Coast-to-coast

Creative Minister...Race seems ripe for a minor surprise. Lightly-raced and perhaps imrpoving.
Mo Donegal...Trainer has won this race three times in the last fifteen years. A logical contender.
We the People...Like the top pick, lightly-raced and perhaps improving. Dangerous if able to repeat G3 Peter Pan win - but that's the question.
Nest.

Wager: $5 WP on Creative Minister.
...$5 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.

Best Bets

Belmont: R7-11 ... P5 ... R7/Letruska-Clairiere... R8/Casa Creed/Arrest Me Red/Scuttlebuzz/Gear Jockey... R9/Flightline/Speaker's Corner... R10/Gufo/In Love/Highland Chief/Santin... R11/We the People/Nest/Creative Minister/Mo Donegal.
Belmont: R10 ... exacta box ... Gufo/In Love/Highland Chief/Santin.
Belmont: R10 ... tri box ... Gufo/In Love/Highland Chief/Santin.
Belmont: R11 ... win ... Creative Minister.
Belmont: R11 ... exacta box ... We the People/Nest/Creative Minister/Mo Donegal.
Belmont: R11 ... tri box ... We the People/Nest/Creative Minister/Mo Donegal.

Echo Zulu...Hmmm. Gets tested here to prove if she's matured to be as talented this year as last.
Matareya...Seems the logical contender to the top pick.
Divine Huntress.

Wager: $5 exacta Echo Zulu/Matareya.

Regal Glory... Riding a three-race win-streak including a nice G1 at Keeeneland last time.
Speak of the Devil...Euro-import impressed with stakes win in US debut for Brown.
In Italian...Completes the Chad-fecta?
Dirt: 2-3-4

Wager: $5 exacta Regal Glory/Speak of the Devil.

Jack Christopher... Top 3YO? Or, top 3YO sprinter? Will be interesting to watch his season progress but can't argue with the success so far.
Morello...Another hmmm. Was he somehow exposed in the G2 Wood or is he better than that? I believe the latter but we'll find out today./
Wit...Did validate 2YO form with a stakes win this year - but has to continue the trend today.
Pappacap.

Wager: $2 tri Jack Christopher over next three.

Letruska...Won't be easy but defending champ in this race comes out of a solid effort in G1 Apple Blossom.
Clairiere...Second to top pick at Oaklawn.
Malathaat.

Wager: Pass.

Casa Creed...Won this race last year. Back from overseas earlier this year. We'll see...
Arrest Me Red...Ward trainee is a solid turf sprinter.
Scuttlebuzz...5YO debut was best yet.
Gear Jockey.
Dirt: 4-5-8-12.

Wager: $5 WP on Casa Creed.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.

Flghtline... I'd like to go against -- stepping into a slaty G1 off a long layoff -- but he's freakishly good. We'll see if he validates that today.
Speaker's Corner...Has developed into a top top runner and is clearly the one to beat.
Aloha West.

Wager: Pass.

Gufo...Slight edge.
Highland Chief...Impressive G1 winner last out.
Santin...Also G1 winner in his latest.
In Love.

Dirt: 2-8-9-5.

Wager: $5 WP on Gufo.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.

Best Bets

Belmont: R11 ... WIN ... Illegal Smile.
Belmont: R11 ... exacta box ... Illegal Smile/ALL.
Belmont: R11 ... exacta box ... Illegal Smile/ALL.
Belmont: R11 ... exacta box ... Star Devine/Tobys Heart/Caravel/Illegal Smile/Miss J McKay.
Belmont: R11 ... tri box ... Star Devine/Tobys Heart/Caravel/Illegal Smile/Miss J McKay.

Obligatory... Might be at the mercy of the speedy Bella Sofia in this short field - but this one has looked very good in first two this season.
Bella Sofia... Clearly the one to beat.
Glass Celing.

Wager: $5 W on Obligatory.

Cibolian... Seems long-winded enough to be interesting at a price.
Abaan...Will perhaps try to steal this.
Loft...Interesting German-import comes in off a win at the trip.
Strong Tide.
Dirt: 5-2-7

Wager: $5 WP on Cibolian.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.

Jackie's Warrior... After the disappointment in G1 BC Sprint he's rebounded nicely to start 2022.
Mr Phil...Seems likely to make the top pick work early.
Night Time...Stalk and pounce?
Sond Money.

Wager: $5 WP on Jackie's Warrior.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.

Rougir...One of four from Chad Brown and gets the nod off of the latest effort.
Virginia Joy...Barn mate to top pick also impressed in most recent start.
Bleecker Street... Hmm, undefeated runner from Chad.
Family Way.

Wager: $5 W on Rougir.
...$5 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.

Illegal Smile...Wes Ward turf sprinter coming out of a Keeneland win and offering a big ML price? Sounds good!
Tobys Heart... Hasn't quite lived up to the promise of the beginning of the career - but still, very talented.
Caravel...Argument can be made this she was best before the sale and transfer to higher profile trainers - but she too is very talented.
Miss J McKey.
Star Devine.
Dirt: 8-6-2-13.

Wager: $5 WP on Illegal Smile.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top five.
...$.50 tri box top five.

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