Hill Prince

Friday’s $100,000 Hill Prince S. (G3) looks wide open, and we’ll look for
value in the nine-furlong turf event for three-year-olds. CROWN POINT (Honor
Grades) returns to his favorite course, Belmont Park’s inner turf, and is
eligible to improve off a pair of commendable third-place finishes in South
Florida stakes races earlier this year. The bay colt turned in a career-best
performance when winning the Pilgrim S. at the distance last year.

Trained by David Donk, who is enjoying a good Belmont meet, Crown Point has
been training forwardly, posting a pair of impressive four-furlong moves
recently over the Belmont training track, and the late runner showed he could
run well fresh last out. He’s an attractive 15-1 on the morning line and is well
drawn for a ground-saving trip from post 3. There’s plenty of speed present to
set the table, and we’ll look for Crown Point to pick up all the pieces through
the stretch.

CLASSIC CAMPAIGN (Rahy) experienced all kinds of trouble when making his
graded bow at Churchill Downs last out, but the improving sort still offered a
strong rally to finish fifth by only two lengths. The chestnut, who owns very
respectable BRIS Speed and Pace numbers, is eligible to take a significant step
forward here for trainer Bill Mott, and the stalker looks very dangerous.

REY DE CAFE (Kingmambo) will likely go favored and does appear to be coming
to hand for conditioner Rusty Arnold. The 123-pound highweight gamely prevailed
by a nose in the Crown Royal American Turf (G3) last out, earning a 98 Speed and 101 Late Pace rating, and the added distance should be no problem with
his pedigree. We like the chestnut’s turf mark (5-2-2-1) and wouldn’t be
surprised to see him come out on top again, but Rey de Cafe was all out in his
last and could be a little vulnerable at short odds. We’ll use him on the bottom
of the exotics.

TADREEB (Theatrical [Ire]) is also a win threat. The stalker owns a fine late
turn of foot and should appreciate returning to Belmont following a couple of
troubled attempts in Kentucky and Florida. CHIEF COMMANDER (Deputy Commander)
closed determinedly to take a first-level allowance last time and should get
plenty of pace in front again. The Nick Zito charge will be tested for class in
his stakes bow, but the chestnut could be a factor if he continues to improve.
Consider for the gimmicks. BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) displayed commendable turf form at two and owns a
solid worktab for his U.S. debut. Kiaran McLaughlin excels with new additions to
his barn, and Becrux could close for a share.

INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) comes off an encouraging performance, but he must
step up in class from an outside post. TINSELTOWN (Pine Bluff) brings a two-race
win skein into his graded bow, but the speedy sophomore will likely be chasing
much faster fractions than he did last time and must stretch out in ground.
PRINCE RAHY (Rahy) broke his maiden at the distance, but he’ll need to show much
more than he has in recent attempts to have an impact. BETTER THAN BONDS (Sweetsouthernsaint)
is stuck on the far outside, and we’ll let him surprise us in his turf debut.

DEFER (Danzig) fractured his right front cannon bone during a routine gallop
Wednesday morning and will be scratched.