Belmont Park: Belmont Derby Highlights Saturday Race Card

With Saratoga just around the corner, the Belmont Park meet closes with some quality racing. The feature on Saturday’s card is the very salty Belmont Derby.

Saturday Full Card Selections

Belmont Park- Race 1

Post: 1:05 PM ET; $90k Maiden Special Weight going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 SUGAR N SPICE (8-1) gets the top selection. She could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. This one goes out for the Abreu barn and gets Ortiz in the irons.
• #3 EXHILARATE (5-2) debuts here and should be competitive in this spot. She is well bred for this spot.
• #6 DEVIL AT MIDNIGHT (3-1) should improve off the first start and looks good here. She ran well on debut and should be in the mix in the first tier of runners.
• #2 MAGIC CROSS (6-1) debuts here and isn’t without hope. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Mott and Lezcano.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 6 – 2

Belmont Park- Race 2

Post: 1:36 PM ET; $36k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 DRINK THE WIND (6-5) is the top pick. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 COOL QUARTET (5-2) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #3 MOLIERE (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #7 ZERTZ (8-1) isn’t without hope. He seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 3 – 7

Belmont Park- Race 3

Post: 2:09 PM ET; $90k Maiden Special Weight going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 9

• #4 DORAL (2-1) looks best here. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Mott and Ortiz.
• #3 EMPATHY (4-1) goes out for the Abreu barn and gets Ortiz in the irons and should have an opportunity to be in the mix for a winner’s photo.
• #8 SPUN SPECIAL (7-2) isn’t without hope. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 RISK FREE (12-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one has been running against solid competition.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 8 – 6

Belmont Park- Race 4

Post: 2:40 PM ET; $95k Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #6 BOUNCER (4-5) gets the top selection. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #2 HANDSOME CAT (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #4 RETURN THE RING (10-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He seems to fit well enough here. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #3 LEDDY (6-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has races that would win here. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 4 – 3

Belmont Park- Race 5

Post: 3:09 PM ET; $350k Suburban S. going 1 1/4 miles on dirt; Entries: 5

• #4 CHARGE IT (3-5) is the top pick. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #1 TONAL IMPACT (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #3 CLAPTON (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He has run well in dirt routes and if the favorite doesn’t show becomes a real factor.
• #5 UNBRIDLED BOMBER (6-1) isn’t without hope. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5

Belmont Park- Race 6

Post: 3:40 PM ET; $80k Allowance going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 13

• #4 ROYAL DANCER (5-1) looks best here. She runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #9 WEEKEND RAGS (5-2) should be competitive in this spot. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Abreu and Castellano.
• #5 ROBYN AND ELI (20-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. She projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #10 LOON CRY (3-1) could be in with a shot in this race. This one goes out for Clement and Ortiz. The trainer tends to start really heating up around this time of year.

Selections: 4 – 9 – 5 – 10

Belmont Park- Race 7

Post: 4:11 PM ET; $100k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 DOT’S DOLLAR (5-2) gets the top selection. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Ortiz. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #2 MAJORITY PARTNER (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #4 VITTORIO (7-5) should be competitive in this spot. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the 6 1/2 furlong distance.
• #3 SAGAMORE MISCHIEF (15-1) is a price horse and isn’t without hope. He makes sense on speed figures and seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 4 – 3

Belmont Park- Race 8

Post: 4:43 PM ET; $500k Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S. going 1 1/4 miles on turf; Entries: 9

• #5 PREREQUISITE (5-1) is the top pick. She makes sense on speed figures. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #6 BE YOUR BEST (10-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. She shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/4 mile distance. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #1 MISSION OF JOY (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #2 STRIKINGLY SPUN (15-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. She goes out for the Sharp barn and gets Ortiz in the irons. This one has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 1 – 2

Belmont Park- Race 9

Post: 5:15 PM ET; $95k Allowance going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 14

• #8 APPRAISE (9-2) looks best here. He goes out for the Brown barn and gets Prat in the irons. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the 7 furlong distance.
• #11 INFLATION NATION (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He should benefit from the long run into the turn which should negate some of the challenges of the wide post.
• #7 SOSUA SUMMER (5-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #1 DARK VECTOR (8-1) goes out for the Weaver barn who can be very underrated on a circuit full of mega trainers. He calls on Derby winning jockey Javier Castellano for the ride.

Selections: 8 – 11- 7 – 1

Belmont Park- Race 10

Post: 5:49 PM ET; $750k Belmont Derby Invitational S. going 1 1/4 miles on turf; Entries: 11

• #5 FAR BRIDGE (4-1) gets the top selection. He goes out for the Pletcher barn and gets Ortiz in the irons. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #8 KALIK (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 SILVER KNOTT (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. He goes out for the Appleby barn which has sent over strong summer contingents in recent years. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #4 WEBSLINGER (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/4 mile distance.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 6 – 4

Belmont Park- Race 11

Post: 6:21 PM ET; $175k Victory Ride S. going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #6 DOWNTOWN MISCHIEF (8-1) is the top pick. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #7 TOPSY (12-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. She goes out for the Asmussen barn and gets Ortiz in the irons. This one fits on figures.
• #1 INTERPOLATE (5-1) should be given a look here. She has back races that could win this race.
• #5 MAPLE LEAF MEL (9-5) should be competitive in this spot. She has races good enough to beat this group. The current form is very solid on this runner.

Selections: 6 – 7 – 1 – 5

Belmont Park- Race 12

Post: 6:53 PM ET; $45k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #15 UNCLE MARTY (4-1) looks best here. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Ortiz.
• #1 SCREW LOOSE (5-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #10 LEFTEMBEHIND (5-1) seems to fit well enough here.
• #9 SINALOA (10-1) is a price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Linda Rice looks to the other Ortiz brother in this spot.

Selections: 15- 1 – 10- 9