Looking back at Saturday’s card at Belmont Park, here are a few comments:

In Race 2, COAL PLAY was rumored to be a good thing during the Saratoga meet, and was certainly bet like one to 2-1 from an 8-1 morning line price. He wasn’t away particularly well, managed to find traffic into the far turn, and was never a factor in the lane. Perhaps more can be expected next time, but this was nonetheless disappointing.

In Race 4, fans couldn’t bet enough money on the debut of THE GREEN MONKEY, the yearling purchase Tabor and crew couldn’t spend too much to get. Yet Pletcher failed to record a debut win at the Spa, and this guy followed suit. Velazquez got busy early on, and his third-place finish is actually better than you would have guessed when the field turned for home.

Stakes action commenced with the Matron (Race 6), and PROUD SPELL was a relatively easy winner for Jones/Saez. Now 3-for-3 lifetime, this was her first forray away from Delaware Park. Perhaps most notable from this race was the lackluster performance of SYRIANA’S SONG.

There appeared an abundance of early speed in the Noble Damsel, and that played right into the lap of DANCE AWAY CAPOTE, who has resurrected her career since Tagg switched her to turf. With FANTASTIC SHIRL earning the place, the exacta was completed by the two trailers up the backside.

Boys got their turn in the 118th Futurity, and while wide-open at the eighth-pole, TALE OF EKATI darted up the fence to score the victory.

PAINT ran well despite hanging a bit throught the final yards in just his second career start, while THE LEOPARD was in a perfect spot turning for home, yet faded badly.

Saturday’s feature attraction on paper was the Gazelle. Eventual 3-year-old filly champion RAGS TO RICHES was making her first start since the Belmont 12 weeks prior. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make much sense to evaluate her effort as she has exited the race with a hairline fracture and is out for the year. LEAR’S PRINCESS had begun her career with three wins on turf and/or Polytrack, yet has raced very well since moving to dirt, finishing a close second to Octave and Lade Joanne. The dream season for West Point Stables continues as she notches a well-deserved Grade 1 tally.