In race 7, The Grade 2 True North, Trappe Shot (#3) is two for two at Belmont, had a great return race and will really like any moisture in the track as well, he’s my single key in the pick 6 (races 6-11), but I am using the 1/1A entry in an exacta box.

In race 10, The Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap, Prince Will I Am (#7) had no shot in the paceless Turf Classic on Derby Day — stretches back out, gets a solid clip to run at and is the pick to win this as the second choice behind Gio Ponti (#4).  I’m keying in the pick 4 and pick 6 and playing an exacta box with the favorite.

In race 9, The Grade 1 Just A Game, Gypsy’s Warning (#1) gets cozy post and can stay close to CS Silk (#4) and get the jump on the closers — I’m keying in all multi-race wagers and playing an exacta box with #’s 4 and 6.

In race 11, The Belmont Stakes, Nehro (#6) has been freshened since the Derby and has shown ability to run from closer to the pace if needed, choice to run down the leader and hold off the closers — I’m playing an exacta and trifecta box with #’s 9, 5 and 12.  Here’s the entire card and good luck — not if you are playing the pick 4 and pick 6, single Trappe Shot with all my other selections!

Race 1: 6, 9 and 5

Race 2: 5, 4 and 3

Race 3: 4, 13 and 9

Race 4: 4 with 11 and 5

Race 5: 9, 11 and 7

Race 6: 3 and 2

Race 7: 3 (Best Bet) and 1A

Race 8: 1 and 7

Race 9: 1 (Best Bet) with 4 and 6

Race 10: 7 (Best Bet) and 4

Race 11: 6 with 9, 5 and 12

Race 12: 9, 11 and 13

Race 13: 3, 6 and 9

In race 9, The Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap, No Explaining (#2) ran very well in return on soft turf and could be getting better as a 4-year-old in second start off the layoff — much better value than Shared Account (#6) who totes 125 lbs. and might be better at a longer distance.  I’m keying in all multi-race wagers and playing an exacta box with #6.

In race 10, The Grade 3 Schaefer Memorial, Colizeo (#8) cuts back in distance and has great positional speed in a fairly paceless race — I’m keying in all doubles and pick 3’s and playing an exacta box with #5.

In race 12, The Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, Dialed In (#10) was too far back in the Derby and was doomed by a dawdling pace — another chance with some new speed signed on.  I’m keying in exactas with #’s 11, 4 and 9 and playing a nice win & place bet.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 8 and 2

Race 2: 2 and 7

Race 3: 10 with 11 and 9

Race 4: 6 and 2

Race 5: 13, 11 and 1

Race 6: 4 (Best Bet) and 5

Race 7: 4 with 10 and 5

Race 8: 3 and 7

Race 9: 2 (Best bet) and 6

Race 10: 8 (Best Bet) and 2

Race 11: 3, 4 and 8

Race 12: 10, 11, 4 and 9

Race 13: 9, 7 and 12

I’m betting on Dialed In to take this at 4-1 with a late charge because of a sub 47 half mile (wish he had that in the Derby) and a much better price than Animal Kingdom who will be 8-5 and needs to prove it again to me to be a believer.  Maybe Flashpoint (#4) holds on for 3rd and Mucho Macho Man (#9) runs his typically strong race to pick up a check.

Good luck to everyone and I will post all my picks early Saturday before 10am!

In race 9, The Grade 1 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, Amen Hallelujah (#6) had a tough post in The Kentucky Oaks and will use her good tactical speed to stay close and she will love the flat mile at Belmont — the best best all day!  I’m keying in all doubles and pick 3’s, making a big bet across the board and playing an exacta box with Buckleupbuttercup (#9) and Indian Burn (#11).

