NYRA Preview: Belmont Park 10/4

Race 2: $62,000 MSW for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies going 6 furlongs on the inner turf

In a very competitive field of 10, several contenders have a good chance to hit the winner’s circle for the first time. #6 Single Verse (2/1) is the most logical horse in here for a couple of reasons. She’s finished second three straight times, all over different track surface conditions. Her lone turf race back on August 23 was the best by quite a large margin. If she can replicate that performance two starts back, then she will have lived up to her potential. Her connections had enough faith in her ability to run her in a state-bred stakes event, where she finished second

Ricky’s Picks: 6-8-7-10

Race 7: $75,000 MSW for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

Chad Brown has a very dangerous filly in this short field of seven with #4 Katama Moonlight (7/5). She debuted last December at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old and ran a respectable third. After an eight-month layoff, Brown brought her back against a very competitive Saratoga field that included the likes of My Bronx Tail and Stand For the Flag, the latter who won next time out on September 6 at Belmont Park. Katama Moonlight will be the favorite and should win with ease. The biggest question is: how big of a favorite will she be?

Ricky’s Picks: 4-6-1-2

Race 8: $62,000 MSW for New York-bred 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the Widener turf 

We don’t see this a lot on the NYRA circuit, but #3 Kierkegaard (7/2) comes out of one of the country’s most exclusive race meets. He makes his way to Belmont Park after running in a $130,000 maiden special weight race at Kentucky Downs back on September 12. Jack Sisterson makes only his second start at the fall meet with this talented 2-year-old colt by Freud. The competition that he faced in his debut at Saratoga and at Kentucky Downs would blow this field away with ease. Don’t be surprised if this colt gets bet down a significant amount.

Ricky’s Picks: 3-8-11-5