Garrity's Sunday Stakes Picks Belmont, Santa Anita – NY Stallion Series, Possibly Perfect, San Juan Capistrano

Three turf races comprise the action on this glorious early summer Sunday: we have a sprint for New York-bred fillies, and then two longer races at Santa Anita, which is winding down its marathon winter/spring meeting. We expect firm turf in all three, so let’s go.

Belmont Park, Race 9, 5:12 pm ET

$150,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes, 7 furlongs, Turf, 3-Year-Old Fillies

Eleven sophomore state-bred fillies line up to run 7 furlongs on the turf in this stakes. We are expecting a swift pace, and a runner coming from behind, and that makes the pick 5-Shigeko, who broke her maiden on dirt, in a race rained off the turf, but who we think will be better on grass. She will be well back early, but should be flying late; we will bet her to win at 8-1. The bet: Belmont Park, Race 9, $35 to win on 5-Shigeko.

Santa Anita Park, Race 5, 6:04 pm ET
$100,000 Possibly Perfect 1 ¼ miles, Turf, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up

Seven line up for the Possibly Perfect. Six are based in Southern California, but we like the one who is not: it is 6-Scarabea, who has been competing in the East, in Florida and Kentucky, against much, much tougher competition than she will face here. How far has California racing fallen? This is a good example: A middling turf filly who lost her last race by 27 ½ lengths is a strong play here. We will bet Scarabea to win at 5-1. The bet: Santa Anita, Race 5, $40 to win on 6-Scarabea.

Santa Anita Park, Race 7, 7:12 pm ET
Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, 1 ¾ miles, Turf, 3 & Up

Eight go in the San Juan Capistrano. This has long been one of our favorite races, if only for the spectacle of watching horses gallop down the Santa Anita hillside turf course, and then run another lap around the main turf course. That’s a long way, a mile and three quarters, and we think that the distance is key, as most of the octet going to the starting gate appear to have little interest in running that far.

One who does, we think, is 7-Modus Operandi, who has been running ineffectively in shorter races, but who has the running style and pedigree to handle the 14 furlongs. We will bet him to win at 4-1. The bet: Santa Anita, Race 7, $40 to win on 7-Modus Operandi.

That’s all for today. Enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.