It's getting warm where the BC/WTC is concerned and here's where I am right now as we start the 2nd half of the Spa meet and the Del Mar beach party. I used the Spa and Del Mar as a reference because these meet is usually a good indicator of who'll be the main players come the fall.
Distaff- Smuggler's affinity for Belmont, overall record and room to improve makes her the likely candidate. Ashado will be the favorite, but Smuggler, should she make the Gazelle and the Beldame, will be 3rd off the lay and her push button style will make her tough.
Juvenile Fillies-Still haven't seen anything that stands out, but Asmussen looks like he has a barn full of nice 2yo fillies who will be scrutinized to the hilt as they stretch out in distance.
Mile- Divine Proportions, despite having her head knocked off in the Marois by Dubawi, will be fresh and ready to fire on behalf of the Niarchos gang who'll be looking for their 6th win in this event. Singletary is a saver bet again.
Sprint-Lost In The Fog is a freak of nature and until otherwise proven, he's the one to key with some bombs underneath.
F&M Turf-I look for the Best Euro out there at a price and take my chances. I see another Banks Hill run again.
Juvenile-Right now I'll play 2 horses on top and they are Midnight Lute for Baffert and First Samurai for Brothers. They haven't run in stakes event's yet, but I like how they are bred and their running styles in that they aren't speed crazy. What A Song and Henny Hughes lead the pack right about now, but I think they'll come back to pack as we approach 8f-8.5f.
Turf-If he's healthy and can handle any type of grass, I think Shakespare for Mott has a huge upside. But I think that Bago will love the Belmont course and be the one to beat in the Turf. Won the Arc last year and should round into top form this fall.
Classic-Rock Hard Ten has been my top pick all year long and I ain't changing. He's big, athletic, talented and fresh when everybody will be weary. I hope to get 5/2.
Mandella wants to win a BC race outside of Cali. and this is his best chance.
PEACE.
I am not convinced Divine Proportions will beat the colts.
The European Challenge this year will be extremely strong.
I could envisage 6 or 7 challengers in both the Mile and Turf.
DP will have her hands full against the older filly Soviet Song
let alone Rakti, Proclamation and Dubawi.
The Turf could be a cracking race. Hard to see the home team fending
off the likes of Azamour and Grey Swallow while it will be interesting to see if the likes of Motivator and Oratorio make the trip over. Both could run in either the Turf or Classic a race which I believe to be wide open.
(5-2 Rock Hard Ten does seem incredibly short!)
Bago could also run in either but one has to remember how the connections kept saying he would come over last year before he was withdrawn after his Arc triumph.
After the disappointing European turnout in Dallas last year one can only help they send over a proper taskforce this time to emulate the heroics of Banks Hill,
Fantastic Light and Sakhee when the Breeders Cup was last held at Belmont in 2001.
DP loses a race and all of a sudden her record is to be questioned. Time will tell should she make it to the Mile, but if Six Perfections beat her elders in hot muggy Southern California, then I'll take my chances with a filly in cool breezy New York, who's record stands comparably with that of her former stablemate. By the way, these are just my opinions right about now. Nothing's etched in stone Anonymous. Peace. CB.