Hersh: Belmont Park pick five play for Saturday, June 8, 2019

The early pick five (races 1-5) on the Belmont Stakes card just doesn’t appear to have a lot of room for chaos. The fields are generally short and I see a lot of horses that, frankly, look overmatched on paper. I’ll put in a $48 caveman play and hope to turn at least a decent profit, though this thing could chalk out and not return much at all.

Race 1 – Using five horses and if you want to hang everything on big fig POTOMAC (#6) running right back to his last race while on less than a week’s rest and for a new barn, go right ahead, but that’s not a river I’m willing to cross. There are a couple with upside and I’ll use everyone but apparent no-hoper Ventus.

Race 2 – I can’t see much in the water to fish for in this 10-furlong turf maiden and am sticking with the two shortest prices on the line. NO MAN’S LAND (#4) isn’t likely to find an easier spot on the circuit to finally break through with a maiden win. OVERBOLD (#1) might be coming around now and gets a look beyond a middle distance for the first time.

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Race 3 – ALWAYSMINING (#6) would win this with a quick bounce-back to his pre-Preakness form. But on relatively short rest, shipping, and after a fairly busy winter and spring, I can’t trust him to deliver. OUTSHINE’s (#4) Wood is a toss. MAJID (#5) might be developing fast and could shake loose early.

Race 4 – RUSHING FALL (#4) barely made this ticket and think she’s going to be a major underlay, with the problem being she could wind up lone speed in the Just AaGame, and she is good enough, whatever her chinks, to capitalize. BEAU RECALL (#3) is a single-race play for me here and I’m keeping the faith with ENVIRONS (#6), who admittedly disappointed at CD but will get very firm turf here that could get her back on the right track.

Race 5 – COME DANCING (#1) makes the lead and never looks back if she breaks cleanly from the rail. Over and out.

$1 Pick 5 - $48 cost

R1: 1, 2, 4, 6
R2: 1, 4
R3: 4, 5, 6
R4: 3, 6
R5: 1

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