Edgar Prado won four races to boost meet-leading total to 75, 29 more than Eibar Coa in second.
Track was sloppy for first race, upgraded to muddy for second, to good for fifth; fourth, sixth, ninth races came off turf; eighth, remarkably, stayed on. As usual over off-tracks at Belmont, lots of runaways, with fields spread out length of stretch at wire; winning margins ranged from 2 3/4 lengths to 13 1/4.
1ST – No Reason, 2-year-old NY-bred filly debuting for Steve Asmussen, was 6-5 good thing under J.D. Bailey despite ordinary work tab; quickly went to front under mild urging, chased by Crispy Lights, 7-2 firster for Pletcher-Velazquez, who tried to keep pace but could not as No Reason drew off to win by pole under wraps. Crispy Lights continued on for second.
2ND – Dominic Galluscio entry of Organizer, Eibar Coa up, and Lotsa Mojoe, Jose Amy, was 3-5, thanks to Organizer’s 7 1/2-length maiden romp last out. Lotsa Mojoe, under strong urging, gunned up to set pace, tracked by Jamies Jet; leaving backside, Yankee Magic quickly cruised up outside under Edgar Prado to take command around turn. Organizer surged into contention wide around turn and looked like he might save chalk players, but Yankee Magic kicked in when set down and drew off through final furlong; meet-leading 30th winner for Dutrow-Rodriquez barn.
3RD RACE – Not good day for odds-on favorites. In field of four first-out 2-year-old fillies, Bobby Barbara’s Win McCool, daughter of Giant’s Causeway out of classy mare Win Crafty Lady, was 3-5 under Javier Castellano; raced with early pace, then suddenly dropped back down backside when in tight between Swap Fliparoo and Sensation as Sensation, Eibar Coa, surged to front outside. Around turn, Win McCool rallied wide to challenge for lead but never got closer than neck as Sensation, Dixie Union filly trained by Stan Hough, kicked clear. Swap Fliparoo was along to win photo for place as Win McCool drifted deep stretch.
4TH RACE – Another one bites dust; Win Early, only main-track-only in maiden field, coming off seconds in both starts was 4-5 under Rich Migliore. She took back early as Travel On set pace pressed by Shiree Amour and I’m On It with Abbagione tracking outside, was in traffic advancing on turn, swung out turning for home, but by then Abbagione, who circled wide to take command midway of turn under Cornelio Velasquez, was long gone. First win for Abbagione in 14 starts dating back to last summer.
8TH RACE – Miss Me, banged down to 9-5 favorite in last flash, set pace on daylight lead under Javier Castellano until Provincial, making second start back off layoff for Shug McGaughey, shot through along rail under Fernando Jara. Provincial quickly opened daylight, but through final furlong she was run down by Sabellina, who made last-to-first move with Bailey up.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 9-4-9-6-8-8
7 winners (6 of 6) each paid $4,208
149 consolation (5 of 6), each paid $$65.50
No Carryover