2014 Belmont Stakes : Free Intelligent Choice Selections...IC1 California Chrome to Win the Belmont

California Chrome & Alan Sherman Photo by Mike Kane          

     The big day at "Big Sandy" has arrived. Will the light shine brightly  on California Chrome as it did in Louisville and then again as it did in Pimlico? The waiting is over. It's time to dance, and when the dance is over, I picture a wave of euphoria from sea to shining sea in this great land of ours. The roar will echo from Southern California and the great Pacific Ocean, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean near New York. That's what I envision having analyzed the numbers, the human connections, and most importantly the beautiful 3 year old chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit named California Chrome. I've written extensively as to why he has been selected as IC1 in his last 4 races. I've also "seen" things from him that I have "seen" in other great horses, especially Zenyatta and the confidence that she exuded on the racetrack. She was the show and she knew it, and so does he. She knew that all the people came to see her, and so does he. She loved to win and so does he. 

     Can we put him in the same category? Not just yet. If California Chrome wins the Belmont Stakes and garners the elusive Triple Crown victory though, he will have taken about 1000 strides towards that same distinction. Just like he loves to do in the stretch drive. Win, lose, or draw it has been one amazing ride. One that I am very grateful to have been along for. Thank you Perry, Steve, Art, Alan, Victor, Willie, and Raul for bringing out the very best in your amazing horse. May the journey be a safe and victorious one. Here are the free IC selections.

Race 1-----Allowance 96000N1X -----1 1/16 Miles

IC1-----#2 Bernardo / J. Toscano Jr. / J. Ortiz / 3-1

IC2-----#7 Forever Thing / T. Pletcher / J. Velazquez / 7-2

IC3-----#4 Lieutenant Seany O / D. Jacobson / 6-1

IC4-----#8 Wabbajack / J. Toner / R. Maragh / 8-1

Race 2-----The Easy Goer $150,000-----1 1/16 Miles

IC1-----#5 Misconnect / T. Pletcher / J. Castellano / 4-1

IC2-----#6 No Surrender / T. Pletcher / J. Bravo / 8-1

IC3-----#4 Kid Cruz / L. Rice / I. Ortiz Jr. / 5-2

IC4-----#7 Legend / H. Bond / L. Saez / 3-1

Race 3-----The Brooklyn Invitational Grade II $500,000-----1 1/2 Miles

IC1-----#4 Cat Burglar / B. Baffert / R. Napravnik / 5-2

IC2-----#2 Ground Transport / M. Stidham / J. Velazquez / 3-1

IC3-----#3 Micromanage / T. Pletcher / J. Castellano / 7-2

IC4-----#1 Eriugena (Ire) / M. Maker / M. Smith / 10-1

Race 4-----The Jaipur Invitational Grade III $300,000-----6 Furlongs (Inner Turf)

IC1-----#11 Salto / T. Pletcher / I. Ortiz Jr. / 5-1

IC2-----#10 Marchman / W. Calhoun / R. Albarado / 3-1

IC3-----#8 Ben's Cat / K. Leatherbury / J. Pimentel / 5-2

IC4-----#3 Marriedtothemusic / L. Rice / C. Velasquez / 12-1

Race 5-----The Woody Stephens Grade II $500,000-----7 Furlongs

IC1-----#1 Bayern / B. Baffert / G. Stevens / 5-1

IC2-----#5 Coup de Grace / C. Brown / J. Castellano / 10-1

IC3-----#7 Tonito M. / J. Hollendorfer / C. Nakatani / 20-1

IC4-----#3 Havana / T. Pletcher / J. Velazquez / 6-1

Race 6-----The TVG Acorn Grade I $750,000-----1 Mile

IC1-----#8 My Miss Sophia / T. Pletcher / J. Castellano / 6-5

IC2-----#3 Fiftyshadesofgold / W. Calhoun / M. Smith / 8-1

IC3-----#9 Artemis Agrotera / M. Hushion / J. Ortiz / 5-1

IC4-----#5 Sweet Reason / L. Gyarmati / I. Ortiz Jr. / 10-1

Race 7-----The Ogden Phipps Grade I $1,000,000-----1 1/16 Miles

IC1-----#1 Close Hatches / W. Mott / J. Rosario / 5-2

IC2-----#5 Beholder / R. Mandella / G. Stevens / 7-5

IC3-----#6 Princess of Sylmar / T. Pletcher / J. Castellano / 9-5

IC4-----#2 Antipathy / K. McLaughlin / I. Ortiz Jr. / 30-1

Race 8-----The Longines Just a Game Grade I $750,000-----1 Mile (Turf)

IC1-----#9 Discreet Marq / C. Clement / I. Ortiz Jr. / 5-2

IC2-----#6 Stephanie's Kitten / C. Brown / J. Velazquez / 4-1

IC3-----#10 Better Lucky / T. Albertrani / J. Rosario / 3-1

IC4-----#8 Waterway Run / C. Brown / J. Lezcano / 6-1

Race 9-----The Metropolitan Handicap Grade I $1,250,000-----1 Mile

IC1-----#9 Normandy Invasion / C. Brown / J. Castellano / 5-1

IC2-----#1 Palace Malice / T. Pletcher / J. Velazquez / 8-5

IC3-----#13 Shakin It Up / B. Baffert / R. Napravnik / 6-1

IC4-----#4 Goldencents / D. O'Neill / M. Smith / 10-1

Race 10-----The Knob Creek Manhattan Grade I $1,000,000-----1 1/4 Miles (Inner Turf)

IC1-----#1 Imagining / C. McGaughey III / J. Velazquez / 7-2

IC2-----#5 Boisterous / T. Pletcher / C. Nakatani / 8-1

IC3-----#10 Chamois / C. Clement / J. Bravo / 15-1

IC4-----#8 Real Solution / J. Castellano / 5-1

IC5-----#6 Seek Again / W. Mott / J. Rosario / 3-1

Race 11-----The Belmont Grade I $1,500,000-----1 1/2 Miles

IC1-----#2 California Chrome / A. Sherman / V. Espinoza / 3-5

IC2-----#9 Wicked Strong / J. Jerkens / R. Maragh / 6-1

IC3-----#7 Samraat / R. Violette Jr. / J. Ortiz / 20-1

IC4-----#8 Commissioner / T. Pletcher / J. Castellano / 20-1

IC5-----#4 Commanding Curve / D. Stewart / S. Bridgmohan / 15-1

Race 12-----Optional Claiming 62k/N2X-----1 1/8 Miles (Inner Turf)

IC1-----#1 Cheyenne Nation / R. Rodriguez / C. Velasquez / 12-1

IC2-----#6 Red Vine / C. Clement / J. Rosario / 5-1

IC3-----#12 Mr. Jenney / C. Clement / J. Lezcano / 4-1

IC4-----#3 Inchcape / J. Servis / I. Ortiz Jr. / 12-1

Race 13-----Optional Claiming 62k/N2X-----7 Furlongs

IC1-----#5 In Trouble / A. Dutrow / R. Napravnik / 5-2

IC2-----#11 Celebrator / T. Pletcher / J. Velazquez / 10-1

IC3-----#1 Kingsford Drive / B. Brown / J. Lezcano / 15-1

IC4-----#8 Pazolini / K. McLaughlin / J. Rosario / 3-1

The IC selections have an excellent track record at Belmont Park. The Trifecta's, Superfectas,  Pick 3's, Pick 4's, and Pick 6 investments can be life changing in these very large pari-mutuel pools.

Enjoy the day and the moment. You never know when a life changer can appear, but I'm ready. 

I can see the finish line, and I like what I see.