HALLANDALE BEACH, FL, May 26, 2027 — With two weeks remaining to the final jewel in a crownless crown, HRI shall put Saturday’s Late Pick 4 at Belmont Park in the Tote Busters spotlight to see how the surfaces are playing in Elmont, New York.
Saturday’s seventh event is the day’s featured offering, the G3 Soaring Softly Stakes for three-year-old turf fillies sprinting 7 furlongs on the Widener course.
For some, Saturday’s stakes is a worthy goal, for others a place to begin the long run of Belmont’s Summer-Spring session, with some thoughts doubtlessly given Saratoga interspersed between.
Only six entered the Soaring Softly but they are among the most promising in the division. Saturday’s run will strongly hint as to where they best belong in the very near future. Without ado:
BELMONT PARK
G3 SOARING SOFTLY STAKES Race 7
The Skinny: Cutting to the chase, our trip notes on 1-Lady Beth’s (7-2) racing debut, a turf event rescheduled to Gulfstream’s Tapeta Track, FEB 5: Always look a winner, had restrained speed while under wraps throughout, kicked on with eye-opening change of foot, stakes next step?
Oops, here it is. Lady Beth makes her turf debut against proven grass performers, not usually our thing, but it’s Chad Brown, profitable with turf debut types and a worthy 27% effective with returns off 90-days + layups. We’re thinking Chad’s thinking let’s a get graded stakes title for owner Richard Schermerhorn–a barn new shooter. Prat takes the call.
2-Love Appeal (6-5) is a worthy favorite, although the early line seems a bit heavy-handed. But at 2-for-3 lifetime and in the hands of Team Clement/Rosario, that quote could be right on the mark. 3-America Apple (4-1) carries 123 pounds of high weight [118 all others] owing to a graded stakes score, fastest on the Thoro-Graph scale. We followed 5-Quarrel’s (10-1) juvenile campaign with great interest.
MOST PROBABLE WINNER: Love Appeal
BEST VALUE PLAY: Lady Beth at 3-1) or greater.
EXOTICA: Exacta Box: 1-2-3. Trifecta Wheel: 1.2 // 1.2.3 // 1.2.3.5
#25,000 Claiming Race 8
The Skinny: Pick 4 players should consider an All here. Every entrant is on a negative run and no forward moves are indicated. We whittled eight horses down to five: 1-My Friends Bear (3-1) haltered last out, returns in class level of claim following 30-day “jail” time. He seeks his third straight win but figures are descending; mixed signals and second favorite. 3-Alcools (10-1) meets weaker and barn profitable sprint to route; worthy 4-for-7 on Long Island.
6- Gypsy Road (2-1) has beaten better following $40K claim now drops seeking third win for crafty outfit. 7-Rocco Strong (5-1) never has run this cheaply; exits six-next-out-key-race winners and is 2 of 3 lifetime wins on this strip; Davis sticks. 8-Dust Devil (3-1) makes first start at reduced level since claimed and retains Franco for today’s drop.
MOST PROBABLE WINNER: Glory Road
BEST-VALUE PLAY: Rocco Strong to win at 5-1 or greater.
EXOTICA: Exacta Box: 1-6-7. Super Box: 1-3-6-7-8
Preliminary Allowances Race 9
The Skinny: Seven horses, but another spread-race with equal measures of good, spotty, and inscrutable form: 1-Danzigwiththestars (3-1). Schettino trainee owns the consistently fastest figures on the Thoro-Graph scale, but his pedigree does not scream 11 furlongs. Between pole position, a likely tactical trip and strong finisher Trevor McCarthy, he will take beating.
3-Afjan (10-1) will go this far but has (4) 0-0-0 turf form. Trip could be the equalizer and switch to Davis intrigues. 4-Inflation Adjusted (2-1) is one of two Maker’s we have in this; 4 turf wins, 1-for-2 on this ground, switch to Irad, marathon-type pedigree.
6-FIghter in the Win (8-1), the other Maker, has won at 10F on All-Weather; reunites with Franco. 7-Mo Zip (7-2) makes first start in 520 days, had to be a serious issue. But goes first-time Clement/Rosario, a horse meant to be a good one. Might be rusty but could win on class potential.
MOST PROBABLE WINNER: Inflation Adjusted
BEST-VALUE PLAY: Fighter in the Win at 6.5-1 or greater
EXOTICA: Superfecta Key-Box: 6 // 1.3.4.7
MAIDEN ALLOWANCES Race 10
The Skinny: O great, state-bred fillies and mare maidens sprinting 7 furlongs, including first-starters, second-starters, layoff returnees, the kind of race that can make or break any live tickets.
First-timers 2-Sail with the Sea (20-1) has capable connections for this as does turf-ace handled entrant 12-Three Cups Full (8-1)–Irad riding for this barn news to me but here he is. 10-Strictly Taboo (6-1) and 11-Snowy Evening (8-1) are coupled horses, both running well vs. each other APR 8; they have a license.
3-Dream On Cara (20-1) is dropping from stakes. 6-Lakeside Getaway (12-1) is working with purpose. 8-Autumn (8-1) never had a chance and returns with uncharacteristically aggressive works from Shug. 15-She’s A Natural (12-1) has run well enough for Sciacca, gets Javier. Any could have something to say.
The solid exacta horses are 10-Strictly Taboo (6-1) paired up competitively for “the other’ Clement; likely second-favorite 5-Photon (6-1), and the fast, promising 9-Loon Cry (9-5), a very worthy favorite.
MOST PROBABLE WINNER: Loon Cry
BEST-VALUE PLAY: Photon to win at 4-1 or greater.
Exacta Box: 5-9-10. Exacta Wheel: 5-9-10 // 11-12. Trifecta Key: 9 // 5.10.11.12 // 2.3.5.6.7.10.11.12.13.15
per usual, suggested exotics at minimums available, straight wagers in $2 units
this is a live column to be updated throughout the holiday weekend
