Belmont plays: Woodward, Champagne and 2 other stakes

Breeders’ Cup season heats up with important prep races at Belmont Park and Santa Anita. This post will focus on the Saturday card at Belmont.

The headliner at Belmont is the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes for older dirt routers. There are also three undercard stakes races, including the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes, Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes and Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational as well.

As written before, Belmont dirt routes are unique because most of the races run around one turn. Keep that in mind when they switch to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup.

Belmont Race 4: Miss Grillo Stakes (G3)

In a race with a fair pace, the Chad Brown-trained McKulick likely mows down this field down with no problem.

McKulick broke her maiden by 1 1/2 lengths on Aug. 8 at Saratoga in a productive turf maiden race where three horses won their next starts. She only needs to repeat the effort or move a bit forward under Irad Ortiz Jr.

According to TimeformUS Pace Projector though, the probable pace is slow with the longshot Charlee O expected to lead the group and Hail To pressing.

Charlee O lacks route experience, while Hail To just broke her maiden in a one mile and one-sixteenth turf route at Saratoga on Aug. 29. The interesting part is that she won from midpack after a fast pace, yet the Pace Projector places this filly right with the leader because of her pace figures.

Hail To is a full sister to Sadler’s Joy, who won $2.6 million in his career.

If McKulick cannot get the job done, Hail To looks capable.

Top selection: No. 6 McKulick (1-1)

Best value: No. 3 Hail To (7/2)

Belmont Race 8: Champagne Stakes (G1)

Perhaps this is not a great betting race. However, this is one of the most exciting races on the card with potential Derby trail stars lined up.

Jack Christopher and My Prankster show dazzling performances in their career debuts at Saratoga. The former won by 8 ¾ lengths in a six-furlong race, while the latter won by 10 lengths in a six-and-a-half furlong race. Neither colt needed a ton of urging, which makes both visually impressive.

Also consider Gunite, who won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga by 5 ¾ lengths, albeit under some urging. The fast early pace made him tired late, which makes the visible whipping by jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. forgivable.

Even though Wit broke poorly, he had every chance to catch Gunite in the stretch run and lost ground to him late in the race. He is ignorable on top.

Top selection: No. 3 Jack Christopher (9/5)

Contender: No. 2 My Prankster (5/2)

Best value: No. 5 Gunite (4-1)

Belmont Race 9: Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational (G3)

This turf sprint lacks early speed.

Pulsate might own the most speed. He shows good ability as well after winning the Lucky Coin Stakes (G3) by a neck at Saratoga in his most recent start. Cross out the subpar dirt effort. Three starts ago, Pulsate also ran second by a neck in a six-furlong optional claimer on this inner turf course.

Even though Pulsate is not a true pacesetter, but he might find himself up leading the race by default. He gets the nod in this evenly-matched race.

Belgrano deserves respect too, as he might end up pressing Pulsate.

In his most recent start, Belgrano won the Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth by two lengths and a starter allowance by a huge six lengths.

If Pulsate hesitates to go for the lead, then Belgrano might even find himself on an uncontested lead through a slow pace. He is one to include in tickets.   

Also consider the mare Piedi Bianchi.

Piedi Bianchi won the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga by 2 ¼ lengths on Aug. 21 to show off her turf sprinting skills. Three starts ago, she also faded to second by 1 ½ lengths in the seven-furlong Intercontinental Stakes (G3).

Maybe six furlongs is the perfect distance for her. The switch to facing males is a concern, but the 20-1 morning line odds makes Piedi Bianchi tempting.

Top selection: No. 7 Pulsate (7/2)

Best value: No. 8 Belgrano (8-1)

Live longshot: No. 1 Piedi Bianchi (20-1)

Belmont Race 10: Woodward Stakes (G1)

In terms of who owns the most upside, the answer is Art Collector.

Art Collector was a talented 3-year-old who beat a hot Swiss Skydiver to win the Blue Grass Stakes last year. Swiss Skydiver would go on to capture the Preakness Stakes over the eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic.

While Art Collector’s form went south later in the year with flat Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile efforts, the subsequent time off and switch to trainer Bill Mott in his 4-year-old season has brought Art Collector two recent wins in the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga and Charles Town Classic (G2).

Given Art Collector is in great form and owns useful tactical speed, expect him to continue his winning ways in the Woodward.

The two closers Code of Honor and Maxfield are logical complete the trifecta.

Maxfield has always been slightly overrated, but he does pack a punch in the lane and should pick off any tired horses late. Code of Honor comes off a nice win against questionable competition in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3).  

Value seekers might want to place Dr Post in second instead though in hopes of a worthwhile payoff. He made a belated move for third in the Pacific Classic (G1). Perhaps he lost concentration and only started to try too late.

Top selection: No. 3 Art Collector (3-1)

Underneath: No. 5 Code of Honor (5/2), No. 2 Maxfield (7/5)

Best value underneath: No. 1 Dr Post (6-1)