A field of 12 lines up on the Belmont Park turf course Saturday in the $200,000 Pebbles.) (© Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com)
Trainer Chad Brown sends out a pair of runners in Saturday’s $200,000 Pebbles, which drew a field of 12 three-year-old fillies that will go one mile on the Widener turf course at Belmont Park.
Ancient Secret suffered her first defeat when she went north of the border for the Ontario Cotillion (G3) at Woodbine where she was a disappointing seventh as the beaten chalk, checking in 12 ¾ lengths behind the winner Caren.
Brown will also saddle She Doesn’t Mind, who ran second in the Riskaverse at Saratoga in her last outing but she drew the 12 post.
Believe in Bertie is coming off a runner up finish in the Indiana Grand for the Brad Cox barn that has been sending out live runners at the meeting.
The feature at Keeneland is also for three-year-old fillies on the turf as a field of nine will go in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at nine furlongs.
Catch a Glimpse will try to bounce back after suffering her first career defeat on turf in the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga, beaten a neck by Time and Motion.
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They will face a nice filly in On Leave, who has won her last four starts, taking the Sands Point (G2) in her last outing at Belmont Park going nine furlongs.
The race could produce a couple of starters for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Belmont Park Race 8 The Pebbles (Post time 4:46)
4 Ancient Secret 3-1
5 Ultra Brat 12-1
2 Believe in Bertie 10-1
9 Stella Rose 5-1
Ancient Secret is one of two in here sent out by the Brown barn. The filly started her career winning her first starts including a sharp win in the Lake George (G2) at the Spa in July. She shipped to Canada for the Ontario Cotillion where she was sent off as the chalk but was never a threat in a seventh place finish. She comes back here fairly quick which looks like a good sign. Brown won this race last year with Partisan Politics.
Ultra Brat made her turf debut a winning one last out taking the Christiecat at six furlongs over the turf here. She stretches out to a mile here for the Motion barn and has enough pedigree to handle the extra ground. She is by Uncle Mo out of a Storm Cat mare that has dropped five other winners including three turf winners, top earner stakes winner It’s Tea Time ($470,226).
Believe in Bertie prompted the early pace, took over the lead and could not match strides with the winner in the stretch in a runner up finish in the Indiana Grand last out. She broke her maiden at the Spa last summer in her debut going long on turf and has a stakes win against Louisiana breds two back at a mile. She looks headed in the right direction for the Cox barn that has been sending out live runners at the meeting, winning with five of his first 11 starters with 10 of the 11 landing in the money.
Wagering:
WIN: Ancient Secret to win at 5-2 or better.
EXACTA: 4,5 / 2,4,5,9
TRIFECTA: 4,5 / 2,4,5,9 / 2,4,5,9,12
Michael’s Breeders’ Cup Reports includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for every race during the two-day Breeders’ Cup from Santa Anita on Nov. 4-5.
The Breeders’ Cup offers 13 championship races over two days, bringing together the best top horses, trainers, and jockeys from around the world, this year to compete at Santa Anita.
