Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 4:21 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs 

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We’ll see who goes favored here, but I believe Messidor (#3) is the horse to beat as she makes another attempt at this level after falling just short on Sep. 16. She was probably best that day, as she got caught behind a slow pace and was just left with too much ground to make up in a race dominated by the early leaders. She had shown some class in Europe and cutting back in distance at this level seemed to do the trick last time. As long as she maintains her current form she figures to be a handful. 

Two fillies exit the third race on Aug. 28 at this level. Golden Plume (#2) figure to take more money after staying on evenly to be fifth. All things considered, I thought she had a pretty good trip, as she saved ground early and found room in the stretch. Ultimately she just didn’t have the necessary turn of foot to capitalize in the last furlong. 

The horse that I want out of that race is WINDFALL PROFIT (#4). This 4-year-old has clearly had her chances at this level, but she’s coming off what was arguably one of the best efforts of her career in that Aug. 28 event. She was off a bit slowly, which put her in an unfamiliar position at the back of the pack. Luis Saez was dealt a bad hand, but his decision to make a premature move on the far turn didn’t help matters. She was spun 5-wide into the stretch and still almost struck the lead at the eighth pole before flattening out. We saw Love and Thunder, who also had some trouble, come out of that race to dominate a field at this level in her next start. I think Windfall Profit could take a similar step forward, as she has continued to be based at Fair Hill for Shug McGaughey. That switch of training venue appeared to wake her up last time, and she’s dangerous if she’s continued to thrive since then.

THE PLAY

Win: 4

Exacta: 4 with 2,3

Trifecta: 4 with 3 with 1,2,5,8