A field of eight line up in Sunday’s $400,000 Frizette (G1) whit a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) berth up for grabs .((Photo credit: © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com)
The Brad Cox trained Covfefe makes his stakes debut as the 8-5 morning line favorite in Sunday’s $400,000 Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park with a field of eight heading to the starting gate.
The Frizette is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race with the winner earning a fee expenses paid trip to Churchill downs for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Covfefe broke her maiden by 9 ¼ lengths and was no secret when she made her debut, sent off as the short-priced favorite among the field of nine on Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs. She breaks from the sox post with Javier Castellano picking up the mount.
Trainer Todd Pletcher seeks his fourth win in the Frizette and first since Dreaming of Julia took the 2012 running, sending out Nonna Madeline (6-1), who headed for home with the lead in the Spinaway (G1) last out but weakened to finish fifth, beaten four lengths. John Velazquez has the return call
Graceful Princess (3-1) was a good looking gate to wire winner in her debut at the Spa on Sept 2 and figures to take some betting action. The Ralph Nicks trainee breaks from the five post with Manny Franco aboard.
There are two other Win and You’re In races on the Belmont Park card on Sunday—the $500,000 Flower Bowl (G1) and the $150,000 Futurity, which will now be contested on turf.
The Flower Bowl drew a field of seven with the winner stamping a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). It is no surprise that trainer Chad Brown will saddle the favorite. Fourstar Crook (8-5) is looking for her first Grade 1 win. She has won 11 of her 18 career starts.
The Futurity serves as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and drew a field of 12 in a wide-open race.
All of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races are in today’s Best Plays Report.
Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Belmont Park Race 7 The Frizette G1 (Post time 4:46 ET)
#4 Nonna Madeline 6-1
#6 Covfefe 8-5
#2 Jaywalk 5-1
#5 Graceful Princess 3-1
Analysis: Nonna Madeline was fifth in the Spinaway (G1) last out for the Pletcher barn. The filly was bumped coming out of the gate a couple of times, went up to duel for the early lead, still had a small lead as they headed for home and came outward and bumped a foe and weakened in the final furlong. She caught a racing strip that was kind to outside stalkers and closers that day. The runner up Restless Rider came back to win the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland on Friday.
Two back in the Schuylerville (G3) our top pick was off a beat slow, tracked the early pace and was unable to get to the gate to wire winner over a racing strip that was splaying to speed that day. The fourth-place finisher Serengeti Empress came back to win the Ellis park Debutante by 13 1/2 lengths and then the Pocahontas (G2) by 19 12 lengths in her next two starts. She should be better with the extra ground, by Candy Ride out of Storm Cat mare that has dropped four other winners including stakes winner Nonna Mela ($286,670). We have been fading Pletcher runners on a regular basis the past couple of months as the barn is just not hitting on all cylinders, but this gal looks likely to be a fair price.
Covfefe was a good looking gate to wire winner at Churchill Downs last out for the Cox barn, drawing off to win by 9 1/4 lengths and she got hammered in the betting. She earned the top last out speed fig and it was one of the most impressive efforts we have seen by a juvenile filly this season. She has enough pedigree to handle a one turn mile, by Into Mischief out of an Unbridled mare. The barn is 29% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route. Castellano picks up the call and the only real knock on this gal is going to be the light price.
Jaywalk tracked the early pace and made a good late rally to win the White Clay Creek at Delaware Park going 5 1/2 furlongs in her third career start. Three she beat that day came back to win next out including fourth place finisher Start the Show who won the restricted Small Wonder in her next start at Delaware Park on Sept. 29. She is in good hands with the Servis barn that is 23% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 2,4,5,6
TRI: 4,6 / 2,4,5,6 / 2,4,5,6,7
