John Mucciolo

A pair of graded races on the grass will take place at Saratoga on closing Sunday.

A total of five Pick 4 wagers will be hosted by Saratoga on Saturday, and I’ll take a swing at the middle sequence, which features a trio of graded tilts.

The Pick 3 of the Week will come from Churchill Downs on Saturday and will start off with a pair of maiden contests.

A strong field of eight will travel 1 1/16 miles on Churchill Downs' main track in Sunday’s $500,000 Matt Winn (G3).

An ultra-competitive cast of 10 will speed 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga outer turf oval in Saturday’s $500,000 Jaipur (G1).

A superb cast of nine grassy specialists will run 1 3/16 miles on the lawn at Saratoga in Saturday’s lucrative $1 million Manhattan (G1).

A classy cast of nine fillies and mares will jaunt 1 3/16 miles over the Saratoga green in Friday’s ultra-competitive, $750,000 New York (G1).

A strong field of six fillies and mares will contest Friday’s $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1), one of six graded races on a massive day of action at Saratoga.

A fantastic field of nine three-year-olds will travel 1 1/4 miles on the dirt at Saratoga in Saturday’s third leg of the Triple Crown, the $2 million Belmont (G1). Belmont Stakes Picks #4 Renegade #3 Chief Wallabee #7 Commandment Belmont Stakes Wagers $40 win #4 Renegade $20 exacta box 3-4 $.50-cent superfecta 3,4 with 3,4,7,8 with 3,4,7,8,9 with 3,4,7,8,9 Belmont Stakes Contenders #1 VITRUVIAN MAN (30-1): Doug O’Neill trainee was a distant third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his lone run of 2026 and gets the rail for his New York debut. Vino Rosso colt has won or placed in each of his three runs on the dirt in advance of the race, but the bay will need marked improvement to challenge for a share in this demanding spot under Antonio Fresu. #2 POWERSHIFT (12-1): Lightly raced prospect was a strong maiden winner at Churchill Downs on Derby Day and will take a major class hike on this occasion. The first of two from the Pletcher shedrow has a lot of ability and room to grow, and he could be an exotics contender with a move forward on Saturday. Luis Saez picks up the mount. #3 CHIEF WALLABEE (3-1): Sure win threat from the barn of Bill Mott was a brave fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) despite having an unfavorable trip in Louisville, and the son of Constitution looms large with clear sailing in the Belmont. The bay homebred has trained well as of late and should move up while racing with blinkers on for the second time in his career. Florida Derby (G1) third will stalk the pace while always in range beneath Junior Alvarado. #4 RENEGADE (2-1): Morning-line choice and top pick ran a winning race in defeat in the Run for the Roses and gets top billing for Pletcher. The $975,000 yearling purchase has been very good in each of his three assignments this campaign and appears to be coming up to the race in fine fashion, too. Irad Ortiz will once again guide the stout late runner. #5 OTTINHO (20-1): The first of three from the Chad Brown shedrow rallied to be a distant second in the Blue Grass S. (G1) in his latest endeavor. Quality Road colt, who is a half-brother to the mighty Gun Runner, did improve with the addition of blinkers last time and he should also appreciate the added ground in this spot. Dylan David will take the reins and have the sophomore making one run from well off the early tempo. #6 GROWTH EQUITY (12-1): Klaravich color bearer was much the best in his Peter Pan S. (G3) triumph on May 9 and is an interesting longshot in the group. Chad Brown pupil possesses good tactical foot in a field lacking pace, and the son of Nyquist figures to be well placed turning for home Manny Franco inheriting the mount. #7 COMMANDMENT (6-1): Florida Derby (G1) victor ran evenly late in the Derby and is eligible to improve for conditioner Brad Cox. The millionaire son of Into Mischief has impressed on multiple occasions this season, and his best performance puts him right there with any contender in the cast. He picks up two-time Belmont winner John Velazquez, too. #8 EMERGING MARKET (6-1): Third from the powerful Brown barn was empty late in Louisville five weeks back, but the talented son of Candy Ride was making just his third lifetime run in the race and will benefit from the experience. Kentucky-bred chestnut drilled a swift four panels on the Oklahoma training surface last weekend, and if he runs to that morning move, then the sophomore has to be given a chance with Flavien Prat staying in the irons. #9 GOLDEN TEMPO (9-2): Kentucky Derby (G1) hero receives another wide post draw but has never been better since having blinkers added two races back. The Curlin homebred has reportedly been training in consistently good fashion in advance of his Saratoga debut, and the colt will likely have less to do turning for home on Saturday in a race where the pace will be moderate at best. Regular pilot Jose Ortiz will be in the stirrups.

