Handicapping The Belmont Stakes; Late Pick-5

By Matt Papis
Tracksideview Staff Writer —-

Saturday

Pick-5 7-11 Post Time 3:22 EDT

Race 7) Grade I Acorn

Ce Ce (9): Lost her second start at short odds but ran a big race an is eligible for a win here at a square price from a perfectly drawn post.

Queen of Beas (8): Should be able to work out a dream trip with loads of speed and get a pace meltdown at a big number. Another who was compromised with a speed bias derby weekend.

Guarana (7): Could be any kind but do you really want to take a short price on a horse that has one win and it’s over the slop at Keeneland which was speed bias that day.

Race 8) Grade I Woody Stevens

Nitrous (6): Third off the layoff looking for him to blow this race up at a big number coming from off the pace into a hot pace.

Mind Control (9): He is the one to beat here this is what he was built to do 7f sprinter he should have no excuse with the beautifully drawn post.

Much Better (2): Hoping the blinkers off her pays off and he can relax a little more, this is a 40% move for Baffert.

Race 9) Grade I Metropolitan Mile

McKinzie (2): I have always thought the one turn mile would be his best distance so I go here for King Bob. He is very versatile he can go to the lead or he can take back he should be able to sit right on the rail and do whatever he wants.

Mitole (3): We still don’t know how good this one but going 7F at Churchill with an ideal post is a lot different then going a mile on Big Sandy. We will see if he’s as good as he’s run or if he should stay as a sprinter after this one.

Prince Lucky (9): If you can get past his last start in the slop then he fits in this field at a big number which I doubt we’ll see. Player in here for TAP and Johnny V on a day they typically rule.

Race 10) Grade I Manhattan

Channel Maker (10): This is one that just loves this course and ran the best race of his life last out; Bill Mott can seem to do no wrong this year.

Bricks and Mortar (8): He is the one to beat and should be very short but I think this will be the most accomplished field he has faced yet.

Robert Bruce (3): Finally gets a chance to get back on firm turf in this spot where his career best races have come, could Chad beat himself ?

Race 11) Grade I Belmont

Tacitus (10): He is the one to beat with the extra time off and working like a monster into the race, he is bred to run all day someone will have to step up to beat him.

Intrepid Heart (8): The connections thought he could be any kind before the Peter Pan and he had a terrible start so the addition of blinkers should be very beneficial for him. Would like to see what he can do if he’s closer to the pace.

Spinoff (6): The other Pletcher in the race, he has shown speed in the past which he didn’t in the derby he could fill out the exotics at a big number if he can get lose here.

Pick 5 7-11

4,5,6,7,8,9/ 2,4,6,9/ 2,3,9/ 1,3,4,5,7,8,10/ 10 = $252