Tamarind Hall Looking to Bloom at Belmont Park

While next Saturday is dubbed Super Saturday at Belmont Park, with six Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races on the card, the $150,000 Gallant Bloom (G2) this Saturday will serve as a key prep for fillies and mares looking to make it to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Among the seven in the field, the three-year-old filly Pomeroys Pistol is taking on her elders for the first time. The Amy Tarrant filly is coming off a pair of runner up finishes in the Prioress (G1) and Test (G1) in her last two outings.

“She’s going to the Breeders’ Cup, so we might as well find out now instead of later,” said Tarrant. “I think she’ll be fine. This race gives us seven weeks from the Test and six weeks to recuperate leading up to the Breeders’ Cup. Obviously, she’ll have to come out of this race well.”

The filly is the 5/2 second choice in the field of seven, and is going to have to be at the top of her game to beat a good group of sprinters.

The Stanley Hough trained Tar Heel Mom is the 2/1 morning line favorite.

The mare was no match for Hilda’s Passion last out in the Ballerina (G1), but has been a model of consistency in 2011, landing in the exacta in seven of her eight starts.

Tamarind Hall was a neck behind Tar Heel Mom in the Ballerina and is the 7/2 third choice on the morning line.

Completing the field is Lady Tak runner up Moontune Missy, recent Alw-3 winner Buckleupbuttercup, Union Avenue winner Lovely Lil, and Lady Tak third place finisher Katy Now.

In addition to TVG and HRTV, MSG Plus will broadcast the Gallant Bloom live during a 30-minute telecast that gets underway at 5:00 ET.

Michael Dempsey provides his full card report for Belmont Park each racing day. Mike’s full card report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations. Get a month of action from the Belmont Park meeting for a special price of $79.95!

Let’s head out to the Belmont Park for today’s featured race of the day:

Belmont Park Race 9 The $250,000 Gallant Bloom G1 Post time 5:18 ET

• Tamarind Hall 7/2
• Tar Heel Mom 2/1
• Pomeroys Pistol 5/2
• Moontune Missy 6/1

Tamarind Hall tracked the early pace and could not make up any ground in the stretch in a third place finish behind a very sharp Hilda’s Passion in the Ballerina (G1) last out at Saratoga. The filly was coming off a career top two back where she won the Bed O' Roses (G3) over the main track here going seven furlongs. She beat Hilda’s Passion in that race and the runner up Kid Kate came out of the race to win the Rachel Alexandra and Lady Tak in her next two starts. She owns a solid pace profile throughout with good late pace numbers and should get a good tracking trip behind the early pace. If the track comes up wet that only enhances her chances as she is perfect in three trips over off going.

Tar Heel Mom was a neck in front of our top pick last out in the Ballerina, regressing off a near career best two back where she won the Honorable Miss (G2) in gate to wire fashion over a wet track at Saratoga. She is best when she gets to the lead, and her career best came when she won the Nany Stakes over the main track here back in May. She owns solid early pace numbers and draws the rail, but there are a couple of runners in here that will keep her from shaking loose early. A wet track will not be a problem as she has won 6 of her 10 starts over the wet stuff.

Pomeroys Pistol faces older for the first time here off a runner up finish in the Test (G1). She stalked the early pace, came with a four wide run and was no match for the talented Turbulent Descent, who was winning her sixth race in eight starts including three Grade 1 races. Her lone start over the main track here was a runner up finish in the Prioress (G1) two back where she was beaten just a half-length. She fits here with her best, but is going to get a real test here facing older and her price could be on the light side.

Wagering:
WIN: Tamarind Hall to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 1,4 / 1,2,4,6
TRI: 1,4 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,6,7