Belmont: Friday All-Stakes Pick-4

By Matthew Pappis
TSV Staff Writer —-

Race 8) 6 Furlongs True North S. Grade II. Purse $250,000 FOR
FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD Post Time: ( 4:42)/ 3:42/ 2:42/ 1:42

Stallwalkin Dude (4): This 7-year-old had no trouble winning first back from Dubai over a track he loves. There is lots of speed in this field and he should get a ground saving trip and blow by them all turning for home.

Whitmore (8): Right now I will not argue he is the best sprinter in the country, but he ran a huge race to win the Maryland Sprint only 3 weeks ago and might regress in this spot.

Noholdingbackbear (5): This will be his second start for trainer Brian Lynch whose horses are running lights out and second start off an extended layoff. He exits the same race as our top pick where he ran second encountering a more difficult trip. He is a player right back in this spot.

Race 9) 1‚ Mile. (Inner Turf) New York S. Presented by NYRA Bets
PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS. Grade II. Purse $500,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND
MARES, FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 5:14)/ 4:14/ 3:14/ 2:14

Suffused (2): Was full of run in the Sheepshead Bay Stakes but got stuck behind a wall of horses and then had to much to do to beat Sea Calisi. She goes back to her primary rider and will likely be overlooked on the board with the pair of Chad Brown runners in here.

Sea Calisi (6): Classy filly makes her second start off the layoff since Breeders Cup and this was likely the goal all along as she ran here last year.

Sassy Little Lila (9): She is cross entered to the Just a Game Saturday and might be in this race to set it up for the owners other entry Dacita. This is a big step up in class but I like that Cox brought her here to get a trip over the track before this race and she could get loose.

Race 10) 2 Miles. (Turf) Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. Grade III. Purse
$400,000 AN INVITATIONAL FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD Post Time: ( 5:46)/ 4:46/ 3:46/ 2:46

Now we Can (3): Ran second in this race last year and you would have to go back to April of 2016 to find his last win, but he has faced some tough fields. He likes to be around at the wire and 8-1 is good value.

Taghleeb (11): Did not seem to like the yielding turf course in his last effort and will get a firm turf course here. If they all run their best races he’s the one to beat here but I don’t like the wide post.

St. Michel (13): He is three-for-three at the two-mile distance which they will be running today, how often can you say that. He will pick up the top jockey at the current meet for his American Debut.

Race 11) 7 Furlongs Bed o’ Roses Invitational S. Grade III. Purse $250,000
AN INVITATIONAL FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. Post Time: ( 6:18)/ 5:18/ 4:18/ 3:18

Indulgent (3): Looked like a sure winner at the quarter pole in her last race and just went flat in the final furlong which leads me to believe the cut back is what she needs here.

Lightstream (5): Ran against the bias on Derby Day where no-one made up an inch sprinting, she should put in a good effort second off the layoff for a trainer whose horses are running lights out of late.

By the Moon (9): Should be able to sit right off of Mia Torri and will be the one to run down turning for home. She has never missed the exacta at Belmont in 4 career starts and will be tough here.

Suggested .50 Pick 4

4,8/2,6/1,3,4,5,8,10,11,12,13/3,5,9 = $54