Four graded stakes lead a strong Saturday card at Belmont, which has a first post set for 1:15 ET. Note there is a major scratch from the Grade 1 Carter (Race #9) with #2 Performer being withdrawn after suffering a setback. According to Shug the issue is with his ankle and is not deemed too serious. 

I'm sure many are already sick of hearing me talk/write about these races so I'll just leave the link to the video previews recorded with Dan Illman right here. They can also be found at DRF's youtube channel - if you're interested. 

Just to update my Carter thoughts with Performer out: I am happy to take Firenze Fire on top. I realize there is a cloud hanging over his head with him no longer being in the Servis barn but I think he is a really good horse and expect him to be tough for his new trainer. I have a lot of respect for Mind Control and loved his last race so will use him in the multis. Vekoma is the only other horse I had much interest in, as I have liked him from the start and believe this is a perfect distance for him, but he had the run of the race last time while staking the dirt maiden Yorkton in a race lacking competent closers. The figure suggests he is a factor but this is much tougher in the face of the aforementioned two. Can't imagine he is an interesting price now. 

I thought the 2nd was one of the more interesting races on the card with a lot of options to consider. My idea was to try to get Cause for Action in there at a price. He is slow on paper in a race that came up very tough for the level but he ran better than it looks in both starts sprinting on turf last year - at least in my opinion. He is off the claim for Barker and back to turf after proving not to be a dirt horse earlier this year, and there is pace in this race to set him up. 

Maybe Shug's second-time starter Dreams of Tomorrow is the right horse to lean on in a contentious early pick 5, as he did some good things in his debut and can build on that experience while facing a field full of firsters. I thought Pardsy was the interesting new face for O'Neill but if you're spreading in other races you could do worse than taking your chances with the favorite. 

In the 4th I wanted to try High Tone for Maker but will wait to see how the race is bet. He is fair at his ML odds making his first turf start since his career debut last summer, where he failed to break sharply and then raced wide throughout. He showed good speed on dirt last time and I would like to see him on the lead here as he faces NY-bred for the first time. 

In the 10th More Graytful is the right price if the ML holds. He ran well in all four starts to begin his career and can take a step forward following a little break for a trainer who has been sending out one live horse after another over the first three days of racing here. Tale of the Union will win this if he can still run but he is easy to be ambivalent about as the favorite. Financialstability is logical and a use in multis but not one I am interested in straight up. I'd like to get Thorny Tale in there somewhere as he may be really dirtied up. 

Okay. That's all I got. Good luck at the windows on an excellent card of racing.