NYRA Preview: Belmont Park 9/28

Race 2: $62,000 MSW for New York-bred 2-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

Dermot Magner is one of the best trainers on the NYRA circuit that no one is talking about. He has been in the money 86% of the time (6/7) since the beginning of the fall meet, and on Saturday, he brings #2 Hellbender (5/2) to the track for the first time. Hellbender is a son of Daredevil, who won the Champagne Stakes (G1) back in 2014. Hellbender put forth a monstrous 5-furlong work, going 1:00.04 on September 22, and is my top choice in this field first time out.

Race 2 Picks: 2-7-1-4

Race 5: $75,000 MSW for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the inner turf

There hasn’t been anyone hotter so far at the Belmont Park fall meet than Todd Pletcher. Winning at 31%, he has quickly reminded everyone how great of a trainer he really is. #1 Laughable (7/2) broke very well out of the gate in her debut at Saratoga at the beginning of the month. The opening fractions were very sensible paces with it being her debut, but Sparkling Sky won as the 6/5 favorite while Laughable faded late to fourth. A lot of contenders in this spot are coming out of that same race, but Laughable showed the best early speed, and in a very competitive field, she should be moderately priced with a great opportunity to make the betting public happy.

Ricky’s Picks: 1-5-4-7

Race 6: $75,000 MSW for 2-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt

For anyone who has read my previews since I started on July 31, you know that Into Mischief is one of my favorite stallions. #10 Toledo (3/1) has some of the best pedigree that I’ve seen his year, with Into Mischief as his sire and the Bernardini mare Endless Chat (who won routing on the dirt) as his dam. Chad Brown’s impressive 2-year-olds this year include Structor (running in the Pilgrim Stakes [G3]), Lady Kaza, and Voting Agreement, but Toledo might end up being the best of the bunch.

Ricky’s Picks: 10-1-6-9

Race 11: $75,000 MSW for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 mile on the Widener turf

#8 Border Town (3/1) made his debut over a firm Monmouth Park turf course for the Chad Brown barn back on July 28. After getting out of the gate slowly, Paco Lopez gave him the best trip that he could. He took a brief lead in the stretch but couldn’t hold off Epic Bromance, who won next time out in an allowance event a month later. After a long layoff and two potential races that were scratched off of the turf, Border Town is finally the colt to beat.

Ricky’s Picks: 8-6-7-3