Soaring Softly Stakes Predictions, Picks, Odds (Belmont Park)
The lone graded stakes winner in the field, American Apple headlines a field of six entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Soaring Softly, a 7-furlong turf test for 3-year-old fillies, at Belmont Park. Have a look at the racetrack guide for Belmont Park - the home of the Belmont Stakes.
The daughter of American Pharoah won the Grade 3 Matron last fall at Aqueduct. She has lost three times since then but has run well each time while running a bit shorter.
Most recently, she closed well to finish second in the 5 1/2-furlong Mamzelle Stakes on the turf at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Chief among her opposition in the $175,000 feature is the Speightstown filly, Love Appeals, who has won two of three career starts.
One of two in the field for trainer Christophe Clement, she will make her graded stakes debut on Saturday off an impressive 4 3/4-length allowance win last month at Aqueduct.
Another interesting filly in the Soaring Softly is the Chad Brown-trained Lady Beth, who will be making her turf debut on Saturday.
Brown also has two in the field, and this daughter of Hard Spun won her only start in impressive fashion on the dirt at Gulfstream Park back in February.
Soaring Softly Stakes Predictions and Race Analysis
Love Appeals
A daughter of Speightstown, this Christophe Clement-trained filly looks ready to prove herself a graded stakes caliber runner on Saturday.
After a game win in her career debut three months ago, she came up a little short in her stakes debut but was not embarrassed at all on April 1. Having shipped up from South Florida for her third start, she showed solid improvement to romp over an allowance field at Aqueduct late last month.
Proven on turf and seemingly ideally suited for the distance, she would be a deserving favorite on Saturday. She is a must-include in the exotics.
American Apple
The only graded stakes winner in this field, this daughter of American Pharoah continues to run solid races against stakes competition. Having run shorter of late, while finishing with good interest, you would expect that the 7-furlong trip on Saturday should be in her wheelhouse.
Never having run a poor race in six tries on the grass, she holds a pretty substantial experience edge over her rivals on Saturday. This will be another tough test, though, as there appears to be some talented fillies in the field.
She will need to run her best to add her second graded stakes score but seems quite likely to be in the middle of things when the real running begins. In a close call, she is the top pick.
Lady Beth
The first of two from top turf trainer Chad Brown, this daughter of Hard Spun has not been seen since running away from her competition in her career debut.
That came nearly four months ago and was on the main track at Gulfstream Park. The gap between races, as well as the question about her first try on turf, are questions, but she is in the right barn to not be too concerned.
Considering the potential she demonstrated in her debut win, she is an obvious threat here, but I will be siding with the fillies who are more proven on the turf in this one.
Queen Picasso
Like Lady Beth, this Clement-trained filly has made only one career start. It came on the turf, however, as she was a game and determined winner of a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Gulfstream Park.
An English-bred daughter of Kingman, there is little doubt that she was bred to run on the grass. After moderate early fractions, I like the way she finished off that debut score in March.
She lacks the experience of the top two, but I think she has a big upside. Cutting back in distance for this one, I think she has a real shot in her stakes debut.
Senior Prank
The other Chad Brown runner checked in fourth last time, well beaten by Love Appeals. A first-out winner at Aqueduct in the winter, she has failed to make a strong impression in each of her last two.
On a positive note, the well-bred daughter of Into Mischief could improve off her first try on the grass and picks up top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. for Saturday’s assignment.
I wouldn’t be shocked if she is closer to Love Appeals this time around, but I do like others better in the Soaring Softly.
Quarrel
The longshot of the field, this daughter of Speightstown has not run since breaking her maiden in her third career start last November.
That victory came on her first try on the turf, so it appears she may have found a home on the grass. Having said that, the Robert Ribaudo-trained filly has found a difficult spot for her return after six months away.
Both the distance and the quality of competition will likely prove a bit much for her on Saturday, and I will wait to see how she does here, before considering her next time.
