The Triple Crown races are over, but we still have a few weeks left in this segment of the Pick 6 Challenge. This week we head to Belmont, Monmouth, and Santa Anita. Sorry Churchill, I bailed on the Monomoy Girl Overnight in favor of the G2 Santa Maria Stakes. Let’s have a look at the fields.

Race 1: Poker Stakes (G3)

• Masen – Hard to overlook, winner last race, winner at Belmont, good speed figs, high percentage trainer / jockey, graded stakes winner, 3 1-2-0 at distance.
• Public Sector – Seems a step slower than Masen, high percentage trainer, graded stakes winner, 4 2-1-0 records at distance and 5 2-3-0 at Belmont, can this horse get back to the form of 2021?
• Sanctuary City – Consistent high speed figs, coming off 3 second place finishes, moving up in class, not a lot of wins at distance, but shows some success at Belmont.

Race 2: Eatontown Stakes (G3)

• Princess Grace – Looks to have the speed, winner 2/3 at distance, winner 5/8 on turf, hit the board in all 9 lifetime starts and 4 or last 6, winner at Monmouth.
• Vigilantes Way – Winner of last year’s Eatontown, still has good speed and post 1, high percentage jockey, 2nd in last 2 races, winner at distance and Monmouth.
• Fluffy Socks – Good speed figs, coming off two 2nd place finishes, lots of graded stakes experience, outside post and not quite the same history of wins as other contenders.

Race 3: Pegasus Stakes

• Electability – Highest speed figs, has experience at more than a mile, raced some tougher horses, dropping in class, working out well, Chad Brown trained.
• Dash Attack – Winner last race, winner at Monmouth, winner at distance, good speed figures, working out well, trainer and jockey have experience at track.
• Home Brew – Winner last race and good speed, good jockey, working out well, near rail post may help.

Race 4: Monmouth Stakes (G3)

• Sacred Life – Again a horse with Grade 1 experience in a Grade 3 race, that should make a difference. Should have the speed to compete, has won at Monmouth, working out well, big day for Chad Brown maybe?
• Public Sector – Win at distance, graded stakes experience, big field so might be tough to return to winning ways here.
• Ever Dangerous – Ran big last race, finished 2nd, that was 10 months ago, good recent speed figs, winner at distance.
• Tax – Go big or go home, obviously a lot of Graded Stakes experience, but never on turf, hero or zero.
• T D Dance – Rising speed figs, new trainer, adds blinkers, never raced Monmouth, who knows? This race is wide open

Race 5: Salvator Mile Stakes (G3)

• Hot Rod Charlie – Back from over seas, gets a new jockey, dropping distance, lots of stakes experience, DQ’d at Haskell, looks for revenge?
• Mind Control – Mean to put him up against Jackie’s Warrior, but this field is less talented, needs to improve on recent speed figs, winner at distance, has a shot against some weird entries (lots of turf to dirts here, and allowance racers)
• Shirl’s Speight – Concern on switch from turf to dirt, but rising speed figs look better than the claimers trying to jump up in class. Winner of 3 of last 4, no experience at distance or Monmouth, shows how little I like the rest of the field. May single Charlie here. Yikes.

Race 6: Santa Maria Stakes (G2)

• Blue Stripe – Dropping distance, winner last race, winner Santa Anita, graded stakes experience, working out well.
• Lady Mystify – Shown good speed at distance, winner at distance, winner at Santa Anita, 3rd last race, a little up and down recently, working out well.
• Private Mission – Some bad races recently, but winner of half of starts lifetime, and 5 3-1-0 record at Santa Anita, winner at distance, though last 2 races were short. Not sure if we are seeing a return to winning ways, or a horse nobody knows what distance to race.

Some tough races this weekend, and lots of opportunity here for upsets. Good luck everyone, see if you can pick better than me.

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