Litfin's preview: Must-pay pick six on final day of meet

A reminder that since this is the final day of racing at Belmont, the pick six is a “must pay,” so the entire pool will be distributed regardless of whether there are any perfect tickets.

The pick six – which has a 16 percent take on non-carryover days – begins with race 4 at 2:53 p.m. Eastern.

Following today’s program, racing on the circuit resumes July 18 for a 40-day session at Saratoga.

International Star tops “stake”

International Star, an impressive debut winner on turf for Mike Maker, switches to the dirt and takes on five maidens – including three first-time starters – in race 3, which offers a $125,000 purse for New York-bred juveniles and is billed as the Rockville Centre Stakes.

The pedigree is there for the surface switch, as International Star is by 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. He is also a three-quarter brother to Love Talk, a nine-time winner on dirt, and Fools in Love, who won five dirt races.

Bustin It, who was a clear second to odds-on Nonna’s Boy when unveiled against open company last month, may be the one to catch after coming back to post two bullet workouts at Saratoga for Michael Mareina.

The Rockville Centre also marks the career debut of Elusive New Yorker, a half-brother to $1 million earner Naughty New Yorker.

Jock watch

Javier Castellano, back in town after riding Princess of Sylmar to a runner-up finish in the Delaware Handicap, clings to a one-win lead over Irad Ortiz Jr. in search of his second straight Belmont spring-summer title.

Ortiz, who narrowed the gap to 51-50 after a 1-for-9 Saturday, has three mounts on the card, notably International Star, the 7-5 favorite on the morning line for the Rockville Centre.

Castellano’s only mount comes on Fancy Boss in race 9.

Horse to watch

JOSHANS GIANT
Trainer: Linda Rice
Last race: July 12, 10th
Finish: 3rd by 3/4
Beyer: 60

Pinched back at the start to wind up nine lengths off the early lead, rallied wide into the stretch, and narrowly missed in a promising debut against New York-bred maiden claimers on turf.