Belmont Park: Acorn, Gold Cup Highlight Belmont Stakes Eve

The final leg of the triple crown is just one race in a loaded weekend at Belmont Park. The Acorn and Belmont Gold Cup take Friday’s top billing.

Friday Full Card Analysis

Belmont Park- Race 1

Post: 12:50 PM ET; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 NEWPORT BRIDGE (3-1) gets the top selection. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #5 LEFTEMBEHIND (8-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He comes into the race in really good form.
• #7 FAST BUCK FREDDY (9-5) debuts here with favoritism. If the money holds on race day this one may be tough to beat.
• #3 THANK YOU JON (5-1) should improve off the first start and could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 7 – 3

Belmont Park- Race 2

Post: 1:22 PM ET; $95k Allowance going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 12

• #1A SOSUA SUMMER (6-5) is the top pick. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 ELUSIVE EDGE (6-1) seems to fit well enough here and isn’t that far off the top pick on numbers.
• #1 BOLD JOURNEY (6-5) appears to be a major player in this race. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #3 THREE ZERO (20-1) is a price horse that may try to steal this race on the front end.

Selections: 1A- 2 – 1 – 3

Belmont Park- Race 3

Post: 1:55 PM ET; $75k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 METEORITE (6-5) should improve off the first start and looks best here. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Pletcher and Ortiz.
• #2 REFUAH (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #7 BATTLEOFLEXINGTON (6-1) isn't without hope. He comes into the race in really good form.
• #1 CICCIOBELLO (10-1) is a price horse that has done well under these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 7 – 1

Belmont Park- Race 4

Post: 2:28 PM ET; $500k Just a Game S. going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 5

• #1 IN ITALIAN (1-2) gets the top selection. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Ortiz. The biggest weapon for this one is the speed which can often be absent in these New York turf races.
• #3 SPENDARELLA (2-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #5 SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (10-1) is a great value given the talent of this runner. The company lines on this one make her a major consideration.
• #4 WAKANAKA (8-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run if things get hot early.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 4

Belmont Park- Race 5

Post: 3:02 PM ET; $65k Starter Allowance going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 9

• #4 FROMANOTHAMUTHA (7-2) is the top pick. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #3 LONG TERM (5-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #7 THUNDERIAN (6-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Jacobson and Ortiz. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #8 ENDOWED (3-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot and has back races that would be a factor in this spot.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 7 – 8

Belmont Park- Race 6

Post: 3:35 PM ET; $100k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 11

• #2 ROTKNEE (3-1) looks best here. His class makes him the obvious choice in this spot.
• #8 DOT'S DOLLAR (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. This one goes out for the Rice barn and gets Davis in the irons.
• #10 HIGH CONNECTION (8-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has a grinding style which could help him down the stretch if others are coming back.
• #3 COLLABORATE (12-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 2 – 8 – 10- 3

Belmont Park- Race 7

Post: 4:08 PM ET; $80k Allowance going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 15

• #2 CONMAN (3-1) gets the top selection. He looks to be the class of the field.
• #3 FEATHERS ROAD (15-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Ortiz. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #11 ORTUS (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #14 CURLY LARRY AND MO (8-1) should really relish the 7 furlong distance. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end but will have to break clean if he has any hope of getting to the front from the wide post.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 11- 14

Belmont Park- Race 8

Post: 4:41 PM ET; $600k New York S. going 1 1/4 miles on turf; Entries: 8

• #2 SHANTISARA (8-1) is the top pick. This one has plenty of ability and the price is right in this spot.
• #5 VIRGINIA JOY (15-1) is a price horse that has drawn well in this spot. This one should be able to tuck in, save ground, and make one honest run in the stretch.
• #7 WAR LIKE GODDESS (6-5) is hard to play against given the form, but the talent in this field feels like a spot where a mild stand can be taken. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders, but perhaps may falter if she can’t get the jump on some other runners.
• #1 FLIRTING BRIDGE (20-1) is a massive long shot. This one probably won’t win, but does have turf figures that stack up well enough to be a player underneath.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 7 – 1

Belmont Park- Race 9

Post: 5:14 PM ET; $500k Acorn S. Presented by Great Jones Distilling Co. going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 MUNNYS GOLD (9-5) looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one goes out for the Todd Pletcher barn and gets Ortiz in the irons. This one is a tough pill to swallow for those who had her singled on Derby day.
• #6 PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (2-1) has been off since her impressive win in the Kentucky Oaks, but if she finds that performance again, she’s hard to ignore.
• #8 ACCEDE (8-1) feels like the best of rest. This distance should be perfectly to her liking.
• #2 RANDOMIZED (5-1) goes out for the Chad Brown barn and gets Manny Franco in the irons. Manny has been riding extremely well in New York of late and is putting his horses in the race with every ride right now.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 8 – 2

Belmont Park- Race 10

Post: 5:47 PM ET; $250k Belmont Gold Cup S. going 2 miles on turf; Entries: 13

• #3 CHANNEL MAKER (8-1) gets the top selection. This one may be wishful thinking as this old horse is just a cool hard knocker that keeps coming back for more. He has been a horse in the past that has cycled in and out of form so the idea that he gets back to better performances isn’t totally crazy.
• #5 STRONG TIDE (10-1) will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #4 TIDE OF THE SEA (12-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot and comes into the race off some really solid performances.
• #8 BRITISH ROYALTY (30-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one is definitely more likely to hit the board than win.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 4 – 8

Belmont Park- Race 11

Post: 6:19 PM ET; $200k Intercontinental S. going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 8

• #8 GOIN' GOOD (8-1) is the top pick. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Franco. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 BUBBLE ROCK (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has been good in turf sprints before.
• #6 AMY C (5-1) goes out for the Phil D'Amato barn and gets Flavian Prat in the irons. This one may actually benefit from drawing inside of the favorite.
• #5 BAY STORM (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one looks to be the class of the field.

Selections: 8 – 7 – 6 – 5