Beer: How I'll play Belmont on Sunday, June 18

Late Pick-4

Race 7: #8 ANIMAL APPEAL is a fast turf sprinter, and she is likely to make the lead this time after getting outrun to the front and giving way in an open stakes race off the layoff. She has lost more than once in the past without excuse, but she is tough when she's right, and I'll use her in the pick four. The other main use for me, and a horse I'll press against Animal Appeal, is #6 PERDONA. While I normally do not like turn-backs on the turf, she has solid back form sprinting, and she has enough speed to adapt to this shorter distance.
#1 First Charmer and #3 Battlement are backups.

Race 8: The Grade 3 Poker has a field of only six, and three are trained by Chad Brown. Of that trio, I will use only #2 PROJECTED. He has run well in all three stateside starts, and I like his tactical speed. The other horse for me is #7 LUBASH, though only if we have turf that is close to firm. That may not be a possibility after Saturday's washout, and Lubash just doesn't seem to be as effective with "give" in the ground.

Race 9: #4 THREEFIVEINDIA was defeated as a heavy favorite off the layoff, but he took a run at that race, and appeared to be a bit of a short horse while flattening out in the final furlong. There is a chance that he is too good for this field with his best race, but I will also use #8 READY FOR RYE, who is getting some class relief here after spending most of the past two years facing graded stakes competition.

Race 10: This is not an easy race to end with, but I do think that #12 RUNAWAY POSSE will be tough if he can bounce back from his flat performance last time. He is a much better horse over shorter distances like this, and this drop in class, while concerning coming off such a poor race, is supposed to make him tough.
#2 Rapscallion, #4 Romans Paradise and #5 Full Salute are the other horses I would cover.