Handicapper's Corner: 2022 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2)

 Will the Pennie Ridge turn green for Brown?

By: Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman

This week, our travels for ThoroFan handicappers’ corner take us to Belmont Park where the Pennine Ridge Stakes is on tap for Saturday. The race is named after the graded stakes winner who, during his sophomore season in 1994, was at his best on the Belmont turf course. The feature race of the day, which is considered a prep race for the Belmont Derby in July, will showcase three-year old’s stepping on to Belmont’s inner turf track and race 1 1/8 miles for the winner's share of the $200,000 purse.

A nice field of seven young up-and-coming horses have been entered for this Grade 2 contest, but only six will participate as one horse has been entered for main track only. The Pennine Ridge goes as race nine on the 10-race Belmont card. Scheduled post time is 5:12 E.T.

 

 

 

 From the rail out, here’s a brief look at each runner.

PP – Horse – Jockey/Trainer – ML

2 – Daunt – Trevor McCarthy/Robert Ribaudo – 15-1 - Although he turned in an acceptable performance in his last start, the fact is, he has been beaten by weaker in his last couple of races. He does draw a much better inside post for this race after exiting the extreme outside last start, but that alone probably won’t be enough to get it done.

3 - Limited Liability – Jose Ortiz/Claude McGaughey – 6-1 - Owns two wins and two third-place finishes in four turf starts. Ran well in graded stakes as a juvenile last season, including the G2 Pilgrim over this same inner turf course, then he received some class relief in his sophomore debut winning an allowance start with a late rally at Keeneland. Looks to give trainer McGaughey his first win of the meet.

4 – Napoleonic War – Flavien Prat/Chad Brown – 3-1 - If not for a troubled journey two back in the G3 Transylvania, this guy could be sporting an unbeaten record, but instead is 2-of-3 and heads into this contest after scoring in an optional-claiming event where he got his nose down at the wire. He is one of two runners for four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Chad Brown who seeks his third win in this race.

5 – Elizar – Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement – 6-1 - He won his debut impressively beating winners in an allowance race over the all-weather surface at Chantilly in France last fall. He does have breeding in his lineage that suggests the turf may be his future. Goes out for a jockey/trainer combo has been hot the last two weeks. This one could be any kind.

6 – Emmanuel – Irad Ortiz/Todd Pletcher – 5-2 - He gave a good account of himself on the Triple Crown trail this season, but it wasn’t enough to get him into the KY Derby. Tries the grass for the first time and his breeding suggests he will like the surface. If he takes it to the green, he could potentially wire this field on the front end as he is the lone speed.

7 – Unanimous Consent – Manuel Franco/Chad Brown – 8-5 - The second of two runners from the elite Brown stable and this colt flashes an unbeaten record, winning three career starts over three different turf courses. The colt was expertly handled by jockey Franco last time out at Aqueduct, where he stepped up in class and notched his first stakes victory. His class ascent continues here, but most of his rivals are climbing the class ladder as well.

 

Also Eligible

1 – Gilded Age (MTO) - TBA/Mott – 5-2 - He is entered for main track only, but with no rain expected for Saturday, the race will stay on the turf, and he will be scratched out.

 

ANALYSIS:

Emmanuel takes a big class drop, coming out of the Blue Grass Stakes where he finished third in behind Kentucky Derby runners, Zandon (3^rd) and Smile Happy (8^th), but he doesn’t face that caliber of horses here. Although he has no turf experience, he does sport a nice pedigree for the surface and has recorded a couple of strong morning works over the Belmont inner turf. Pace wise, Emmanuel looks like he will be out there by himself without any pressure because there isn’t any other speed in the race.

Both Chad Brown horses look solid and between the two, I like Unanimous Consent. The colt is a nicely bred, improving horse from a leading turf barn that has done everything asked of it in smashing style, including his recent score in the 100k Woodhaven and now moves into graded competition. He’ll need to kick it in late to run down the pacesetter, but he’s been perfect at it thus far.

Elizar won his maiden impressively, defeating winners on debut last October in an allowance race over the all-weather surface at Chantilly, one of the top racecourses in France. French imports have had more success in North America than their British and Irish counterparts and have also proven again and again that they adapt to American conditions and outclass the opposition. This marks his first start in the United States, his first start in over five months and his first attempt on grass, but he’s in good hands with trainer Clement who possesses strong winning percentages in all three categories.

 

WAGER:

$30 exacta box between Emmanuel and Unanimous Consent ($60 total)  

$15 exactas Emmanuel and Unanimous Consent over Elizar ($30 total)

$10 saver win bet on Elizar

Good luck, and as always, enjoy the race!