As if the Belmont Stakes with a Triple Crown on the line weren’t enough to focus attention on Belmont Park today, the good folks at the New York Racing Assn. are offering a Pick 6 with a guaranteed $1 million pool on Races 5 through 10.
Besides the Belmont (Race 9), the Pick 6 includes four other stakes in Races 5 through 8: the Just a Game Breeders’ Cup Handicap at a mile on grass; the Riva Ridge for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs; the Manhattan at 11/4 miles on grass; and the six-furlong True North.
We’ve put together a $96 ticket that should be cashable by day’s end, using one horse in the fifth race, two in the sixth, four in the seventh, two in the eighth, three in the ninth and one in the 10th.
FIFTH RACE: Single Pleasant Temper. The victim of a slow pace in her last start when she was second at 3-5, this Storm Cat mare won three straight before that and is 2-for-2 going a mile on turf.
SIXTH RACE: Tempted to single Yes It’s True here, who looks like the best sprinter in the country, but you can’t leave out Allen Jerkens’ Bought in Dixie, whose last two races have been awesome.
SEVENTH RACE: We have to go four deep in the Manhattan. Federal Trial will be tough on the lead if he gets away with slow early splits. Yagli is the class of the field and has a powerful late kick. Middlesex Drive ran his best-ever last out in winning the Dixie. And Parade Ground could be the turf champ by year’s end. Throw out his last.
EIGHTH RACE: Artax should rebound after everything went against him in his last race, the Maryland Breeders’ Cup ‘Cap. He broke slowly, rushed up against the track bias and ”bounced” coming off his record effort in the Carter. To add insult to injury, a crazy fan ran out on the track and tried to slug him. Baltimore Gray is coming off a stunning victory in the claiming ranks and could upset.
NINTH RACE: Can’t see much beyond Best of Luck and Charismatic in the ”Test of the Champion,” but if there’s a potential bombs-away colt in the Belmont it’s Patience Game, so we’ll use him, too.
TENTH RACE: Single East of Easy, who finished with a flourish going a mile last out and gets another half-furlong to play with today.