McGee: Belmont Stakes Day pick five
Belmont Stakes Day action starts promptly at 11:35 a.m. Eastern, and Todd Pletcher wastes no time making his presence felt with Stanford as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the first of 13 Saturday races. But does he have to win when making his first start since the Louisiana Derby? Well...
With a pair of two-turn races under his belt after a remarkable March debut at Gulfstream, Donworth and his favorable outside post was my preferred play in race 1, the Easy Goer. But if he in fact scratches, as reported on Friday, I will single heavy favorite Stanford, who will have a much easier time of it with Donworth out (then come back with the same play in a pick four on races 2-5 on the off chance he gets beat), to start off this marathon card.
As for another Pletcher favorite, Competitive Edge also seems beatable in the Woody Stephens (race 3), although completely tossing him from the ticket might be too bold.
Untapable is obvious as the 2-5 morning-line favorite in the Ogden Phipps (race 5), and she’s a single, too – which allows for liberal spreading in other races.
Here’s the ticket:
R1 – 1
R2 – 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
R3 – 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
R4 – 1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13
R5 – 4
50-cent ticket = $75