Player Quick Pick: Belmont for 10/11/2014
Belmont Park 8 | 4:27 pm ET
G3 Knickerbocker 3&Up going 1-1/8 mi. (T)
3 – Za Approval – 7/2 – The six-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper used a victory in this race last year as a prep to finish second in the BC Mile to Wise Dan. Za Approval looked awful two races back when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Nijinsky as the favorite, but a win at 7 furlongs over the turf in a $100K stakes race could be the sign of a form reversal. If that ends up being the case, Za Approval might be back to his old, terrific self. He could definitely stay close enough to Plainview to take advantage as that one slows down towards the top of stretch and still put distance between he and the rest of the field. There are some things to like and some things not to like at all about the millionaire. Horseplayers have to believe that Clement wouldn’t have him in here unless he thought he had a good shot to win.
4– Speaking of Which – 4/1 – The Christophe Clement trainee hasn’t had great success at Belmont, the five-year-old horse is 0 for 3 lifetime, but Clement wins 22% with horses off a layoff and the five-year-old has a fantastic record of 5-2-2 out of 14 lifetime. He also has 2 victories and a second place finish from 4 races at this distance. The works coming back haven’t been overly strong, but this field isn’t full of Breeders Cup horses and Speaking of Which did win the Grade 3 Monmouth. Anything close to his best over decent turf could put him into the winner’s circle today.
2 – Winning Cause – 6/1 – The Todd Pletcher trainee sired by Giant’s Causeway has burned more money during his racing career than any of his backers would like to admit. But the four-year-old colt has 1 a win and 2 third place finishes at this distance, which means he’s probably going to be in the mix. If the morning line odds hold, this will be the largest price that Winning Cause has gone off at since finishing fourth by a length in the Grade 1 United Nations at 17 to 1 last July. Pletcher wins with 20% of his turf starters and Winning Cause might be one of the only horses, along with Za Approval, within shouting distance of Plainview in this race during the early going.
3 – Za Approval – 7/2 – The six-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper used a victory in this race last year as a prep to finish second in the BC Mile to Wise Dan. Za Approval looked awful two races back when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Nijinsky as the favorite, but a win at 7 furlongs over the turf in a $100K stakes race could be the sign of a form reversal. If that ends up being the case, Za Approval might be back to his old, terrific self. He could definitely stay close enough to Plainview to take advantage as that one slows down towards the top of stretch and still put distance between he and the rest of the field. There are some things to like and some things not to like at all about the millionaire. Horseplayers have to believe that Clement wouldn’t have him in here unless he thought he had a good shot to win.
G3 Knickerbocker 3&Up going 1-1/8 mi. (T)
3 – Za Approval – 7/2 – The six-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper used a victory in this race last year as a prep to finish second in the BC Mile to Wise Dan. Za Approval looked awful two races back when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Nijinsky as the favorite, but a win at 7 furlongs over the turf in a $100K stakes race could be the sign of a form reversal. If that ends up being the case, Za Approval might be back to his old, terrific self. He could definitely stay close enough to Plainview to take advantage as that one slows down towards the top of stretch and still put distance between he and the rest of the field. There are some things to like and some things not to like at all about the millionaire. Horseplayers have to believe that Clement wouldn’t have him in here unless he thought he had a good shot to win.
4– Speaking of Which – 4/1 – The Christophe Clement trainee hasn’t had great success at Belmont, the five-year-old horse is 0 for 3 lifetime, but Clement wins 22% with horses off a layoff and the five-year-old has a fantastic record of 5-2-2 out of 14 lifetime. He also has 2 victories and a second place finish from 4 races at this distance. The works coming back haven’t been overly strong, but this field isn’t full of Breeders Cup horses and Speaking of Which did win the Grade 3 Monmouth. Anything close to his best over decent turf could put him into the winner’s circle today.
2 – Winning Cause – 6/1 – The Todd Pletcher trainee sired by Giant’s Causeway has burned more money during his racing career than any of his backers would like to admit. But the four-year-old colt has 1 a win and 2 third place finishes at this distance, which means he’s probably going to be in the mix. If the morning line odds hold, this will be the largest price that Winning Cause has gone off at since finishing fourth by a length in the Grade 1 United Nations at 17 to 1 last July. Pletcher wins with 20% of his turf starters and Winning Cause might be one of the only horses, along with Za Approval, within shouting distance of Plainview in this race during the early going.
3 – Za Approval – 7/2 – The six-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper used a victory in this race last year as a prep to finish second in the BC Mile to Wise Dan. Za Approval looked awful two races back when finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Nijinsky as the favorite, but a win at 7 furlongs over the turf in a $100K stakes race could be the sign of a form reversal. If that ends up being the case, Za Approval might be back to his old, terrific self. He could definitely stay close enough to Plainview to take advantage as that one slows down towards the top of stretch and still put distance between he and the rest of the field. There are some things to like and some things not to like at all about the millionaire. Horseplayers have to believe that Clement wouldn’t have him in here unless he thought he had a good shot to win.
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