Empire 6 payout highlights final day of Belmont meet

ELMONT, N.Y. – The abbreviated, spectator-free Belmont Park meet comes to a close Sunday with a nine-race card that includes a mandatory payout in the Empire 6. The popular wager that typically requires a single winning ticket in order for the pool to be paid out survived Thursday after two high-priced winners created four live singles heading into the finale. But the favorite won, resulting in a $429,080 carryover heading into Friday’s program.

Provided there is not a unique ticket sold in the two preceding days, Sunday’s pool figures to surpass $4 million.

It is a difficult sequence, with full fields throughout. The Empire 6 begins with race 4 (2:09 p.m. Eastern).

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Race 4: Klickitat makes his 4-year-old debut as a first-time gelding and is making his first start for a tag in this maiden $40,000 claiming race scheduled for a mile on turf. He finished second in 4 of 5 starts in New York-bred special weight competition and was beaten just a head in his last start, which came in November. Klickitat looks to give Jimmy Jerkens his first win of the meet.

Michael’s Bad Boy, High Tone, and Petrus, the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers behind Scotty Brown in a similar spot June 6, should be on your tickets.

Race 5: This is a really tough $35,000 claimer at six furlongs on turf for horses who have never won three races. The Christophe Clement-trained Tenure returns from a nine-month layoff in for the lowest price of his career. Clement said he would prefer firm ground to soft for this Uncle Mo gelding.

Cavaradossi drops in class and returns to turf. He finished second in his only start on the surface.

You also would want to use Bourbon Currency, Fooch, and Elenzee.

Race 6: Silky Blue and Moana’s Tale are two that must be on the ticket. Ancient Brown ran well two back to warrant using.

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Race 7: Violent Delights is 1 for 15, but his last race was arguably his best, just missing to Invest while finishing six lengths clear of the rest of the field. He did benefit from a hot early pace, a scenario that is questionable to be in play Sunday.

“I’d rather see him in a good stalking position,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “I think that’s his best style. I see in some of his races where he’s been rushed and he doesn’t like that.”

Albertrani also thinks Violent Delights will appreciate the 1 1/16 miles of Sunday’s race.

The class-dropping Thenorthremembers returns to dirt and did run okay when he debuted on dirt for a tag in February 2019. He picks up Luis Saez.

Paynter’s Prize is 1 for 17 but has run well twice when coming off two consecutive poor races, as is the case Sunday.

Race 8: Albertrani and Clement send out two each in the $80,000 River Memories Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Albertrani sends out Dyna Passer and Beau Belle. In May 2019, Beau Belle beat Dyna Passer by a length going 1 3/8 miles here. Dyna Passer, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Sadler’s Joy, is coming off a win going 1 1/2 miles on March 22 at Gulfstream Park.

“Distance is definitely in her favor,” Albertrani said. “The longer the better.”

Javier Castellano rides Dyna Passer from the rail.

Beau Belle was beaten a neck when fourth to Wegetsdamunnys in a 1 1/8 -mile allowance here June 12.

“She ran really well,” Albertrani said. “Two more jumps and she would probably have got up and got the whole thing. Same thing with her – a litte longer distance will be a big help.”

Clement sends out Wegetsdamunnys and Olympic Games, neither of whom he is totally confident want 1 1/2 miles.

Civil Union is coming off a solid win and may appreciate added ground.

Race 9: The closest I could come to a single is Pippi, who had a nightmarish trip in her last start and now goes out first time for Rob Atras and gets a rider switch to Junior Alvarado.

In her last start, Pippi was pinched at the break then clipped heels and nearly unseated jockey Romero Maragh. He made a wide, menacing move and then flattened out and was beaten only 3 1/2 lengths.

If you can go deeper, add Painite, who turns back in distance and attracts Irad Ortiz Jr.