Friday’s twilight card at Belmont Park showcases some races late in the day where Godolphin Stable looks to flex its muscles.

In Race 6, an optional claimer going seven furlongs on the turf, Leo and True Cause carry the royal blue silks as part of an entry listed at 2-1 in the morning line. Both will be making their initial starts of the year, and must deal with the talented state-bred Silver Timber, who may be a shade beyond his best distance here.

Should the race come off the turf, it will be interesting to see Minefield, the thid part of the Godolphin coupling and entered as an MTO. Minefield won both career starts in impressive fashion as a 2-year-old when in the barn of Todd Pletcher.

Montauk Daisy returns to action in Race 7 for trainer Mike Hushion. She began her career with a pair of impressive wins last season, but will need to be ready in her first start since November to reel in Mt Langfuhr, who seems to possess the best early speed of these and may forget to stop.

Godolphin is back in the featured eighth race with the pairing of Mathematician and Palace Episode. The former looked strong at the top of the lane of his most recent, but that race was his first since the fall of 2005, and he had little left for the drive. Wheeling back just 12 days later, expect an improved effort from Mathematician.

Clearly the one to fear is Giant Basil, who breaks from the outside for Frankel and Prado. Giant Basil has been tearing up the track in the mornings of late, and makes just his second start of the year today with a second-level allowance victory at Hollywood Park under his belt in early May.