Belmont Park and Keeneland: Saturday Preview and Tips

There is some first-class action unfolding state-side today and we've got two of America's premier tracks set to host some quality races.

We have three graded races kicking off at Belmont and they're all towards the back of the card which should give punters plenty of time to lock in their bets. 

Belmont

Jamaica Handicap

The Jamaica Handicap is a 1m1f dash on the turf for three year-olds. Top-weighted Krypton (Rock Hard Ten) has Edgar Prado aboard for the trip and he'll be looking to progress off a pair of third-place finishes to Paddy O'Prado (El Prado) and Interactif (Broken Vow).

Citrus Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) needs to get his act together if he's going to pull off anything resembling a result here. Anybody looking for a real gamble may want to have a bash on the mysterious Beau Choix (Elusive Quality) who is lightly-raced and will be looking to score a big one here. TURF MELODY (Maria's Mon) is the selection after acquitting himself well in the Saranac Stakes at Saratoga.

Frizette Stakes

Todd Pletcher lines up about 90,000 different horses for the Frizette Stakes - a grade 1 contest for two year old fillies going 1m. Tap For Luck (Tapit) looks a decent shout and boasts a quality pedigree, but we'll be siding with PROMISE ME A CAT (D'Wildcat) who boasts a speed-oriented lineage that should adapt well to this type of dirt race. She looks to be progressing nicely and is a shade above some of the others here.

Champagne Stakes

The Champagne Stakes is another grade 1 for two year-olds, and we're only being treated to two Todd Pletcher charges in this race. Kelly Breen trains Brother In Arms (Yes It's True) and he is stakes-placed at the moment.

We'll be siding with Nick Zito's MERIDIAN MAGIC (Mineshaft) in this one as the barn is hitting well and he looks to be progressing, having broken the maiden last time out.

Keeneland

Abu Dhabi First Lady Stakes

This is a 1m contest for fillies and mares over 3 years of age. Wasted Tears (Najran) jumps off the page with five wins on the bounce for owner/trainer/breeder Bart Evans. This is an accomplished turfist with plenty of acumen at the distance. She will be a tricky one to top but we're siding with PROVISO (Dansili), a globetrotting Juddmonte-bred that boasta the only course and distance reference here. She's run all over the world and done well so you reckon she can sort this one out if given a clean trip.

Dixiana Breeders Futurity

This is an extremely interesting 1m110y contest over the polytrack at Keeneland and it should deliver all the action and excitement we expect from first-class two year-old racing. Lou Brissie (Limehouse) cooled off after conquering the Kentucky Juvenile back in late April, and just hasn't been able to step it up as he's moved up the grades.

Rough Sailing (Mizzen Mist) attracts a bit of attention but the major play here looks to be Calvin Borel aboard CONSERVATIVE VALUE (Value Plus). He ships in from River Downs and you can never underestimate Borel with the 1 slot. This is a very strong play and the two year-old gelding should get the trip necessary to pull off the score.

Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes

It's tough to bet against GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes - a 1m contest over the turf. The globetrotting Breeders' Cup Classic-placed horse was just bested by Debussy (Diesis) in the Arlington Million.

He'll be looking to get it back on track here ahead of the Breeders' and he hasn't finished utside the top two since coming back from Meydan, where he finished fourth in the Dubai World Cup. If you're looking to beat him (and he is beatable) you can have a bash on Courageous Cat (Storm Cat), another William Mott-trained charge who boasts the reference of having finished second to Goldikova (Anabaa) in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile.

Roger Attfield also ships in Society's Chairman (Not Impossible) from Woodbine where he has been having a so-so season, he's worth a shot at a big price.