Weekend Stakes Action - Grade I Ruffian and Grade I Garden City Stakes

With the Oak Tree Meet not starting at Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

At Belmont Park this Saturday are two Grade I races, the Ruffian and the Garden City Stakes.

Let’s get to it!

Race-day: 9/6/2008

Belmont Park – Race 3

Grade I Garden City Handicap

$250,000

For Fillies Three Years Old

1 1/8th miles on the turf

Pure Clan, winner of the Grade I American Oaks, is coupled with Ariege in this race. I expect the odds on Pure Clan and Ariege to be somewhere around 3/5. It’s a good thing that I like Raw Silk on top in this race. Raw Silk should go off close to 5/1 in this thing as her last two races have been less than stellar. Ah, but look at what she’s got going for her in this race! She goes back to Belmont Park where wiring a field on the grass is much easier and there isn’t a whole lot of speed to get in her way. She takes this on the front end. The online betting odds on Pure Clan and Ariege are going to be ridiculously low, but I don’t see both of them finishing out of the place spot. For third, I’m gong with Alwheeja who has a right to improve in her second start off of a lay off.

1. Raw Silk

2. Pure Clan/Ariege

3. Alwheeja

Belmont Park – Race 9

Grade I Ruffian Handicap

$300,000

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Up

1 1/16th miles on dirt

Indian Blessing is going to be a huge underlay in this race. Her last two races, one at 6 furlongs and one at 7 furlongs, were spectacular. But Indian Blessing isn’t as good going further than 7 furlongs which is why I like Little Belle in this one turn route race. Little Belle will be going third time for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. The mighty Godolphin stable didn’t buy Little Belle for nothing. She could carry her speed a long way as Indian Blessing figures to try and rate off the pace. Spring Waltz will be going second time for trainer Bobby Frankel. She had no chance in her last after going four wide around the final turn, but if she can return to her previous form, she’s a serious contender in this. For third, Indian Blessing should pick up a paycheck. She’s a super fast filly, but I do believe that she doesn’t want to run this far.

1. Little Belle

2. Spring Waltz

3. Indian Blessing

Good Luck!