I like his TG pattern, too. Looks ready to move forward. My problem with this type of horse is that he is always wide, and he gets a jockey who is wide most of the time, and who never runs at Belmont. In my opinion, he would need a huge top at his normal trip or a 1w1W to win at 12F. I do not know if Theriot has another mount on Friday or the undercard, but I think it matters.
Understanding that this is a TG board, there are three horses that are playable off their sheets, MMfM, Game on Dude and Stay Put, who I am having trouble using b/c thay all get riders who don\'t ride at Belmont. Out of all the TC races, this is one where every year I watch a non-Belmont jockey really butcher a ride. (Smarty, Rock Hard Ten, Hard Spun, Mine that Bird come to mind and I am sure there are others). Having a hard time conceptualizing a Theriot, Rosario, M. Garcia tri at Big Sandy.
I like Interactif and Stately Victor slightly less than the above 3, but both have decent patterns and are fast enough on their best, and I will take the chance that their form will translate to dirt.....and they get jocks for the course. My current thinking is that I will play First Dude and Fly Down to bounce, and use above 2 with UTCB and Ice Box. Combined 1500 rides in last 12 months at Belmont vs 0.
First Dude can definitely wire this field and gets the right jock to do it with at Belmont, I just can\'t play him off the negative number on 3 weeks. I don\'t know if it was brought up on this board, but Allez Reef, another 3YO with a negative number at 2 turns, seemed to bounce significantly (i didn\'t see the # yet) in the Spend a Buck at Monmouth 2 weeks ago off far longer rest.
