Bob Hill
Staff writer

Tracksideview writer Bob Hill offers his picks in three of the five Grade 1 races on the card at Belmont Park this Saturday.  Bob and Kat Kubik also offer their picks on the remaining Belmont races and two top races at Santa Anita in a companion article.  Heavy rains are forecast for New York this weekend, so Bob’s picks reflect his opinion that the turf will be yielding and the main track sloppy.

Beldame G1 – 1-1/8 miles for F-M three-year-olds and up

The Grade 1 personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 22 provided one of the most thrilling stretch battles of the year between Lemon Drop Mom (2) and eventual winner Ginger Punch (1).  The Beldame will be contested at a distance one furlong shorter than the Personal Ensign, and conventional wisdom would suggest that the shorter distance favors Ginger Punch.  Unbridled Belle (5) was the second betting choice in the Personal Ensign and finished behind within three lengths of the top two finishers.  These three are clearly the top ones in the Beldame.  Zenyatta is the only horse to beat Ginger Punch since last year’s Beldame, in which Unbridled Belle topped her.  This is not the race trainer Bobby Frankel is all out to win with Ginger Punch, and I’m going to take a shot at beating her with Lemon Drop Mom.  Bob’s picks:  2-5-1.

Vosburgh G1 – 6 furlongs for three-year-olds and up

The sprint division is loaded with terrific horses this year, and several are in this edition of the Vosburgh.  Lucky Island (3) lost all chance in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga last month with an awkward start.  Fabulous Strike (1) may have been the best sprinter in the country a year ago, prior to an injury that kept him out of the Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park.  First Defence (4) won the Forego impressively, and J Be K (2) has been one of the top three-year-old sprinters this year.  Kodiak Kowboy (5) generated a great deal of buzz after an impressive win over Desert Key in the Amsterdam at the Spa in late July.  Rockerfeller (6) has emerged as a real force in South Florida this year and could hit the board.     I’m taking Lucky Island over Fabulous Strike, with First Defence and Rockerfeller rounding out the superfecta.  Bob’s picks:  3-1-6-4.

Turf Classic Invitational G1 – 1-1/2 mile on turf for three-year-olds and up

I wonder if Proudinsky (4) still will be in this race at post time.  Remember that he just ran nine furlongs at Monmouth Park two weeks ago in the “Big Brown Handicap.”  Lone speed is always dangerous, and I think that the distance and likely wet conditions add to the chances of Presious Passion (8) wiring this field.  Grand Couturier (6) is one that has not run very well on soft ground, but he has excelled at this distance.  Strike a Deal (7) has been very competitive in virtually every start of his career and should not be dismissed lightly.  Dancing Forever (3) threw in a clunker last out n the Sword Dancer, but I suspect that he’ll rebound in this race.  I see a wire job coming.  Bob’s picks:  8-7-3-6.