Belmont at Saratoga Picks: Thursday Poker Stakes (06/05/2025)
Written by: Chris Adams
Last Updated: Wed Jun 04, 2025, 16:25 PM
Read Time: 6 minutes
horses
The racing action from Saratoga Race Course on Thursday features the Poker Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Saratoga Race Course picks for the entire card!
Be sure to check out all the races and odds provided at the best horse racing betting sites.
Belmont at Saratoga
Don’t let the name fool you. This upcoming meet is Belmont in name only. The racing will be contested at Saratoga while the final preparations are put on the new Belmont Park. When handicapping, it is important to remember that all track profiles will match Saratoga and not Belmont.
Saratoga Full Card Analysis
Belmont Picks- Thursday Poker Stakes (06/05/2025)
Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:40 P.M. ET; Tremont Stakes $150k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 5 runners.
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#3 MYTHICAL (8-5): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Race sets up perfectly.
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#5 ROMEO (9-5): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should take a liking to the race shape.
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#4 MERCILESANIHILATOR (4-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
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#2 BLINGING IT BACK (3-1): Fringe Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.
Selections: 3 – 5 – 4 – 2
The Plays:
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Win: #3 at 7-5
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Exacta: 3/2,4
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:13 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
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#8 TIME STONE (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
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#4 HIDEAWAY (3-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
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#5 FIRE’S OUT (9-2): Major Player. Has experience at this level.
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#11 I’M VERY SWEET (7-2): Major Player. Chad Brown on the turf at Saratoga.
Selections: 8 – 4 – 5 – 11
The Plays:
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Win: #8 at 5-2
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Exacta Key Box: 8/4,5,11
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Trifecta: 4,8/4,5,8/4,5,8,11
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:46 P.M. ET; Astoria Stakes $150k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
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#3 SASSY C W (8-5): Prime Player. Should improve off the debut.
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#2 GENA B (2-1): Fringe Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
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#6 VERNON VALLEY (2-1): Underneath. Could jump up in the figures.
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#4 TICKET TO RIDE (10-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit.
Selections: 3 – 2 – 6 – 4
The Plays:
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Win:#3 at 8-5
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Exacta: 8/4
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:19 P.M. ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $110k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 16 runners.
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#7 SOL HOPE (4-1): Top pick. Fits well with this group.
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#9 LA SALVADORENA (9-2): Major Player. Up against the right competition.
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#4 TALES OF THE HEART (3-1): Major Player. Could wear them down late.
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#6 SOLOSHOT (12-1): Contender. Should still have something left in the tank.
Selections: 7 – 9 – 4 – 6
The Plays:
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Win:#7 at 2-1
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Exacta: 7/4,6,9
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Trifecta: 7/4,9/4,6,9
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:52 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $90k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.
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#12 HELLO BEAUTY (3-1): Prime Win Player. Fits well with this group.
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#5 NONNA LYNNE (7-2): Contender. Looks to get an easier group.
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#4 WILL OF A WOMANNE (8-1): Contender. Hard to argue with recent efforts.
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#2B BRYANT AND COOPER (8-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field.
Selections: 12 – 5 – 4 – 2B
The Plays:
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Win: #12 at 2-1
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Exacta: 12/4,2B
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Trifecta: 12/4,5,2B/4,5,2B
- Pick 3 (races 5-7): 5,12/1,7,8,10/2
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:26 P.M. ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $110k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 11 runners.
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#8 VELVET VORTEX (2-1): Top pick. Proven at this configuration.
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#10 MURSAL (10-1): Major Player. Good race flow.
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#1 OUR LIBERTY BELLE (8-1): Major Player. Late running ability.
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#7 PURE BEAUTY (6-1): Major Player. May be facing a softer group.
Selections: 8 – 10 – 1 – 7
The Plays:
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Win:#8 at 3-2
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Exacta: 8/1,7,10
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Trifecta: 8/1,7,10 /1,7,10
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 4:02 P.M. ET; Intercontinental Stakes $200k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 10 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
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#2 FUTURE IS NOW (2-1): Best bet of the card. Race may setup perfectly. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
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#6 PIPSY (6-1): Contender. Good race flow.
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#5 TWIRLING QUEEN (8-1): Contender. Finds softer group today.
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#1 PANDORA’S GIFT (3-1): Contender. Clement is the leading trainer.
Selections: 2 – 6 – 5 – 1
The Plays:
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Win: #2 at 1-1
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Exacta: 2/5,6
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Trifecta: 2/5,6/1,5,6
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:37 P.M. ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $120k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
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#8 FILM STAR (7-2): Top pick. Race setup looks favorable.
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#1 CASTLE CHAOS (6-1): Major Player. Productive recent form.
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#4 WILLY D’S (9-2): Major Player. Proven in similar setups.
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#2 SURFACE TO AIR (8-1): Contender. Conditions fit well.
Selections: 8 – 1 – 4 – 2
The Plays:
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Win: #8 at 5-2
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Exacta: 8/1,2,4
- Daily Double (races 8-9): 1,4,8/2
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 5:12 P.M. ET; Poker Stakes $300k; 1 M Turf; Field of 10 runners.
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#2 INTELLECT (5-1): Live Longshot. Solid closing kick.
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#8 DONEGAL MOMENTUM (5-1): Contender. Productive recent form.
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#9 YO DADDY (5-2): Contender. Strong recent figures.
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#1 CAMEO PERFORMANCE (3-1): Contender. Could be peaking now.
Selections: 2 – 8 – 9 – 1
The Plays:
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Win: #2 at 3-1
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Exacta Box: 2,8,9
Saratoga Race Course Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:47 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $100k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.
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#10 JUST SO PRETTY (7-2): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration.
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#6 MORE FOR SURE (10-1): Contender. Looks to get the right pace setup here.
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#2 DANDY VANDY (12-1): Worth a look. Proven at the configuration.
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#5 BINT AL DANDY (8-1): Underneath. Comes into the race in good form.
Selections: 10 – 6 – 2 – 5
The Plays:
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Win: #10 at 5-2
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Exacta: 10/2,5,6
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Trifecta: 10/2,5,6/2,5,6
Betting News Horse Racing Coverage
Don’t miss all the horse racing action covered by Betting News each and every week. Coverage includes free handicapping tools, comprehensive guides, and in-depth analysis of the week’s biggest cards. Check out our full card analysis for this week’s upcoming big races.
Thursday Analysis
Friday Analysis
- Belmont at Saratoga Picks featuring the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps (Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In)
Saturday Analysis
- Belmont at Saratoga Picks featuring the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes
- Santa Anita Park Picks featuring the Grade 3 Summertime Stakes
Sunday Analysis
- Churchill Downs Picks featuring the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes
Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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