NYRA Preview: Belmont Park 9/11

Race 8: $62,000 MSW for New York-bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the outer turf

The longer the race, the better that #6 Marquet Legacy (6/1) seems to run. After the long layoff from her debut, she was fractious at the gate and raced three-wide through the Saratoga inner turf course’s turns. Christophe Clement knows what he has with his turf horses, so expect Marquet Legacy to catch this field at the wire.

#7 Sandra’s Mine (5/1) has been 13/1 or higher in all seven of her starts despite the fact that ever since she debuted on turf four back, her running lines have improved each time. Eric Cancel took this filly to the lead last time out but couldn’t hold off Kerry’s Ring, the post-time favorite. With a lack of early speed signed on, Sandra’s Mine could be on the lead all by herself.

David Donk and company must be happy that #5 Sterling Beauty (4/1) doesn’t have to see a horse like Kerry’s Ring, Kid Is Frosty, or Niko’s Dream in here. After facing the same horses time and again, she finally gets some reprieve. Those fields were much more competitive than this one will be, so she has no more excuses. Expect her to show her very best as the class of the field.

The other Donk entry, #1 Petalite (9/2), comes out of the same August 15 race as many of these competitors. John Velazquez was very aggressive last time out, chasing Sandra’s Mine for the first 6 furlongs, but like Sandra’s Mine, she couldn’t hold off Kerry’s Ring who was much the best. Expect this filly to sit right off of Sandra’s Mine and try to pass her in the stretch.

Ricky’s Picks: 6-7-5-1