Dunleavy: How I'd play Belmont for Saturday, June 6

It’s not going to be easy to make a big score on the early pick four at Belmont Park on Saturday, which encompasses races 2-4

Competitive Edge will be odds-on in race 3, the Grade 2 Woody Stephens, and Untapable will be an equally short price in race 5, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.

The idea in this pick 4 is to play it in a fashion that if you hit it you don’t lose money. I will layout my “A” and “B” horses, and then list my ticket strategy at the bottom. I will be able to go to my B horses only once in the sequence. Total ticket cost is $70.

Race 2

This first-level allowance has an eight-horse field and will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

Tiz Shea D (#4), a 3-year-old son of Tiznow, won his maiden first out at Parx in February for trainer Jason Servis, then was purchased by Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable and transferred to Bill Mott. He has made three starts since, all in graded company. He was second in the Gotham, fifth in the Wood Memorial, and fourth in the Peter Pan.

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The class relief he gets here should put him over the top. He is my lone A horse.

I will use four B runners.

Gold Shield (1) has been second in allowance company for Shug McGaughey in his last two starts. Wisecracker (2) won a Keeneland maiden race for Kiaran McLaughlin at Keeneland last time out. Tommy Macho (7) won a Belmont maiden race for Todd Pletcher on May 2. And, Smart Transition (8) won a Santa Anita maiden race for John Shirreffs on April 30.

A: 4

B: 1-2-7-8

Race 3

Competitive Edge (3) was considered for the Met Mile before being kept with his own age group in the seven-furlong Stephens by Pletcher. His win in the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day was terrific and he will be tough to beat here.

I have always liked Cinco Charlie (5) and will use him as a B runner. He is 7 for 11 for Steve Asmussen and has won four of his last five, with his only loss coming at 1 1/16 miles.

A: 3

B: 5

Race 4

The $300,000 Jaipur is a six-furlong turf sprint. It is a wide-open 13-horse field.

I will use three runners – two of which are fillies – as A runners, and five B horses.

My A selections are Ageless (4), who was strong winning the $100,000 The Very One Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Day; Shrinking Violet (12), who was scratched out of the Intercontinental on Thursday by Wesley Ward to run against males here; and Mosler (13), who rallied from between horses to win the Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont on April 29 for trainer Bill Mott.

Mosler really seemed to put it all together in his last race.

I will spread with five B horses in an attempt to protect the ticket. I will use Power Alert (1), Unbridled’s Note (5), Something Extra (6), Helwan (8), and Spring to the Sky (11).

A: 4-12-13

B: 1-5-6-8-11

Race 5

Untapable (4) will be heavily favored to win the Phipps. She won the Mother Goose over this track last June during her Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old season. She has been working steadily for Asmussen since winning the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, including three recent moves here at Belmont. She’s a great filly.

But from a gambling standpoint I need to add another horse here. Untapable was beaten by Gold Medal Dancer in her season debut before bouncing back in the Apple Blossom. She also is giving from two to eight pounds to her rivals.

I will use Wedding Toast (2) as an A runner. That way if Cinco Charlie can beat Competitive Edge I will have a chance at a nice payout here with Wedding Toast. She was sharp winning the Ruffian last time out for McLaughlin and has since worked twice at Greentree in Saratoga. She gets in at 117 and will get six pounds from Untapable.

A: 2-4

The tickets

The pick four is a 50-cent bet. I will play my main ticket for $5 and my backup tickets in $1 increments.

All A’s ($5 play):

4/3/4-12-13/2-4 - $30

Sub B runners in race 2 ($1 play):

1-2-7-8/3/4-12-13/2-4 - $24

Sub B runner in race 3 ($1 play):

4/5/4-12-13/2-4 - $6

Sub B runners in race 4 ($1 play):

4/3/1-5-6-8-11/2-4 - $10

Total play - $70