by 1/ST BET
October 4, 2023
Wednesday’s make-up card for Belmont-at-Aqueduct is set for a return to turf in New York and a pair of Breeders’ Cup Win & You’re In races for the 2-year-olds. To assist you on the big card, here are the 1/ST BET Win Projections for the Miss Grillo and Pilgrim Stakes.
Belmont-at-Aqueduct | Race 5 | 3:10 pm ET Miss Grillo Stakes
#8 Gala Brand (3-1 ML) | 12%W, 25%P, 42%S
#2 Hard to Justify (12-1 ML) | 12%W, 17%P, 20%S
#4 Gold Lightning (10-1 ML) | 12%W, 17%P, 20%S
#10 Late Darling (15-1 ML) | 10%W, 15%P, 26%S
Comments: Chad Brown has a record 8 wins in this race and looks for more with #2 Hard to Justify and #12 Steel Lute. Saratoga’s With Anticipation Stakes winner #8 Gala Brand and P.G. Johnson Stakes third-place finisher #5 Dancing Spirit are the only existing juveniles with stakes experience in this rising field. Favorites won 47% locally over the past 2 weeks, up from the 39% overall meet average. Winner gets automatic qualifier into Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Belmont-at-Aqueduct | Race 7 | 4:14 pm ET Pilgrim Stakes
#3 Agate Road (3-1 ML) | 22%W, 37%P, 44%S
#9 Spirit Prince (9-2 ML) | 22%W, 32%P, 44%S
#8 Fulmineo (5-1 ML) | 14%W, 34%P, 44%S
#1 Liam’s Journey (15-1 ML) | 13%W, 19%, 38%
Comments: Todd Pletcher owns the stakes record here with 5 career wins and looks for a half-dozen with #3 Agate Road and Colonial Downs’ Kitten’s Joy Stakes runner-up #7 Triple Espresso, the top two choices on the morning line. #9 Spirit Prince and #6 Get Spooled finished third and fourth, respectively, in the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga, and note the filly who crossed over and won that race (Gala Brand) competes earlier on Wednesday’s card in the Miss Grillo Stakes. Winner gets automatic qualifier into Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.