>Belmont Park / Race 2  / June 28th / 1:51 EDT

Today’s 2nd at Belmont is off the turf and set to go with a field of six on the sloppy main track. That allows #5 Againsome, who was entered for main track only by Linda Rice, to get in, and he is the horse we like in this race.

Againsome returned from a layoff here on opening day of the meet, and he got in what may prove to be a good prep. Away from the gate alertly, he then chased the winner of that race on a fast early pace (note Pace Figures/fractions shaded red to the half-mile call) before tiring in the stretch. Claimed for $50k last summer, he will drop back down in class for his second start back, which is a good move for Rice (85 Trainer Rating second off the layoff). Againsome showed last year that he can handle a wet track when earning a career-best TFUS Speed Figure of 104 when up against the stakes-quality runner Encryption over this track.

To us, the other interesting horse in this race is #10 Howl, who is finally getting a class drop that he desperately needs. We don’t really want him at a short price, however, and Againsome did defeat him, fair and square, when they faced each other in a $35k maiden claimer last April.