Soaring Softly Stakes: Tom Collins has found a big-priced player at Belmont

I was expecting six or seven runners in this year’s edition of the Soaring Softly Stakes, so it was pleasantly surprising to see a double-figure field when the Belmont entries came out on Thursday.

Unfortunately, it looks as though the Chad Brown-trained Morning Line favourite Haughty will be scratched after she worked four furlongs on the turf on Friday morning, posting a 50.33sec breeze time in the process, which will change the complexion of the market.

She would have been sent off at around 2.7 on the back of a highly creditable third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and although it is disappointing that we won’t see her return in this race, her absence should result in another 2021 Breeders’ Cup contender heading the betting.  

Derrynane, a daughter of Quality Road, who recorded four Grade 1 victories during his time on the track, was highly tried by trainer Christophe Clement last year and rattled home from an unpromising spot to take fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, a race that was won by the front-running Twilight Gleaming.

She was clearly compromised by her closing style on a track that suited prominent racers and her finishing position should be upgraded. Clement gave her five months off the track after that race as she shipped back from the west coast, and she made a good start to her three-year-old campaign when runner-up to Ruthin in the Listed Limestone Lad Stakes at Keeneland in April.

Derrynane took a while to warm up but fairly rattled home in the closing 100 yards and only went down by a neck at the wire. Punters who just analyse a horse’s visual display may assume that the step up to 7f is a huge positive, but her breeding suggests she’s an out-and-out sprinter and I’m not convinced we’ll see her in much better light over this trip. Furthermore, rider Joel Rosario could be reluctant to be more aggressive with her and that may lead to trouble in running.

Another filly that flew home from off the speed last time out is Chardy Party, who skimmed the rail on debut at Keeneland and got up in the shadows of the post after being ninth as the field turned for home. The form of that race has taken a big knock since (runner-up beaten in a weak maiden next time) and her draw in gate 12 is far from ideal, but the step up in trip will be in her favour.

In contrast, the distance might be considered a negative for another fancied runner, Wonka. Bill Mott’s charge might have the most potential in this field and seemed to have bundles in hand when she got off the mark at Gulfstream when last seen. Although she boasts tactical speed, trips in excess of a mile are likely to see her at her best and she could lack the required sharpness in the Soaring Softly.

That brings me to my selection, which is Breeze Easy. A stablemate of the aforementioned Derrynane, Breeze Easy is set to make her first start Stateside after being purchased for almost $350,000 at the Tattersalls Mares Sale in December. 

She performed to a good level as a juvenile for former trainer Dave Evans and earned an official rating of 93, which appeared pretty fair given her runner-up finish to the talented Jumbly in the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury in October. Connections tried her over multiple trips, from 5f to 7f, and on different types of ground, so I highly doubt that we’ve seen the best of her just yet.

The forecast rain and thunderstorms should help her cause - any give underfoot will play to her strengths - and she’s had a good five months to acclimatise to her different training regime and surroundings in the US. 

From a good draw in gate two, I can envisage rider Javier Castellano attaining a midfield sit throughout the early portion of the race before unleashing Breeze Easy for a big run in the straight. If she’s ready to go, she should be good enough to trouble the protagonists at a double-figure price. 

Recommended bets

Breeze Easy @ 9.8