Clearly Now is the Clear Choice in Grade I $500,000 Forego

Clearly Now is the 7/5 morning line favorite after a freakish effort July 5 at Belmont where he destroyed a strong field in the Grade III Belmont Sprint by six and a quarter lengths while recording  career-best 113 Beyer Speed Figure.  In addition, Clearly Now is something of a specialist at the seven furlong distance recording three wins, a second, and three third-place finishes from seven career starts.  The only chinks in the armor for the Brian Lynch trainee are the concerns of a possible bounce and the ability to duplicate his form on the Saratoga strip upon which he is unraced. 

Palace tries to stretch out for the win

Despite finishing a distant second to Clearly Now in the Belmont Sprint, Palace (3/1 ML) figures to take plenty of action based on his most recent effort – a win in the Grade I Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga.  That victory, however, was recorded from six furlongs and Palace is 0 for 2 going seven furlongs. 

Versatile long shot in with a chance

Confrontation (10/1) is an intriguing long shot for two important reasons: he was a winner at seven furlongs in his last start at Saratoga and he has shown the versatility to win on the lead and from well off the pace.  Breaking from the ten hole, jockey Rajiv Maragh should have plenty of options if Confrontation is good enough to run with the top two.