$100 Budget Belmont Stakes Festival: Saturday Pick 5

Saturday’s 13-race Belmont Stakes program begins with a $500,000 guaranteed Pick 5 wager (Races 1-5) that includes four stakes races. I am playing multiple tickets on a $100 budget.

Here are my thoughts on the sequence:

1^st race: A pair of runners will keep most tickets alive. #7 Thebigfundamental exits an 8 ½-length maiden win and will take some beating for Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez. #9 Lenstar has really come on in his last two starts, fits well in this spot at an expected price.

1 Vincento and #3 Nigel’s Destiny will be added to the main ticket and five other horses are featured on a saver.

2^nd race, Easy Goer: Two-deep on most tickets. #3 Wicked Macho registered a commendable 92 BRIS Speed Rating posting an outstanding debut maiden win, with runner-up Ntestinalfortitude romping in his next two starts by 20+ combined lengths, and I like his chances right back for Mark Casse. #7 West Coast appears well-meant in this spot for Bob Baffert.

I will spread with five horses in a back-up spot.

3^rd race, Brooklyn (G2): Very keen on #5 Tu Brutus, who appears to be the controlling speed at a short price. He looks poised to put on a show.

Will put one ticket in play without the imposing front-runner.

4^th race, Acorn (G1):

#1 Union Strike is my top choice –one-turn mile distance should hit her between the eyes and Union Rags filly can move forward in her third start off the shelf from a strong but troubled runner-up effort on Derby Day. #2 Florida Fabulous is a threat to steal the race at long odds.

Kentucky Oaks winner #3 Abel Tasman and Grade 2 winner #8 Salty can’t be dismissed as off-the-pace threats. Will add another trio as back-ups.

5^th race, Ogden Phipps (G1):

#5 Songbird is awesome and the most likely winner. She is returning from a lengthy layoff and the 4-year-old filly will need to be on her game against #7 Carina Mia, who turned in a superb effort winning the Acorn (G1) last year on the Belmont undercard and is eligible to improve upon a solid effort in her 2017 bow. Will add the latter to a couple of tickets.

50-cent Pick 5 Tickets (Races 1-5)

Here is how I am playing the Pick 5 on a $100 budget:

1,3,7,9 with 3,7 with 5 with 1,2,3,8 with 5,7 ($32)

7,9 with 3,7 with 1,4,6 with 1,2,3,8 with 5 ($24)

2,4,5,6,8 with 3,7 with 5 with 1,2 with 5,7 ($20)

7,9 with 1,5,8,9 with 5 with 1,2,3,8 with 5 ($16)

7,9 with 3,7 with 5 with 5,6,7 with 5 ($6)

7,9 with 3,7 with 5 with 1 with 5 ($2)

Good luck on the Pick 5!

Check out the 2017 Belmont Stakes News & Notes page at the TwinSpires Blog