In race 11, The Belmont Stakes, Fly Down (#5) has to be the wise guy horse in here after his blow-out win in The Dwyer.  Has the right style for the big race, has tremendous upside potential and can post a mild upset if he doesn’t bounce.  I’m playing him across the board and playing exactas up and down with the two speeds, First dude (#11) and Interactif (#12), plus Ice Box (#6) who deserves favoritism but has the flow of the race working against him.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 6 and 7

Race 2: 4 and 2

Race 3: 6 (Best Bet) and 4

Race 4: 6, 7 and 8

Race 5: 6 and 3

Race 6: 5 and 1

Race 7: 1A and 5

Race 8: 3, 1 and 5

Race 9: 6 (Best Bet) with 9 and 11

Race 10: 4 with 1 and 2

Race 11: 5 (Best Bet) with 11, 12 and 6

Race 12: 3 (Best Bet) and 1

Race 13: 2 (Best Bet) and 8

In race 12, The Preakness, there is very little pace in the second jewel of The Triple Crown, and I’m betting that a long shot could steal the race early and light up the tote board.  The problem is, there are several candidates that can do the job. Yawanna Twist (#5) is lightly raced, but has run well enough to win this at a huge price if he can set or sit off a slow pace.  I’m keying him up and down in exactas and triples including Jackson Bend (#6), Super Saver (#8) and Schoolyard Dreams (#2).

In race 10, The Maryland Sprint Handicap, Lantana Mob (#9) reunites with Albarado who won with him in a Grade 3 stakes on this track, goes second off a long layoff and gets a fast pace to set up a late run — I’m keying in all doubles and pick 3’s and playing an exacta box with Ravalo (#7) and Snapshot (#1).  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 5 with 4 and 2

Race 2: 6 with 1 and 11

Race 3: 7 with 3 and 4

Race 4: 1 with 7 and 9

Race 5: 5 with 1 and 9

Race 6: 4 and 3

Race 7: 7, 2 and 1

Race 8: 1 and 7

Race 9: 4 and 8

Race 10: 9 (Best Bet) with 7 and 1

Race 11: 1 (Best Bet) with 4 and 9

Race 12: 5 with 6, 8 and 2

Race 13: 2 and 5

In race 11, The Kentucky Derby, Ice Box (#2) gets the perfect race set up, has 3 nice distance races on traditional dirt around two turns, worked a bullet in the Churchill slop and has the Zito magic in his corner — my pick to win the big one with a late surge at 10-1 if the track is kind to closers.  I’m going to key on top with Awesome Act (#16) and play around in exotics with Lookin At Lucky (#1), Noble’s Promise (#3), Super Saver (#4) and Stately Victor (#6) whom all figure to move up on a wet track.

In race 10, The Turf Classic, Blues Street (#7) gets a nice set-up and loves a yielding course — I’m keying iin all doubles and pick 3’s and playing an exacta box with Yate’s Black Cat (#9) and Court Vision (#3). Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 1 and 6

Race 2: 3, 8 and 11

Race 3: 2, 7 and 11

Race 4: 9 with 6 and 5

Race 5: 4 with 11 and 3

Race 6: 2 and 4

Race 7: 5 and 7

Race 8: 2 with 10 and 3

Race 9: 12 (Best Bet) and 7

Race 10: 7 (Best Bet) with 9 and 3

Race 11: 2 (Best Bet) with 16, 1 and 3

Race 12: 2 with 11 and 8

Race 13: 7, 8 and 3

This lightly raced son of Birdstone (a past Belmont winner), trained by Tim Ice, gets a tremendous rider switch to Kent Desormeaux  (from CR Rosier), and is my pick to upset the field at 10-1 or better.  He ran a deceptively good race in the Derby and gets blinkers today which will help him stay closer to a slow pace and finish.  I like him to catch Charitable Man (#6), who ran a great race in the Peter Pan and who is the main speed they will all have to catch.  I’m playing both on top in doubles and pick 3’s, the pick 4 and pick 6.  I don’t think Mine That Bird (#7) will be able to rally from far back given the slow pace and I won’t use him today!

Good luck!

Oh well.  It just reminds you that this game can be cruel for handicappers and you have to be out of your mind to think you can predict everything.  But guess what — there’s always tomorrow!

In the Turf Classic (Race 10), watch for a speed duel between  Cowboy Cal and Thorn Song, both suspect on good turf, and play a closer to win the race.  I love Artiste Royale and am playing him to win and up and down with Proudinsky and Einstein.

In the Humana Distaff (Race 9), I love Secret Gypsy to wire the field and hold Game Face off in the stretch.  I’m making a big win bet and exacta box.

See all my picks and good luck!