Race 10 at Belmont at the Big A | Saturday June 22 | Post Time 5:13 PM Eastern

Wild Applause Stakes | Purse $150,000 | One Mile on Turf | Fillies, Three Years Old

 

Win contenders:

Macanga (4) returned from two months off last month, on May 5 to be exact, having moved to the barn of Dick Dutrow at some point following her previous start on March 2. Sent to the lead from the start by John Velazquez, Macanga easily controlled the pace while coasting along on fractions which were above average, still opening up by five lengths after a half-mile had been run, before coasting home to a two and one-half length win. That effort earned the filly an 89 Equibase Speed Figure, which is the highest last race figure in the race. She starts from a good position in the gate and it is doubtful any of the three horses inside will want the lead, allowing Velazquez to get her into a steady stride, and considering she’s likely to improve second off the layoff she should be the one to catch, and to beat, once more.

Gala Brand (1) showed she doesn’t need a fast pace to close into when winning the With Anticipation Stakes last summer at Saratoga, and in only the second start of her career. In that race she was last of seven early while the half-mile was run in a dawdling 51.6 and yet she still managed to go to fourth with an eighth of a mile to go then win by a half-length. Following a fourth-place finish in October she was still entered in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and she checked in 13^th of 14. Rested and allowed to mature over the winter and spring, she returns at a mile for Bill Mott, who has a pretty good record of 10 for 69 with horses over the last five years coming back in a turf route off a layoff of six months or more. She won in her career debut last August, on turf, albeit in a sprint, and certainly if another horse decides to try for the early lead along with Macanga, the pace will be hot and even if it is not this filly has a chance to pass them all for the win.

About the Chad Brown trio: Not surprisingly in a turf race in New York, Brown has three entered – Grayosh (7), Chantilly Road (8) and Oversubscribed (9). They open at odds of 9 to 2, 8 to 1 and 3 to 1, respectively. Particularly, Oversubscribed will be over bet as she was the 4 to 5 favorite in the race won by Macanga last month. She was checked in traffic and lost a lot of ground but managed to rally for second. The race was not as good as it looks on paper as there was no way she was ever going to beat the winner even without the trouble, and the 85 figure earned, as well as the 85 figure Chantilly Road earned in her last start and the 87 figure Grayosh earned in her last start, are not good enough to beat Macanga if she improves off her last race.

Win Bets: Macanga (4) at 9 to 5 or more.

Gala Brand (1) at 3 to 1 or more.

Exactas:

Macanga (4) over ALL

Box Macanga (4) and Gala Brand (1)