Tip Sheet Shared Belief Stakes

The $100,000 Shared Belief S. will be run Saturday as Race 2 at Del Mar.  This is a strong listed race for 3-year-olds since it offers points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1). Run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, it should be a chess match for the riders since there is not a lot of speed in the small field.

Top Picks for the Shared Belief

• #5 Honor A. P.
• #6 Cezanne

Betting the Shared Belief

• $50 exacta - 5 with 6

Shared Belief Contenders

#1 Uncle Chuck would have brought upside, but the unbeaten colt will scratch in favor of the Aug. 8 Travers (G1).

#2 Thousand Words ran poorly on a sloppy track two starts back at Oaklawn Park but then bounced back last out with a good second to Uncle Chuck at Los Alamitos. After winning his first three career starts, including two graded stakes, he has yet to break through and live up to early expectations.  

#3 Anneau d’Or ran well last year. This year, not so much. He started the season with two terrible efforts then was fourth in a strong renewal of the Santa Anita Derby (G1). On his best day, he has an outside chance but don’t see how today is going to be his best day. Note that he also could scratch and try the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby instead.

#4 Kiss Today Goodbye improved in his third start on the dirt to narrowly break his maiden but then did nothing last out against winners. He would have to show major improvement to just finish in the money.  

#5 Honor A. P. is only 2-for-4 lifetime but is as good as it gets in the division. Patiently trained by John Shirreffs, he romped in his two-turn debut at Santa Anita last October second time out but was no match for Authentic in the San Felipe (G2) five months later. With his seasonal debut under his belt, he easily won the Santa Anita Derby in the best performance of any 3-year-old this year. That form was confirmed when Authentic won the Haskell (G1) last time out. With the Triple Crown schedule disrupted, Shirreffs has kept him in California where he continues to thrive but this race is not the goal.

#6 Cezanne made his much-anticipated career debut in June going 6 1/2 furlongs and he was a very convincing winner. Moved up to allowance foes last out going two turns at Los Alamitos, he won easily in fast time and now has a chance to live up to his $3.65 million price tag. The son of Curlin draws wide and Flavien Prat has to avoid being carried wide but this long strider might be better off outside than stuck on the rail.