Friday 5: Wow Cat should move forward in the Beldame Stakes

While Midnight Bisou goes into Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Beldame Stakes in top form after capturing the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, I will play against her. Midnight Bisou could lose for a number of reasons, including a troubled trip or simply saving her best for the big day in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Distaff. There is no lock in racing.

With that said, here is the alternative pick for the Beldame, along with other selections at Belmont, Churchill and Delaware.

Belmont Race 8: Beldame Stakes (G2)

The Chilean-bred Wow Cat did not run to expectations in her first few North American starts before finally breaking through in last year's Beldame Stakes (G1), winning by 3 ¼ lengths and running second in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Notice she lost the 2018 Personal Ensign by 10 lengths. This year, Wow Cat lost the Personal Ensign by 10 lengths again.

But, there is an argument Wow Cat traveled on a dead rail as seen by the flops by Promises Fulfilled, Separationofpowers and Shancelot on the same Travers Stakes day card.

With the popular Midnight Bisou entered as well, Wow Cat will not start as the favorite here, and she might float to 2-1 or higher.

It is possible this mare only needs more time to get fully cranked up. Because bettors will undoubtedly go crazy on Midnight Bisou, Wow Cat is the choice.

Belmont Race 9: Pilgrim Stakes (G3)

The 2-year-old Silent Name colt No Word broke his maiden in fine fashion on Aug. 31 and drew well in Post 2.

From there, Jose Ortiz can sit behind the leaders and save ground on the turn before shooting through an opening or switching out. In turf racing, the “inside-outside” trip is one of the more powerful ones.

The favorite, Structor, is a contender as well, but he ran slow in his maiden win. Notice his finishing time of 1:44.16. Later in the card, the Saranac Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at the same distance finished in 1:41.80.

In fairness, Structor is a 2-year-old colt and those are experienced 3-year-olds. But no bettor will get a deal with Chad Brown as his trainer.

It is worth taking a shot against Structor with No Word

Churchill Downs Race 4: Maiden

Weekend Fun displays one of the most interesting pedigrees of any horse, with her third dam Lassie Dear also the second dam for A.P. Indy. With More Than Ready on top, too, it is no wonder this filly cost $200,000 as a yearling.

With that said, good pedigrees do not always result in good racehorses.

Weekend Fun remains promising with a third and second in two dirt starts. In the latter, she briefly led at Saratoga before losing to Daphne Moon, with Lucky Dime third. Lucky Dime went on to finish second in a Belmont maiden race. Also, the fifth-place finisher Foreign Exchange ran third in another Saratoga maiden race.

Weekend Fun's one flop came in a turf stakes at Kentucky Downs, where she showed her usual tactical speed and folded to 11th. But the fact the connections started Weekend Fun in a $500,000 stakes race is a great sign of their confidence in her.

She catches a weak field in this spot at Churchill Downs and appears ready to break her maiden, albeit at a short price.

If she remains 7/5 or higher, that is fair to play.

Churchill Downs Race 7: Ack Ack Stakes (G3)

Mr Freeze lost by ¾ of a length to Mr Darcy at Ellis Park in his return race, but that is a solid effort off the layoff. The final time of 1:36.18 went faster than the Groupie Doll Stakes won by Go Google Yourself.

Also, Mr Freeze owns backclass too, as he ran second in the 2018 Iowa Derby and won the West Virginia Derby (G3) by eight lengths before tailing off form in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Throw out the turf experiment in the Tropical Turf Stakes (G3).

On paper, it will not take a world-class effort to beat this weak field. If Mr Freeze moves forward off his runner-up effort at Ellis Park, he will contend.

His 8-1 morning line odds are more than fair.

Delaware Park Race 4: DTHA Governor's Day Handicap

Flowers for Lisa has lost a step as his two disappointing efforts at Saratoga over the summer prove. But at the right level and track, he can still win.

Flowers for Lisa's only two 2019 wins came at Delaware, and he is entered here in a good spot to get his third win because this race lacks speed.

The favorite Cordmaker prefers to close from behind. At most, he can probably settle a few lengths off Flowers for Lisa without pressuring him.

Tybalt runs as a closer too, or “plodder” as TimeformUS categorizes him.

Positivist comes into this race off several turf races, and he is a closer. Clubman gets the plodder label as well by TimeformUS.

On paper, Flowers for Lisa will prove tough to run down at short odds.