How to bet Stars & Stripes Day at Belmont Park and the Promotion at TwinSpires.com

Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown ended a month ago, but great racing, great wagering, and a great promotion on the Stars & Stripes Day card on Saturday, July 9, at Belmont Park is a triumverate worth celebrating as well with the New York Racing Association offering millions in purses and guaranteed pools, and TwinSpires.com adding a little extra with 2-million points up for grabs for the best handicappers on the all-stakes pick 6.

The action starts with race 6 on the 11-race card, and the co-features are a pair of Grade 1 turf races for three-year-olds: The Derby and Oaks both at 1 1/4 miles. The Derby also kicks off the all-graded-stakes Pick 4.

The ABC grid below includes a TP column, which is our top pick in each race. That is the horse I would use in the TwinSpires.com 2-million points promo, which requires a singular $15 win bet on each of the six stakes. The most winners splits 1-million points, and the best ROI splits the other million. If you get the pick 6 cold, then I'm guessing you'd win the whole 2-million points yourself plus all the money from those $15 win bets.

The toughest race for me is the Derby, which is frustrating because my favorite horse in training is in the race, and I wish I had a stronger opinion about his chances. He's in form, gets a great jock, and will be the right price, so I have no problem picking him on top, but there's no way I'm not using more horses in the Pick 4. In fact, I'll have at least one ticket that uses them all.

My strongest opinion is in the Oaks where Ballydoyle just looks the much better of these. I'll single her. Good luck to those playing!