15

9,10

2,6,10,12,13,14

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