Horse Racing - Belmont Park July 4th Special!

Race-day: 7/4/2009

Race-times: Grade II Dwyer Stakes 4:44 pm est., Grade I Prioress Stakes 5:16 pm est., Grade II Suburban Handicap 5:49 pm est.

This Saturday, July 4th, is a special day in every city in America and America’s racetracks will be right there to showcase some of the best thoroughbred racing action of the year!

No where is that more true than in the state of New York at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY. Belmont has three graded stakes races on their Saturday card and BetUS online racebook fans will get a chance to be every single one.

Let’s take a look at the three graded races on Belmont Park’s July 4th card.

Race 8 - - Grade II Dwyer Stakes

$200,000

For Three Year Olds

1 1/16th miles on dirt

From maiden winner to Grade II winner first time against winners? Why not when you’re out of Pulpit, trained by Allen Jerkens and ridden by Alan Garcia? Such is the case with the top pick in the Dwyer, Convocation, who has the perfect style in this race. I see Convocation lying behind a vicious speed duel and then taking over when asked. There’s a huge upside to this last out maiden winner. Calvin Borel flies in from Kentucky mainly to ride Warrior’s Reward who will be part of that speed duel. Warrior’s Reward is an exceptionally talented animal, but he gets the one hole, Borel likes to sneak up on the rail, and proved in his last that he doesn’t really like it so tight. Kensei has the ability, like Convocation, to lie off of the speed before exploding in the lane. The stretch out for the son of Mr. Greeley should be right up his alley.

1. Convocation
2. Warrior’s Reward
3. Kensei

Race 9 - - Grade I Prioress Stakes

$300,000

For Fillies Three Years Old

6 furlongs on dirt

There’s some serious speed in this race but nobody should be able to keep up with the Todd Pletcher trained Light Green. Light Green is super fast, should get an easy lead, and if anyone goes with her with will be cooked after a half mile. She’s won her last two races by 14 ½ lengths. Cat Moves for trainer Anthony Dutrow could improve significantly in this as it is only her third lifetime race. She’s bred to be a champions, won her maiden by 8 ½ lengths, and won her second race, an allowance, by 4 ½ lengths. She’s getting better and better. The Larry Jones trained On The Menu will have to improve off of the bench to win this, but she’s got an excellent shot. She gets the outside draw, can lay a few lengths off and jockey Joe Rose is winning at 29% at Belmont Park with limited mounts. If Light Green gets into a speed duel, On The Menu could be the horse to pick up the pieces.

1. Light Green
2. Cat Moves
3. On The Menu

Race 10 - - Grade II Suburban Handicap

$400,000

For Three Year Olds and Upward

1 ¼ miles on dirt

There’s enough speed in this race to set up Dubai star Asiatic Boy who was last seen finishing second in the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap. Asiatic Boy couldn’t get to Macho Again, but he did have to go four wide and was bumped in the stretch. He gets it done in the Suburban. It’s A Bird is considered one of the top handicap horses in the United States and the last time he ran at 1 1/8th miles he won by 9 lengths with an unbelievable speed rating. But, he’s going to be chalky in this and Asiatic Boy just appears to be too classy for him. Out of the front runners that should hang on, Cool Coal Man is the best. The son of Mineshaft can either go after the lead or lay a length or two off. He finishes best in a speed duel.

1. Asiatic Boy
2. It’s A Bird
3. Cool Coal Man