Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 5:13 p.m. (ET) | Go to the FREE TimeformUS PPs 

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There’s no doubt that the two most accomplished turf sprinters in this field are Miss Ella (#1) and Fair Point (#5). The two traded decisions toward the end of 2016, as Fair Point won Saratoga’s Smart N Fancy before dropping another close decision in Keeneland’s Franklin County. However, both are now coming off layoffs, and their trainers have mediocre numbers with these types of returnees.

For that reason, I’m taking a shot against them with SUMMER READING (#2).

The Pace Projector is predicting a situation that favors horses on or near the lead, and this Jimmy Jerkens filly should have a clear advantage early if she’s ridden properly. She’s run better than it appears in a few of her turf starts. Summer Reading put in an excellent effort to be second in Belmont’s Soaring Softly last May behind the talented filly Lightstream. She then found one mile to be too far for her in the Wild Applause. In her only turf start since, she worked out a nightmare of a trip up at Saratoga after breaking slowly and racing wide every step of the way. Recently, she’s been campaigned on dirt, and those efforts suggest that she may have taken a step forward this winter.

THE PLAY

Win: 2

Exacta Key Box: 2 with 1,5

Trifecta Box: 1,2,5