Litfin's preview: Settle in for long Belmont Stakes Day

Belmont Stakes Day wagering menu

A reminder that today’s epic 13-race program, the richest day of racing in North America other than Breeders’ Cup Saturday, has a first post of 11:35 a.m. Eastern, so if you’re planning on playing the 50-cent pick five with a $500,000 guaranteed pool that starts with race 1, rise and shine.

California Chrome and his challengers face an extreme test of endurance in the Belmont Stakes, and so do their fans. The nightcap – and we do mean nightcap – is scheduled for 8:12 p.m.

There are three pick four wagers:

The first is on races 2 through 5, beginning with the Easy Goer Stakes and going through the Brooklyn, Jaipur, and Woody Stephens.

The second pick four offers a $1.5 million guaranteed pool and is on races 8 through 11 – the Just a Game, Met Mile, Manhattan, and the Belmont.

::DRF Live: Get real-time reports and handicapping insights from Belmont all day Saturday

There is also a late – and we do mean late – pick four covering the Manhattan, Belmont, and two optional claimers that bring down the curtain.

The pick six, with a $1 million guarantee, spans races 6 through 11, beginning with the Acorn and ending with the Belmont.

Double will-pays

If you’re alive in the two-day doubles – the True North/Met Mile and the Gold Cup/Belmont – here are your will-pays.

True North winner Palace with:
1 - $48
2 - $246
3 - $1,728
4 - $134
5 - $183
6 - $291.50
7 - $676
8 - $926
9 - $93.50
10 - $189
11 - $880
12 - $455.50
13 - $175

Gold Cup winner Charming Kitten with:
1 - $258.50
2 - $38
3 - $936
4 - $150
5 - $144.50
6 - $697
7 - $272
8 - $368
9 - $85.50
10 - $472
11 - $127

Fast and firm

Under a cloudless blue sky, the main track is fast, and the turf is being called firm. The temporary rails are down on both the Widener and inner turf courses, so saving ground on the best footing will be paramount.