SATURDAY,
JUNE 7
SARATOGA
BELMONT
STAKES DAY
SPOT
PLAYS
Race
13 – BELMONT STAKES
#6
Baeza
Plus
exactas and trifectas with #3 Rodriguez and #7 Journalism
#6
Baeza finished third in the Kentucky Derby in his fifth career start and was
getting to runner-up Journalism after breaking from post 19 in the slop. Baeza
still has plenty of upside and has a freshness advantage over Journalism, who is
the only horse this year running in all three Triple Crown races. Baeza was off
his game from that outside post in the Kentucky Derby when he ended up way too
far back off the pace. Baeza by nature has the ideal up-close stalking style
for Belmont Stakes success. Horses with that kind of tactical speed like Baeza,
Journalism, and the speedy Rodriguez an advantage over Sovereignty and the
other closers like Hill Road whose running style doesn’t often work in Saratoga
routes, as evidenced last year when late running eventual horse of the year
Sierra Leone lost two races at Saratoga including the Belmont Stakes.
Play
in exactas and trifectas with #3 Rodriguez and #7 Journalism
#7
Journalism finished second in the Kentucky Derby and then was amazing in
victory when he overcame a crash at the top of the stretch to win anyway as much
the best in the Preakness Stakes. He eventually might prove to be the best of
these 3-year-olds when all is said and done at the end of the season, but he
has a tough assignment to win this race in his third demanding outing in 5
weeks after dancing every dance in the Triple Crown.
#3
Rodriguez won the Wood Memorial Stakes when last seen two months ago and looms
a fresh, speedy, and dangerous new shooter in this spot for trainer Bob Baffert.
Saratoga races at 1 ¼ miles on the dirt favor inside horses with speed and
Rodriguez fits that description. He’ll be up on or close to the lead and it is
threat to go all the way, at least for a spot in the exotics.
SATURDAY,
JUNE 7
SARATOGA – BELMONT STAKES
RACE
1
8
Will Be Famous 6-1 Upset Special
1
Save Us Melonia/1a Sarir 6-5
4
Proud Foot 8-1
RACE
2
10
Secured Lender 9-2 Upset Special
4
Mainstream 6-5
7
Draft Riots 5-1
RACE
3
7
Redistricting 6-5
4
El Rezeen 6-1
3
Crystal Quest 6-1
RACE
4
9
General Partner 7-2
5
Into Pleasure 10-1
7
Eliminate 9-2
RACE
5
2
Silver Slugger 5-2
1
Unlimitedpotential 9-2
9
Aggelos the Great 6-1
RACE
6 – Wonder Again Stakes
6
Nitrogen 1-1
2
May Day Ready 9-2
8
Laurelin 5-1
RACE
7 – True North Stakes
5
Book’em Danno 5-2 Best Bet trifecta box
4
Nakatomi 4-1
6
Mullikin 2-1
RACE
8 – Metropolitan Mile Handicap
1
Fierceness 1-1
2
White Abarrio 9-5
5
Raging Torrent 5-1
RACE
9 – Jaipur Stakes
9
Ag Bullet 7-2
2
Think Big 6-5
5
Arzak 8-1
RACE
10 – Pennine Ridge Stakes
9
Noble Confessor 12-1 Live Longshot
1
Zulu Kingdom 6-5
4
Flying Mohawk 9-2
2
A.P. Kid 10-1
RACE
11 – Woody Stephens Stakes
5
Citizen Bull 5-1 Value
exacta and trifecta boxes
10
Chancer McPatrick 4-1
11
Gate to Wire 12-1
RACE
12 – Manhattan Stakes
6
Spirit of St Louis 5-2
9
Far Bridge 3-1
4
Carson’s Run 12-1
RACE
13 – BELMONT STAKES
6
Baeza 4-1
7
Journalism 8-5
3
Rodriguez 6-1
2
Sovereignty 2-1
RACE
14
8
Smooth Breeze 9-2
4
Deuteronomy 5-1
2
Taraj 7-2
1
Ramblin’ Wreck 8-1
