Belmont Park: True North Stakes, Jackie’s Warrior Returns

Friday’s card at Belmont Park includes 5 stakes races the day before the Belmont Stakes. Most notably Jackie’s Warrior will return in the True North Stakes.

Friday Full Card Analysis

Belmont Park Race 1

Post: 12:50 PM ET; Purse: $90,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 Mile on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #2 COMMANDPERFORMANCE (3-1) has a great shot in the race given the speed & class.
• #5 SHREVEPORT (6-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #3 ARTORIUS (2-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & is well bred to be successful here. The morning line suggests that this is one you want on the ticket.
• #1 EXACT ESTIMATE (5-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & form.

Selections: 2-5-3-1

Belmont Park Race 2

Post: 1:25 PM ET; Purse: $45,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 14

• #2 QUARIA THUNDER (3-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.
• #13 TEKILA (3-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including stamina & race flow.
• #12 REGINA (9-5) has some of the top breeding in this group which lacks the elite pedigree of the maiden special weight contests.
• #6 DIAL ME AGAIN (6-1) is a fresh face in this maiden race.

Selections: 2-13-12-6

Belmont Park Race 3

Post: 1:58 PM ET; Purse: $300,000 Bed o' Roses S., 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 4

• #3 BELLA SOFIA (1-1) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & class.
• #2 GLASS CEILING (8-5) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & form.
• #1 OBLIGATORY (2-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & record at the distance.
• #4 EASY TO BLESS (15-1) is the final runner in this short field and looks to be well below the rest of these runners.

Selections: 3-2-1-4

Belmont Park Race 4

Post: 2:29 PM ET; Purse: $92,000 Allowance, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 RYAN'S CAT (5-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & early pace figures.
• #6 REGGAE MUSIC MAN (9-2) should be another involved in the early pace. That can be a huge advantage in these races.
• #2 PRISONER (4-1) looks like a strong prospect edging the field in several key handicapping factors including record at the distance & power rating.
• #3 PERFECT MUNNINGS (7-2) classes up well against these and wouldn’t be a surprise to take down the race.

Selections: 4-6-2-3

Belmont Park Race 5

Post: 3:03 PM ET; Purse: $94,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 13

• #7 MISS DRACARYS (7-2) has the class rating to be a major factor in the race.
• #9 TASS (15-1) has the top speed figures in the group and will be forwardly placed. The value is there on this one.
• #3 READY TO VENTURE (5-1) is worth a look here given edges in form & power rating.
• #11 ATHWAAQ (6-1) has run against decent foes in the previous starts and may be well conditioned for success in this race.

Selections: 7-9-3-11

Belmont Park Race 6

Post: 3:36 PM ET; Purse: $75,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 10

• #2 YARROW (2-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & pedigree.
• #1 FEATHERS ROAD (4-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #4 HEYMACKIT'SJACK (8-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & early pace figures.
• #9 DREAMPOINT (8-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & form.

Selections: 2-1-4-9

Belmont Park Race 7

Post: 4:09 PM ET; Purse: $92,000 Allowance, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 BABA (8-1) comes into this race in great form and could surprise some people at a nice price.
• #3 RUVIES IN TIME (10-1) looks to have a pace edge in this spot and could be on the front end.
  #6 SPEAKS FOR ITSELF (1-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's connections & power rating. The price does seem a bit short on this one.
• #4 MISCHIEVOUS DIANE (6-1) goes out for New York regulars Ray Handal and Dylan Davis. I love the jockeys aggressiveness that often leads to hitting the board at square prices.

Selections: 5-3-6-4

Belmont Park Race 8

Post: 4:42 PM ET; Purse: $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup S., 2 Miles on Turf; Entries: 8

• #1 LOFT (4-1) is a foreign invader that is a bit of a wild card in this spot. I am not a huge fan of the top of the market, so I like the unknown factor of this one.
• #2 ABAAN (5-2) is in with a major shot holding speed & class. That being said this one has been underwhelming of late. The numbers do make it tough to avoid this one.
• #6 Cibolian (10-1) is ridden by Flavien Prate who almost has to be used on any New York turf race right now.
• #5 STRONG TIDE (6-1) should be in the right spot early to give this horse a chance to get the job done.

Selections: 1-2-6-5

Belmont Park Race 9

Post: 5:17 PM ET; Purse: $300,000 True North S., 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 6

• #3 JACKIE'S WARRIOR (2-5) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & power rating. If you can find a way to beat this one your wagers will make your day, but it doesn’t seem likely.
• #6 SOUND MONEY (9-2) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #4 BABY YODA (8-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.
• #1 MR PHIL (5-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.

Selections: 3-6-4-1

Belmont Park Race 10

Post: 5:50 PM ET; Purse: $750,000 New York S., 1 1/4 Miles on Turf; Entries: 7

• #2 ROUGIR (6-5) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions. Chad Brown goes to his top jock here.
• #5 BLEECKER STREET (5-2) is another Chad Brown that looks like a strong prospect edging the field in several key handicapping factors including connections & power rating.
• #7 FAMILY WAY (8-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & race flow.
• #3 VIRGINIA JOY (3-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & form. This one is also trained by Chad Brown.

Selections: 5-7-3-2

Belmont Park Race 11

Post: 6:22 PM ET; Purse: $200,000 Intercontinental S., 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 13

• #9 ILLEGAL SMILE (10-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & form.
• #4 TOBYS HEART (5-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.
• #5 JOUSTER (12-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's speed & race flow.
• #7 CARAVEL (4-1) should be competitive based on the overall power rating which has it tops in the group.

Selections: 9-4-5-7

Betting News Free Handicapping Tools

For more information on racing from all of the Belmont Park action, check out our free handicapping tools.