Belmont Park Sunday stakes spot plays: Cold daily double

The first day of November—and the first day after the Breeders’ Cup—is a Sunday highlighted by five stakes on an 11-race card at Belmont Park.

We’ve analyzed the entries and suggest placing a trio of bets in three of the stakes, at a total cost of $50:

Race 4: Notebook S. (one mile on turf, 12:57 p.m. ET)

#1 House of War (6-5) gobbled up ground from midfield to win his debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight against New York-breds at Saratoga. Then he stepped up in class for the 1 1/16-mile Pilgrim (G2) and finished fifth, beaten only two lengths.

Returning to the New York-bred ranks for the Notebook S. should make House of War tough to beat under hot jockey Manny Franco, a 21% winner at Belmont this meet.

#2 Howard’s Hope (7-2) can complete the exacta. He rallied from behind a slow pace to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for New York-breds, then fell when in contention down the homestretch of the 1 1/16-mile Laurel Futurity last time out. He’s bounced back with three workouts since that fall and is a logical contender while returning to New York-bred competition.

• $20 Exacta: 1 with 2

Race 8: Turnback the Alarm S. (1 1/8 miles on dirt, 2:53 p.m. ET)

#4 Donor Advised (6-5) has been sharp in two starts this year. First, she trounced a one-mile $55,000 allowance optional claimer at Saratoga by 4 3/4 lengths. Then she stepped up in class for the 1 1/8-mile Beldame (G2) and ran second, beaten only 2 3/4 lengths by champion Nitrogen while earning a career-best 102 Brisnet Speed rating.

Dropping back down in class and distance can send Donor Advised to the winner’s circle at a short price. Let’s single her to start a daily double.

• $20 Double: 4 with 1

Race 9: Forty Niner (G3) (one mile on dirt, 3:22 p.m. ET)

There isn’t much pace in this field on paper, which could play to the strengths of #1 East Avenue (5-2). The talented but inconsistent four-year-old has scored three of his four wins in gate-to-wire fashion, including the 2024 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and 2025 Matt Winn (G3).

It’s been a while since East Avenue last set the pace, but he’s coming out of some reasonably quick-paced races in which he earned respectable Brisnet E1 and E2 Pace ratings. Breaking from the rail against a largely paceless field in the Forty Niner may allow East Avenue to secure the lead and run one of his best races.

We’ll single East Avenue to conclude our double and bet him over #5 Crazy Mason (7-2) and #8 Warp Nine (12-1) in an exacta.

• $5 Exacta: 1 with 5,8 ($10)

Good luck!