Illman: How I'd play Belmont on Saturday, Sept. 20

Today's pick four is a curious sequence, thanks to the presence of two maiden special weights to close out the card. They are filled with first-time starters, and multiple-race bettors must play these races blind without benefit of paddock observations and clues from the tote board.

I'll try to fool around with a few horses in each of those legs while concentrating my main play on first-time starters.

In the ninth race, a dirt sprint for males, I'll take a chance with SIGNATURE LOOK, a son of Medaglia d'Oro trained by Alan Goldberg. His dam, Ensenada, was a $1.8 million yearling who ended up stakes-placed sprinting on the main track. The second dam, Desert Stormer, beat the boys in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont in 1995. A half-brother to multiple Grade 2 turf winner Casino Host, Ensenada has been training swiftly at Colts Neck Stables. He's worth a win bet and will be my main focus in this race on my pick four ticket.

I'll also use PRIVATE SHOW, a $210,000 purchase back in April. Trained by Tom Albertrani, Private Show is bred both sides for speed, and it appears the most recent workout went in company with the older stakes-class filly Aqua Regia.

Of the experienced runners, I'll use FROSTED and BRIDGET'S BIG LUVY, the two-four finishers over "good" going at Saratoga. They had the misfortune to tackle a runaway winner, Bayerd, but were hardly disgraced. Bridget's Big Luvy should show speed in this spot

The finale, a turf route for males, features several well-bred runners. Take both FIRE AWAY and DUBAI SKY, for example. The former is a half-brother to Grade 1 turf route winner Mr Speaker, while Dubai Sky is kin to the very talented Twirling Candy.

I'll use both of those horses, but will concentrate my play on a first-time starter that should offer generous odds. SKY TOWER is by Medaglia d'Oro out of Maiden Tower, who beat the classy Intercontinental in the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham back in 2003. Maiden Tower was also beaten a nose in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland. Sky Tower's most recent work came on turf with a solid older horse from the Kiaran McLaughlin barn. He might get lost in the shuffle in the wagering and is worth a small win bet.

Wider pick four tickets will include GREY WIZARD, a Kitten's Joy first-time starter trained by Chad Brown, and Mr. Discreet, who had traffic trouble in the early stages of his most recent outing.

I won't try and get too clever in the eighth race, the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap. Favored Artemis Agrotera is way the horse to beat. She'll be a single on my ticket.

Earlier on the card, Big Business tackles Saratoga Snacks in a salty allowance race for New York-bred milers. Big Business is an extremely versatile runner for David Jacobson. In his last five starts, he has competed at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles at class levels shifting from optional claimers to Grade 1 stakes. He was a solid second behind Palace in the Grade 1 Forego most recently.

While one must wonder if all of this racing will eventually take its toll, I prefer Big Business to his main rival. Saratoga Snacks is extremely talented, but has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He can certainly improve in his second start off a long layoff, but I didn't love the way he finished up in his most recent start. I'll key Big Business on most of my multiple-race tickets.