US racing tips: Tom Collins fancies an ex-Gary Moore horse at Belmont Park

Clara Peeters
8.27 Belmont Park
2pts win

Tap It To Win
10.04 Belmont Park
1pt win

Race five on Thursday night's Belmont card is a competitive $66,000 allowance optional claimer (8.27), which is scheduled to be run over 7f on the turf course.

You normally have a standout up-and-coming performer in contests like this at the New York venue, but this race is far from easy to dissect. That is because there are several ex-European runners in the field, most of whom remain completely unexposed.

Lady Lawyer, formerly with John Gosden, and French-trained trio Stone Tornado, Devant and Madeleine Must all hold serious chances on their European form, but all bar Devant are making their first start for new connections after a long break and are best watched.

The one who catches the eye the most is Clara Peeters. Bought for $135,000 from the Gary Moore stable, this four-year-old filly now races for the shrewd Brad Cox team and has drawn the inside gate in stall one.

A consistent if not spectacular handicapper (rated 89) in Britain before her move, Clara Peeters seemed to appreciate the different style of racing when a good second on her US debut at the Fair Grounds in March.

She picked up well from the rear to go down by just a neck over a mile, which was worth marking up given she had to go seven wide in the straight. Another two strides and she would have won.

On that evidence the drop in trip is not sure to suit, but one of her two successes here came over 7f and Javier Castellano should be able to get a better early position this time around from her rail draw.

The other intriguing race on the card is the $66,000 allowance (10.04) in which Chad Brown has entered two improving colts in Basquiat and Country Grammer.

Both are feared, more so the last-named runner, but I will take them on with impressive last-time-out scorer Tap It To Win.

This three-year-old may be slightly overlooked in the market despite showcasing a fantastic change of gear when running down a subsequent scorer at Gulfstream Park just under a month ago. He quickened up well from off the pace that day and won with plenty in the tank. It was a performance that suggested he was right back on song after a couple of heavy defeats in strong company.

The first of those came in the Grade 1 Claibourne Futurity, in which he was far too keen and never stood a chance against the likes of the unbeaten Maxfield, before struggling at Churchill Downs on his next start (didn't handle the track).

His recent works have been good and he boasts a significant fitness edge over some of these opponents. John Velazquez is an eyecatching booking.

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