An excellent group of nine sophomores will go postward in the historic $2 million Belmont (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday.

An excellent group of nine sophomores will go postward in the historic $2 million Belmont (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday.

A fantastic field of nine three-year-olds will travel 1 1/4 miles on the dirt at Saratoga in Saturday’s third leg of the Triple Crown, the $2 million Belmont (G1). Belmont Stakes Picks #4 Renegade #3 Chief Wallabee #7 Commandment Belmont Stakes Wagers $40 win #4 Renegade $20 exacta box 3-4 $.50-cent superfecta 3,4 with 3,4,7,8 with 3,4,7,8,9 with 3,4,7,8,9 Belmont Stakes Contenders #1 VITRUVIAN MAN (30-1): Doug O’Neill trainee was a distant third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his lone run of 2026 and gets the rail for his New York debut. Vino Rosso colt has won or placed in each of his three runs on the dirt in advance of the race, but the bay will need marked improvement to challenge for a share in this demanding spot under Antonio Fresu. #2 POWERSHIFT (12-1): Lightly raced prospect was a strong maiden winner at Churchill Downs on Derby Day and will take a major class hike on this occasion. The first of two from the Pletcher shedrow has a lot of ability and room to grow, and he could be an exotics contender with a move forward on Saturday. Luis Saez picks up the mount. #3 CHIEF WALLABEE (3-1): Sure win threat from the barn of Bill Mott was a brave fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) despite having an unfavorable trip in Louisville, and the son of Constitution looms large with clear sailing in the Belmont. The bay homebred has trained well as of late and should move up while racing with blinkers on for the second time in his career. Florida Derby (G1) third will stalk the pace while always in range beneath Junior Alvarado. #4 RENEGADE (2-1): Morning-line choice and top pick ran a winning race in defeat in the Run for the Roses and gets top billing for Pletcher. The $975,000 yearling purchase has been very good in each of his three assignments this campaign and appears to be coming up to the race in fine fashion, too. Irad Ortiz will once again guide the stout late runner. #5 OTTINHO (20-1): The first of three from the Chad Brown shedrow rallied to be a distant second in the Blue Grass S. (G1) in his latest endeavor. Quality Road colt, who is a half-brother to the mighty Gun Runner, did improve with the addition of blinkers last time and he should also appreciate the added ground in this spot. Dylan David will take the reins and have the sophomore making one run from well off the early tempo. #6 GROWTH EQUITY (12-1): Klaravich color bearer was much the best in his Peter Pan S. (G3) triumph on May 9 and is an interesting longshot in the group. Chad Brown pupil possesses good tactical foot in a field lacking pace, and the son of Nyquist figures to be well placed turning for home Manny Franco inheriting the mount. #7 COMMANDMENT (6-1): Florida Derby (G1) victor ran evenly late in the Derby and is eligible to improve for conditioner Brad Cox. The millionaire son of Into Mischief has impressed on multiple occasions this season, and his best performance puts him right there with any contender in the cast. He picks up two-time Belmont winner John Velazquez, too. #8 EMERGING MARKET (6-1): Third from the powerful Brown barn was empty late in Louisville five weeks back, but the talented son of Candy Ride was making just his third lifetime run in the race and will benefit from the experience. Kentucky-bred chestnut drilled a swift four panels on the Oklahoma training surface last weekend, and if he runs to that morning move, then the sophomore has to be given a chance with Flavien Prat staying in the irons. #9 GOLDEN TEMPO (9-2): Kentucky Derby (G1) hero receives another wide post draw but has never been better since having blinkers added two races back. The Curlin homebred has reportedly been training in consistently good fashion in advance of his Saratoga debut, and the colt will likely have less to do turning for home on Saturday in a race where the pace will be moderate at best. Regular pilot Jose Ortiz will be in the stirrups.

A compact, but talented, field of five will dash seven-eighths on the dirt in Sunday’s $100,000 Triple Bend S. (G3) at Santa Anita.