Litfin: How I'd play Belmont on Sunday, June 14
Really only found three middle races on the program up my alley, so I’m going to concentrate on races 5, 6, and 7.
ANALYSIS (12) is my top pick in race 5, an optional claimer on the inner turf for New York-breds. He hasn’t been out since last fall, but it bodes well that he came back from an even longer absence to win over the same course last spring. I’m also going to use MACAGONE (3), MAJESTIC RAFFY (5), ELROI (9), and HYMAN ROTH (11) to a lesser extent.
Race 6 is a restricted turf claimer at seven furlongs on the Widener course, and it appears to run through HAIL CORNELL (4), a maiden winner on the same footing last fall at the expense of Arctic Ocean, who eventually won a $100,000 stakes at the Ocala Training Center. The filly’s edge is slim, though, so I also want to include BABY B (2), KNACQUE (7), and JENNYS CREEK (9).
In race 7, I’m on SHARP QUALITY (2), who is second back from a short layoff and switching from turf to dirt for Gary Gullo, who excels with that move. I’m also using IN HASTE (5), who is third off the bench and dropping from the allowance ranks.
It’s a $38 base play. The tickets in $1 increments:
12 with 2, 4, 7, 9 with 2, 5 ($8)
3, 5, 9, 11, 12 with 4 with 2, 5 ($10)
3, 5, 9, 11, 12 with 2, 4, 7, 9 with 2 ($20)