Daily Racing Form handicapper Michael Hammersly delivers his full card race-by-race analysis, best bet of the day, and expert picks for Sunday, June 28, 2026, for Belmont at the Big A.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Rossbeigh (7th race)
Seventh Race
1. Rossbeigh
2. Big Frosty
3. Beau Cheval
ROSSBEIGH ran well in his only two starts, both on turf at this trip. They were separated by 10 months off, too. There’s no such layoff concern this time, and it’s no shock he handles turf as he’s kin to Derrynane (12-3-1-2, $271K, all on turf, 1 SW, 3 SPs). BIG FROSTY was a sharp rallying 2nd here May 17 in a race just like this here, on the inner course like today. That was his first start in six months, too, so he can improve. He’s a full to Easy Play (43-7-6-10, $237K, 1 SP). BEAU CHEVAL ran on decently to be 5th behind the top pick at SAR June 3, and he wasn’t THAT far behind him. He as claimed, gets blinkers and has more tactical speed than he was able to show June 3.
Here are Michael’s thoughts on the other eight races on Sunday’s Belmont at the Big A racing card.
First Race
1. Tour Jete
2. Top of the Table
3. Tongue Twister
The swan song program for this historic track. TOUR JETE was sharp here last summer/fall, but didn’t fare so well after leaving NY. She’s been freshened, drops and returns to a place you know she likes. TOP OF THE TABLE had good form from the start of this year into March. Yes, that came on dirt, but she’s won before on turf, so she’s not out of her element on this ground. She hasn’t gone this far on turf but handled the mile well on dirt, so she doesn’t seem out of her element distance-wise. TONGUE TWISTER opened up early on SAR turf June 7 but paid the price, caving in during the final furlongs. In her defense, not only did she use fuel early, it was her first start in seven months. She’s eligible to improve, and while she has speed, she doesn’t have to be so eager early as she was last time.
Second Race
1. Close the Loop
2. Tactically
3. Into the Unknown
CLOSE THE LOOP flashed talent in her debut here May 9. She’s been given time since, and the barn has super 2nd-time-out numbers. TACTICALLY debuts off lots of works for a trainer who’s capable first time out, though it’s no easy task to debut going long. Her lone sib to race is Trust Fund (18-5-2-3, $306K, 2 SPs). INTO THE UNKNOWN was 3rd behind the top pick in that May 9 race but she wasn’t THAT far behind her. She then ran 2nd at SAR June 4, so she looks headed the right way. Her lone sib is Miss C Banker (17-1-2-4, $48K).
Third Race
1. Ignite the Light
2. T Kraft
3. Over and Ollie
IGNITE THE LIGHT blossomed here this winter/spring. He’s been freshened since, and if able to come back with that kind of form, figures tough. But this is no easy comeback spot. T KRAFT dueled and gamely prevailed in a race like this here May 22 so he comes here doing well. A repeat is certainly not out of reach, and it’s obvious he loves it here (5-4-0-0). OVER AND OLLIE pressed and kept on gamely for 2nd to T KRAFT in that aforementioned May 22 race, so he’s a solid fit. Toss those last three stakes tries and he’s a proven commodity at this level.
Fourth Race
1. Timia
2. Starship Pegasus
3. Cosmic Candy Girl
TIMIA, an MTO, gets the nod if this comes off. The 4yo filly has been knocking on the door since the middle of February and might finally break through against a bunch of turf horses playing on her footing. She just ran last Saturday, so it’s most encouraging they entered her back so quickly to try and get another crack at this track before it closes. STARSHIP PEGASUS showed enough talent last year to earn a crack at a G3 here Nov. 23 in her first try vs. winners. That proved too much too soon, and she hasn’t been seen since, but she’s been working well and the drop helps. COSMIC CANDY GIRL is a head shy of being a SW, and that run, plus some of her other good work, came on this course. She has the tactical speed to get a nice stalking trip. CONSIDERATE CITY kept on well decently for 2nd in a race like this at SAR June 7. That was just her 2nd start off a long layoff so she looks headed the right way.
Fifth Race
1. Maria Callas
2. Fairy Godmother
3. Boston’s Phinest
MARIA CALLAS showed enough promise last fall to get a shot at a stakes here for her first try vs. winners. And while she ran only 5th that day, she was far from disgraced (beaten just 1 1/2 lengths). She hasn’t run since so there’s a long layoff to ponder. but that’s not usually considered a drawback with this barn. It also doesn’t hurt her big maiden win came on this course at this trip. FAIRY GODMOTHER looked like a new horse blasting maidens on this course at this trip May 23. Of course, those were just maidens and it’s first time vs. winners, but if that’s the true bill, she can be scary. BOSTON’S PHINEST has been knocking on the door for some time. Maybe it’s finally her turn to break through vs. winners.
Sixth Race
1. Ez Roll
2. Senegal
3. Indy Rags
EZ ROLL just won gamely here last Friday at this same trip. In fact, his two races at 9fs are maybe the best of his life. Not only does he get that distance again and comes here sharp, it’s a great sign they wheel him back to quickly to try and get another race over this track before the curtain comes down. SENEGAL likewise handles this track and trip. He was 2nd to the top pick on this track and trip two months ago, and if able to move forward and if EZ ROLL regresses a bit, well, you get our drift. INDY RAGS kept on gamely to be a sharp 2nd at this trip here May 2. Giangiulio not only saw fit to claim him, she brings him back where he can’t be claimed away. He has speed, and all three career wins have come at this 9f trip, two of them here.
Eighth Race
1. Bam’s Bliss Kiss
2. Sweet Brown Sugar
3. Highway Harmony
BAM’S BLISS KISS, an MTO, gets the call if this comes off as she’s on a tear, having won six straight, including a romp in a SW on this main track last time out. If it stays on, SWEET BROWN SUGAR might be sitting on a score as her last was her first turf try, a sprint on this outer course, and she finished with gusto to get 2nd. HIGHWAY HARMONY can flat sizzle and has done her best work on turf. She’s up in class, but the way she’s going, she might well be ready for this dive into deeper waters. WITH THE ANGELS no doubt has the talent, but this is her first turf try. At least daddy is a solid turf sire, and while best known for his dirt prowess, handled turf just fine.
Ninth Race
1. Sharp Spark
2. Tizmarkus
3. Trusty Rusty
SHARP SPARK comes here sharp. Toss that turf try here April 30, and you’re left with four straight good efforts on this main track. He’s shown a 9th furlong is no problem. TIZMARKUS just edged the top pick, going a mile here May 25, so he’s got the necessary oomph, though you wonder if the move to this longer 1 1/8-mile trip tips the scales in favor of ‘SPARK. TRUSTY RUSTY has been knocking on the door in SoCal and Ky,. and a snappy work at KEE last Sunday says he’s doing well. Adieu, Big A.
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